International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

You are hereby invited to attend the observance of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People at the United Nations Headquarters in Conference Room 1 in the temporary North awn building, on Monday 9 August from 2 pm to 5 pm.

It is organized by the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in cooperation with the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples. The theme of the observance at UN Headquarters will be celebrating indigenous film making.

Those who wish to attend the observance should register by noon Friday 6
August, by sending an email with full name at: indigenous_un@un.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Please note that those who have not registered will not get a day pass, and
will thus not be able to attend.

Holders of valid UN grounds passes do not need to register.

The event will begin at 2 pm. Participants must enter the UN grounds through the Visitor’s Entrance on 1st. Avenue facing 45th Street. After going through the entrance, participants should go directly to the table where SPFII staff will hand out day passes to those who have registered.

Day passes will be available at the table from 1 pm until 2:15 pm. It is essential that participants bring photo ID when picking up their day passes.

The programme will include the screening of 4 amazing short films made by indigenous filmmakers and will be followed by a Q&A session with three of the directors.

The provisional programme is as follows...

2:00 – 2:45 PM Welcome Ceremony

Welcome by Master of Ceremonies Roberto Múkaro Borrero (Taíno, Puerto
Rico), Chairperson, NGO Committee on the International Decade of the
World’s Indigenous Peoples

Traditional welcome by Mr. Kevin Tarrent (Ho Chunk)

Message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Message by Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha
Zukang

Message from the Chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues, Mr. Carlos Mamani (by representative of DESA)


2:45 - 3:45 PM Screening of four short movies by indigenous filmmakers

Brazil: Marangmotxingo Mïrang/From the Ikpeng Children to the World
Directed by Kumaré Txicão (Ikpeng), Karané Txicão (Ikpeng), and Natuyu
Yuwipo Txicão (Ikpeng)

Sweden: Curte-Nillas:(short) movie) Directed by Mr. Per-Josef Idivuoma (
Sámi)

Puerto Rico: Taino Indians counted out of existence Directed by Mr. Alex
Zacarias (Taíno)

Alaska: Sukumi - On the ice Directed by Mr. Andrew Okpeaha MacLean
(Inupiaq)


3:45 - 5:00 PM Question and answer session with indigenous filmmakers

Moderator: Ms. Reaghan Tarbell, from the National Museum of the American
Indian

Film Directors: Mr. Per-Josef Idivuoma, Mr. Alex Zacarias and Mr. Andrew
Okpeaha Maclean


The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is officially commemorated annually on 9 August in recognition of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982.


Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
www.un.org/indigenous
indigenous_un@un.org
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS
DC2-1454

United Nations - Invitation Letter to the 9 Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 19-30 April 2010

Division for Social Policy and Development
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Room DC2-1324, 2 United Nations Plaza, New York, New York 10017
Tel: (212) 963-3175  Fax: (212) 963-3062  E-mail: ngoran@un.org

Dear Friend,

On behalf of Mr. Jean-Pierre Gonnot, Acting Director, Division for Social Policy and Development (DPSD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA,. I have the pleasure to inform you that the Ninth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will be convened from 19 to 30 April 2010 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Due the structural work relating to the United Nations premises at Headquarters referred to as the Capital Master Plan, no specific information on the venue of the session can be provided at this time. Further information will be available at the website of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in due time: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_ninth.html

The special theme of the ninth session will be “Indigenous peoples: development with culture and identity; articles 3 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”. The session will also include discussions on North America and a number of ongoing priorities and themes, as well as an in-depth dialogue with several United Nations agencies. Further information on the ninth session is available at the following link: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_ninth.html

Should your organization wish to send one or more representatives to the forum, please provide the names(s) of your designated representative (s) to us by using the online pre-registration system through the following link no later than 22 March 2010: http://www.un.org/ecosoc/csonet. You must sign in to the online system using your assigned username and password (use the "Click here to Sign In" in the upper right corner once you reach the website) then click on the link "Invitations" that appears on the left side menu bar. You will then see the link to the forum event where you can pre-register, designate your representatives and download your letter of invitation. In case you cannot use the online pre-registration system for any technical reason, please get in touch with us.

