On August 9 each year, people celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples to recognize their achievements and contributions to global issues such as environmental protection, raise awareness, and protect their rights. The United Nations General Assembly established the day in 1994, which marks the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.
The theme for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is chosen each year by the United Nations, focusing on a specific aspect of Indigenous peoples’ rights, culture, or challenges. This year’s theme is “Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination.” This theme aims to focus on the role of Indigenous youth in promoting self-determination and contributing to the well-being of their communities.
The theme also underscores the need for intergenerational dialogue between youth and elders, as youth represent continuity and the future of Indigenous communities. By celebrating and supporting Indigenous youth as agents of change, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples aims to foster a better future for all Indigenous peoples.
The new generation of Indigenous advocates is mobilizing to change the narrative around Indigenous Peoples. They have become agents of societal change through social mobilization, using online platforms to showcase and celebrate their cultures, languages, and knowledge systems and to highlight injustices within their communities. By sharing their stories, Indigenous youth are building solidarity among other young people and raising awareness of Indigenous Peoples’ issues locally and globally.
Unfortunately, Indigenous peoples face significant challenges, including extreme poverty and limited access to education.
Poverty Among Indigenous Peoples
Globally, indigenous peoples are nearly three times more likely to be living in extreme poverty compared to non-indigenous people. In fact, 18.2% of indigenous people live on less than $1.90 a day, compared to 6.8% of the general population. Indigenous peoples make up approximately 5% of the world’s population but account for 15% of the poorest. In terms of education, 47% of all working Indigenous peoples have no education, compared to 17% of others.
UN News (Source)
Education Gap
This gap is even wider for women, as Indigenous women face education barriers based on their status and gender. Indigenous peoples tend to have less access to and poorer quality of education than other groups, and their education rarely incorporates curricula and teaching methods that recognize their communities’ histories, cultures, pedagogies, traditional languages, and traditional knowledge.
Ethnic and cultural discrimination at schools are major obstacles to equal access to education, causing poor performance and higher dropout rates among Indigenous students. Indigenous students frequently find that the state’s education promotes individualism and a competitive atmosphere rather than communal ways of life and cooperation. It does not teach them relevant survival and work skills suitable for Indigenous economies, and they often return to their communities with a formal education that is irrelevant or unsuitable for their needs.
Indigenous Women in Education
Indigenous women, in particular, face a triple-bind within educational leadership, as they work in a predominantly white environment, are women in a system that values patriarchal leadership, and are subject to judgment from all males, white males, and white women. Schools often recruit Indigenous women leaders to work mainly with Indigenous children and focus on Indigenous issues, which excludes them from the majority and undermines their knowledge, further marginalizing them.
Addressing the Issues
To address these issues, it is crucial to involve Indigenous peoples in developing education policies and systems, ensuring that their cultures, languages, and traditional knowledge are respected and incorporated into curricula and teaching methods. Additionally, mobilizing Indigenous women and girls and involving them in the educational process is necessary. We need to address gender barriers to education and improve opportunities for all Indigenous peoples.
There are several successful initiatives aimed at improving Indigenous education outcomes. These initiatives focus on early childhood education, culturally responsive teaching, community-based programs, and language preservation.
- Indigenous Early Childhood Education: The American Indian College Fund’s Ké’ Early Childhood Initiative partners with tribal colleges and universities to improve early childhood education programs and teacher education through family and community outreach, enhanced child developmental pedagogy, and engagement in national conversations about best practices.
- First Nations Development Institute: launched the Native Language Immersion Initiative to support new generations of Native American language speakers and help Native communities establish infrastructure and models for Native language immersion programs that others can replicate.
- Indigenous-Led Education Network (ILED): The ILED Network is a growing, collaborative network of organizations supporting education led by Indigenous peoples, aiming to make Indigenous communities more resilient for the future.
By observing the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, people around the world can help promote a more inclusive and sustainable future that respects and values the rights, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples.
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