UN celebrated International Day Indigenous People.

Q’orianka Kilcher, Huachipaeri –Quechua. Humans Rights, dignity and development with identity. HABITAT PRO ASSOCIATION: Report.

NACIONES UNIDAD CELEBRO EL DIA INTERNACIONAL DE LOS PUEBLOS INDIGENAS. Q’ORIANKA Kilcher , joven estrella del cine participó en este evento reportando sus experiencias la visitar comunidades indígenas de los andes y el bosque tropical del Perú, Ella desciende del pueblo Huachipaeri-Quechua del Perú, y representó a Pocahontas en la película Nuevo Mundo.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
9 August 2006. Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, United Nations Headquarters Programme of Activities

FILM SCREENING .Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations (Film by Rebecca Sommer for Secretariat UNPFII, 2005)

Welcome and Spiritual Ceremony by Barbara James Snyder (Washoe & Paiute Nations, North America)

Message of the Secretary General, Kofi Annan The annual observance of this International Day recognizes the achievements of the world’s indigenous people, who number more than 370 million and who live in some 70 countries. But it is also a moment to acknowledge the critical challenges they face.

Much remains to be done to alleviate the poverty faced by many indigenous people; to protect them against massive violations of human rights; and to safeguard against the discrimination that, for example, forces many indigenous girls to drop out of school.

En un mensaje escrito el Secretario General de la UNO Koffi Anan dijo que el Día Internacional reconoce los logros del mundo indígena cuyo numero alcanza los 370 millones en 70 países, pero también es un momento para tomar conocimiento de los desafíos críticos que ellos enfrentan. Mucho queda para aliviar la pobreza de la población indígena y la protección contra la violación masiva de los derechos humanos, y la seguridad contra la discriminación como por ejemplo el abandono de la escuela de las niñas indígenas.

Message of the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, Jose Antonio Ocampo.:

Indigenous peoples have come a long way at the United Nations since the first time we celebrated the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. In a prominent example, from just a few weeks ago, our newly constituted Human Rights Council adopted the United Nations draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We hope that the General Assembly will formally adopt the Declaration at its 61^st session, precipitating a shift in the paradigm of human rights and development discourse and action that will itself make a marked and positive difference in the lives of indigenous peoples.

Jose Antonio Ocampo Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, Jose Antonio Ocampo and Johan Scholvinck, Director Division Social Policy and Development DESA.

Indigenous Peoples: human rights, dignity and development with identity

Panelists:
Phrang Roy, Assistant-President on Special Assignment for Indigenous and Tribal Issues, IFAD;
Wilton Littlechild (Cree Nation-Canada), Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues;
Romy Tincopa, Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Peru;

Q'orianka Kilcher, Actress, lead role of Pocahontas in the 2005 Hollywood film, The New World.

Moderated by: Sonia Smallacombe (Maramanindji- Asutralia), Wilton Littlechild (Cree Nation-Canada), Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Phrang Roy, Assistant-President on Special Assignment for Indigenous and Tribal Issues, IFAD and Romy Tincopa, Counselor of the Permanent Mission of Peru.

Q’ORIANKA Kilcher, young actress is a descendant of the Huachipaeri and Quechua people of Peru and spoke about her recent trip to tropical forest, Q’orianka lead actress in the 2005 Hollywood film, THE NEW WORLD.

SPEECH BY Q’ORIANKA KILCHER. At the UNITED NATIONS NY , Aug.9^th,2006

It is a great honor to be joining you here today and be given time to address this panel in commemoration of the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous People at United Nations.

I would like to give my deepest thanks to the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for the invitation.

Es un grato honor reunirme con ustedes en este panel para conmemorar en las Naciones Unidad el Día Internacional de los Pueblos Indígenas. Quiero brindar mi más profundo agradecimiento a la Secretaria del Foro Permanente para los Asuntos Indígenas de la Naciones Unidas por esta invitación.