For further questions regarding pre-registration, please contact Mr. Yao Ngoran, Chief, Civil Society and Outreach Unit, Division for Social Policy and Development, DC2-1324, United Nations, NY 10017, fax: (212) 963-3062, Email: ngoran@un.org.

Representatives of organizations in need of a visa to enter the United States should note that United States Consulates request that visa applications be submitted three months prior to the opening of the session. Therefore we encourage representatives of interested non-governmental organizations (NGOs), indigenous peoples’ organizations (IPOs) and academic institutions to submit their visa applications as early as possible, preferably before 19 January 2010.

NGO representatives in possession of annual group-passes are also encouraged to pre-register using the Online Pre-registration System. Pre-registration allows for a proper planning of the session. This process should be completed by 22 March 2010, one month before the opening of the session. It should also be understood that the costs of travel and daily subsistence, arrangements for travel, accommodation and visas are the responsibility of participants.

For additional information regarding your participation at this session of the Permanent Forum, do not hesitate to contact Mr. Yao Ngoran at ngoran@un.org.

Yours sincerely,
Elsa Stamatopoulou
Chief, Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Call for nominations of UNPFII members

Dear Representatives of Indigenous Peoples,


The Department of Economic and Social Affairs has the honour to draw your attention to Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/22 of 28 July 2000 entitled “Establishment of a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues”.

According to paragraph 1 of that resolution, the Economic and Social Council:

“Decides to establish as a subsidiary organ of the Council a permanent forum on indigenous issues consisting of sixteen members, eight to be nominated by Governments and elected by the Council, and eight members to be appointed by the President of the Council following formal consultations with the bureau and regional groups through the coordinators, on a basis of broad consultations with indigenous organizations taking into account the diversity and geographic distribution of indigenous peoples of the world, as well as principles of transparency, representativity, and equal opportunity for all indigenous people, including internal processes, when appropriate, and local indigenous consultation processes. The members of the Forum will serve in their personal capacity as independent experts on indigenous issues for a period of three years with the possibility of re-election or re-appointment for one further period.”

The Permanent Forum serves as an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues relating to economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights. The Permanent Forum holds annual sessions of ten working days each May.

The current membership of the Permanent Forum is due to expire at the end of 2010. Nominations are now requested for the three-year period from January 2011 until December 2013. Current members who have served the maximum of two terms (6 years) as Permanent Forums members cannot be nominated for a further term.

It has been the understanding of the indigenous caucus that the eight (8) indigenous nominated members should be from the seven socio-cultural regions determined to give broad representation to the world’s indigenous peoples. The regions are: Africa; Asia; Central and South America and the Caribbean; the Arctic; Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia; North America; and the Pacific.

It was also the understanding that the 8th member would be nominated from one of the three largest indigenous populated regions (Latin America, Asia and Africa) which would be rotated every three years. Latin America will have an extra member for the next term (2011 – 2013).

I am encouraging consultations amongst indigenous organizations to commence as soon as possible to ensure that the President of the Economic and Social Council has suitable candidates for consideration and appointment.

In considering possible candidates you are encouraged to take into account the principles of geographic distribution, and gender balance. Furthermore and in order for nominations to be complete, it is important to provide recent curriculum vitae of the nominees for consideration by the President of the Economic and Social Council. Information about the nominatingorganization(s) should also be submitted.

All correspondence should be sent to the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Room DC2-1454, New York, NY 10017, United States of America OR email to: indigenous_un@un.org


The deadline for submission of nominations is 1 February 2010

___________________________________________________________________________



Estimados Representantes de los Pueblos Indígenas,

El Departamento de Asuntos Económicos y Sociales de las Naciones Unidas tiene el honor de referirles a la resolución 2000/22 del Consejo Económico y Social del 28 de julio de 2000 titulada “Establecimiento de un Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas.”

