International Day Of The World's Indigenous Peoples
“Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future.”
Was the theme for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples which falls on 9 August every year.
The Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of indigenous peoples’ cultures and great diversity that they represent. In his words, the Secretary General of UN Ban Ki Moon stated that “Indigenous peoples face many challenges in maintaining their identity, traditions and customs, and their cultural contributions are at times exploited and commercialized, with little or no recognition. We must work harder to recognize and strengthen their right to control their intellectual property, and help them to protect, develop and be compensated fairly for the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge that is ultimately of benefit to us all”
This theme captures a range of issues such as the danger of extinction and need for preservation and revitalization of indigenous cultures, including their art and intellectual property.
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