Mi nombre es Q’rorianka que significa Aguila Dorada en mi lengua nativa Quechua, y soy descendiente de los Huachipaeri u Quechua del Perú.

My name is Q’orianka Kilcher, which means Golden Eagle in my native Quechua language. I am descendant of the Huachipaeri and Quechua people from Peru.

The topic of discussion this afternoon is “Indigenous Peoples: human rights, dignity and development with identity”.

As a young person I feel a strong responsibility towards the dream for Universal dignity, compassion and basic Human Rights ... as a form of true human development.

It is difficult for me to speak about economic development without talking about basic rights to lands and resources, culture and identity, and self-determination.

Como joven que soy siento una fuerte responsabilidad hacia el sueño de la dignidad universal, la compasión y básicos derechos humanos como una forma del verdadero desarrollo.

Es difícil hablar del desarrollo económico sin hablar de los derechos básicos a la tierra y a los recursos, a la cultura a la identidad y la propia determinación.

While looking into the future, we have to ensure that Human rights and environmental abuses are not committed in the name of economic development. There is a clear connection between pressing environmental issues and human rights abuse.

Mientras buscamos en el futuro, nosotros debemos asegurarnos que los Derechos Humanos y el abuso al medio ambiente no sean concordados en nombre del desarrollo económico. Hay una clara conexión entre los apremiantes problemas ambientales y el abuso en materia de los derechos humanos.

The stereotypical image of indigenous peoples being savages, primitive and ignorant …and our developed nations being more civilized and advanced is not accurate by any means, taking into consideration that in the name of development we are the leaders of Environmental destruction ….

La estereotipada imagen que de los indígenas son salvajes, primitivos, ignorantes y nuestro desarrollo de naciones más civilizadas y avanzadas no es exacta en ningún entendimiento, teniendo en consideración que en nombre del desarrollo nosotros estamos liderando la destrucción del medio ambiente…

Destroying our earth’s eco system and endangering our children’s future. La destrucción del ecosistema de la tierra pone en peligro el futuro de los niños y niñas.

We are ignoring the fact that we cannot eat, drink or breath profit or money!!!

Traditionally indigenous peoples around the world have live in harmony with mother earth and their lifestyles are based on environmentally sustainable principles and practices,

Without exploiting and destroying their children’s future …

In the video we just watched Kofi Annan summed it all up in one sentence when he said……

‘Historically and sadly for far to long, the hopes and aspirations of indigenous peoples have been ignored, their lands have been taken, their languages and customs suppressed, their wisdom and traditional knowledge overlooked and their sustainable ways of developing natural resources dismissed.’

“Históricamente y tristemente desde- dice Kofi Annan- hace largo tiempo las esperanzas y aspiraciones de los pueblos indígenas han sido ignorados , sus tierras han sido tomadas, sus lenguajes y costumbres suprimidas, y la sabiduría y sus conocimientos tradicionales dejados de lado y las formas de sustento y el desarrollo de sus recursos naturales disminuidos.”

But these issues are not just a dark chapter in the past … amidst today’s civilization and development these same issues remain a harsh reality for many indigenous peoples around the world who continue to be excluded from the decision making process…..

Projects that exploit their lands, natural resources and cultures are often not done with their consent. Many of them are still forcibly removed from their ancestral territories, are still subjected to the worst forms of discrimination and human rights abuse and therefore continuously suffer from extreme and chronic poverty.

It is embarrassing to see how little we have learned from our past.

An issue very close to my heart is that of the indigenous peoples in my beloved country Peru.

During my recent visit to the highlands and Amazon regions of Peru I spend a lot of time trying to understand some of the more pressing issues.

I visited several remote Amazon communities, devastated and contaminated by multi national oil companies and their greed.

Durante mi reciente visita a las altiplanicies y a la región amazónica del Perú yo pase un largo tiempo tratando de entender algunos de los más apremiante problemas. Visité remotas comunidades en la Amazonía desvastada por la contaminación derramada por las multinacionales petroleras y su avaricia.