De acuerdo con el párrafo 1 de esa resolución, el Consejo Económico y Social:

“Decide establecer, como órgano subsidiario del Consejo Económico y Social, un foro permanente para las cuestiones indígenas integrado por 16 miembros, ocho de los cuales han de ser propuestos por los gobiernos y elegidos por el Consejo y los otros han de ser nombrados por el Presidente del Consejo, previa consulta oficial con la Mesa y con los grupos regionales porintermedio de sus coordinadores, sobre la base de consultas amplias con las organizaciones indígenas, teniendo en cuenta la diversidad y la distribución geográfica de las poblaciones indígenas del mundo, así como los principios de transparencia, representabilidad e igualdad de oportunidades para todos los pueblos indígenas, incluidos los procedimientos internos, cuando corresponda, y los procesos de consulta de las poblaciones indígenas locales; todos los miembros actuarán a título personal como expertos independientes en las cuestiones indígenas durante un periodo de tres años con la posibilidad de reelección o nuevo nombramiento por un nuevo periodo;”

El Foro Permanente sirve como un órgano asesor al Consejo Económico y Social con el mandato de discutir las cuestiones indígenas relacionadas al desarrollo económico y social, cultura, medio ambiente, educación, salud y derechos humanos. El Foro Permanente realiza sesiones cada año por diez días en Mayo.

La membresía actual del Foro Permanente vence a finales de 2010 y actualmente se están solicitando las nominaciones para el período de tres años de enero de 2011 a diciembre de 2013. Los actuales miembros que han servido por un máximo de 2 mandatos (6 años) no pueden volver a ser nominados por otro término.

El cónclave indígena ha comprendido que los ocho (8) miembros nominados por lasorganizaciones indígenas deben corresponder a las siete regiones socio-culturales determinadas para dar amplia representación a los pueblos indígenas del mundo. Las regiones son: África; Asia; Centro y Sudamérica y el Caribe; el Ártico, Europa del Este, Federación Rusa, Asia Central y Transcaucasia, América del Norte y el Pacífico

También se ha comprendido que el 8vo miembro sería nominado de una de las tres regiones más grandes con población indígena (América latina, Asia y África) rotada cada tres años. América latina tendrá un miembro adicional para el término siguiente (2011 - 2013).

Quisiera alentar la realización lo más pronto posible de consultas entre las organizaciones indígenas para asegurar que el Presidente del Consejo Económico y Social cuente con candidatos apropiados para ser considerados y nombrados.

Cuando estén considerando los candidatos posibles, se les recomienda tomar en cuenta los principios de distribución geográfica y equidad de género. Además, para que las nominaciones sean completas, es importante proporcionar un currículum vitae actualizado de los nominados para la consideración del Presidente del Consejo Económico y Social. También se debe presentar información sobre la(s) organización(es) nominadora(s).

Toda la correspondencia debe ser enviada a: la Secretaría del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas de las Naciones Unidas, Departamento de Asuntos Económicos y Sociales (DESA), DC2-1454, New York, NY 10017, EEUU O email a: idigenous_un@un.org

La fecha límite para el envío de nominaciones es el 1º de Febrero de 2010.

Public Notice: UNPFII 2009

Public Notice: The Eighth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York, from 18-29 May 2009.

The 2009 PFII session will discuss implementation of recommendations of the Permanent Forum on issues such as Economic and social development; Indigenous women; the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People; and Human rights with a focus on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples and other special rapporteurs, a half-day session on the Arctic, and comprehensive dialogue with six United Nations agencies and funds also form part of the session agenda.

The United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) is facilitating administrative services and activities for delegates planning to participate within the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean (IPCGC) at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2009. Please inform the UCTP of your planned attendance and desire to participate as part of the Caucus, which is open to representatives of indigenous Caribbean Organizations and communities.

