Observed annually on the 9th of August every year, International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is celebrated. This holiday was created by the United Nations to celebrate indigenous people who live all over the world, groups of people who collectively make up approximately 6.2% of the world’s total population.

It’s a day for people to demand the inclusion, approval, and participation of indigenous people so that they can live autonomously and be free to pursue their common goals. Every year, this holiday is observed with a theme that helps to focus the efforts of the day. In 2021, the theme for this holiday was “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract.”

The History Of International Day Of The World’s Indigenous People

In December of 1994, the United Nations General Assembly created this holiday through UN Resolution 49/214. They decided to place the holiday on August 9th through the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People because that is when the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.

Interesting Facts About Indigenous Peoples

Below are some facts about indigenous peoples below.

• There are over 400 million indigenous people spread over 90 different countries.
• Indigenous peoples are 6.2% of the world’s population but account for over 16% of the world’s population living in poverty.
• According to the UN, indigenous people living today face greater rights violations than was the case a decade ago.

Observing International Day Of The World’s Indigenous People

As we stated earlier, there’s a theme that helps to focus the UN’s efforts for indigenous peoples on this day. People also use this holiday to learn more about indigenous peoples and to work to solve some of the problems faced by indigenous peoples all over the globe.