Consistent with the UNPFII procedures, the IPCGC follows an organizational structure similar to the Association of Caribbean States whereas the “Greater Caribbean” is defined here as an area of cooperation in recognition of common ancestral heritages and common geographic spaces shared by the Indigenous Peoples of the region.

Please send correspondence to the United Confederation of Taino People’s Office of International Relations and Regional Coordination at oirrc@uctp.org.

UCTPPN Issued on 19 March 2009,
UCTP - Office of International Relations
and Regional Coordination

Final Report of the 7th Session

Dear Friends of the Permanent Forum,

I would like to inform you that the Report of the Seventh Session of the UNPFII is now out in all UN official languages and you may access it through our website.
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/

Best regards,

Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
indigenouspermanentforum@un.org
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS
DC2-1772

Report of the Seventh Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

An advance unedited version of the report of the seventh session is available in English. Although the report is not a final official document, it does contain all of the amendments made by the rapporteur during the adoption of the report on Friday 2 May 2008. Thus, the report contains additional paragraphs and changes that were made since the L documents were issued. The advance unedited version will only be available in English. Other language versions will be ready when the official report is published.

Click here to download the report (pdf only) at
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/UNPFII_7session_report_advance.pdf

Caribbean Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations

UCTP Taino News (United Nations) - The Seventh Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 21 April to 2 May 2008. The special theme will be "Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges." This year’s PFII theme is especially relevant to Caribbean Indigenous Peoples, many of whom are from Small Island Developing States increasingly affected by the global climate crises.

In an effort to ensure Caribbean voices at the session, the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) is again facilitating administrative services and program coordination for delegates planning to participate within the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean (IPCGC) at UN Forum.

See full story at: http://www.uctp.blogspot.com/

Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Dear friends,

Pre-registration for the Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is now open.

The Seventh Session will take place at United Nations Headquarters, in New York, from 21 April to 2 May 2008. The special theme will be "Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges."

Pre-registration is open to indigenous peoples' organizations, academic institutions and NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status. Please visit the Seventh Session webpage, where you will find all online registration forms:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_seventh.html

Best regards,

Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
indigenouspermanentforum@un.org

*************************************

Estimados amigos,

El proceso de pre-inscripción para el Séptimo período de sesiones del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas ya está abierto.

El Séptimo período de sesiones se llevará a cabo del 21 de abril al 2 de mayo de 2008 en la sede de las Naciones Unidas, en Nueva York y el tema especial será "El cambio climático, la diversidad biocultural y los medios de vida: la custodia por los pueblos indígenas y nuevos retos".

La pre-inscripción está abierta para las organizaciones de pueblos indígenas, las instituciones académicas y las ONGs con estatus consultivo ante el ECOSOC. Les invitamos a visitar la página web del séptimo período de sesiones, en donde podrá acceder a los formularios de pre-inscripción en línea: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/es/session_seventh.html

Saludos cordiales,

Secretaría del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas
indigenouspermanentforum@un.org

UN Recognizes Unique Situation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples in Official Report

United Nations, NY (UCTP Taino News) – One year ago, back in December 2004, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 59/174 establishing the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Although it may not be common knowledge, as a result of this resolution’s adoption, the Second Decade officially commenced on January 1st 2005. This resolution also requested that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan submit a report on a Comprehensive Program of Action for the Second International Decade to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. The Program of Action was discussed and adopted by the General Assembly on November 21st 2005.

Highlighting the importance of participation within the international system, the program of action was developed based upon comments received from the UN system, governments, indigenous peoples' and civil society organizations. Twenty-two indigenous organizations provided input for the program of action. Among these submissions, the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) was the only entity representing Caribbean Indigenous Peoples to submit a formal proposal to be considered within this process. As a result of UCTP participation, the efforts of the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus of the Greater Caribbean was also recognized within the official report. Based on consultations among regional representatives, the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean submitted various interventions during the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues held in May 2005. The Caucus will reconvene at the next session to be held in May 2006.

See Full Article at:
UN Recognizes Unique Situation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples in Official Report