I met with leaders from several communities and was invited to witness first hand how proud, self-sufficient and knowledgeable the people of these Amazon federations are.

They are self-reliant; they know how to work their lands and how to protect their environment most efficiently. .

Tuve encuentros con muchos líderes de las comunidades y fui testigo de primera mano y me sentí orgullosa de la forma como la autosuficiencia y el conocimiento que tienen estas federaciones amazónicas.

It occurred to me that the poor living conditions and economic hardships found in my country seem to stem more from the fact that most indigenous people interests are not represented by the state government.

Their pleas to be directly involved with plans involving their homelands and future, so often go ignored, while their ancestral territories and livelihoods are wiped out – and future generations are faced with the threat of extinction.

I know their plight sadly is replicated in many parts of the world.

What lies ahead for the young Indigenous generations?

There are many similarities indigenous youth share in regards to our culture and our struggles. Our existence and voice needs to be reflected in elections, and statistics.

We need to be recognized, Our voices need to be heard.

We need dignity and self-respect to be strong and use our youthful ability towards critical thinking to be rebellious against failure and discrimination!

We need solidarity, because our struggle is long and many challenges remain.

There are many young every day heroes in our indigenous communities, but their voices are seldom heard. Their dedication and work seldom recognized …and their dignity often stripped away by lack of opportunity and discrimination.

Encontramos en nuestra juventud indígenas bastante similitudes en compartir nuestra cultura y nuestra luchas, necesitamos que nuestras necesidades se vean reflejadas en las elecciones y el las estadísticas, Nosotros debemos ser reconocidos y nuestras voces escuchadas. Nosotros necesitamos dignidad y respeto para ser fuertes u usar nuestro habilidad critica pensando como rebelarnos contra la discriminación.

I would like to draw your attention a bit to the concept of dignity as it pertains to today’s youth in the context of how indigenous peoples are represented in popular culture, popular media and cinema.

It is more often than not “without dignity” They are shown as people who are barbaric, who are uneducated…this is, as you know an inaccurate, incomplete picture.

And as young indigenous actress and viewer I am definitely questioning this kind of representation.

With that said, I also realize the powerful force today’s media has on my generation in this new age of information and technology.

…..And I see real opportunity and importance in utilizing those powers responsibly. And for the positive.

As a young artist I feel a strong responsibility to use my voice and take initiative to bring about positive change … it is up to my generation to make a difference. If we don’t act today, it will be too late.

I am here today because I truly believe that the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues ensures that the world hears the voices of indigenous peoples.

Through the efforts of the international indigenous peoples’ movement and their dynamic partnership with the United Nations system, the struggles of the people for cultural survival, human rights, development and peace have finally been brought to the attention of the international community.

Como una joven artista me siento con la fuerte responsabilidad de usar mi voz y tomar la iniciativa para brindar un positive cambio, esto significa para mi generación hacer la diferencia. Si nosotros no actuamos ahora luego será muy tarde.

And now that we have a Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples we should highlight the Global importance Indigenous Issues have to all of us as humanity …because by protecting indigenous peoples and cultures we are protecting the cultural human heritage and biodiversity of our world.

Y ahora que contamos con una Segunda Década los Pueblos Indígenas del mundo debemos destacar la importancia global que los problemas indígenas que comprendemos todos nosotros como humanidad... porque protegiendo los pueblos y culturas indígenas estamos protegiendo la herencia cultural y la biodiversidad de nuestro mundo.

The final adoption of the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the General Assembly this fall is brought about by almost two decades of tireless advocacy by indigenous people representatives.

La adopción final de la Declaración Universal en las Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas en la Asamblea General este otoño es logrado por casi por casi dos décadas de una defensa infatigable de los representantes indígenas.

Mi esperanza es que los líderes de las naciones del mundo puedan ver la necesidad que todos adopten la Universal Declaración de los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas.

My Hope is that all of our nation’s leaders have the wisdom to see the need to come together to adopt this universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples…

So that we, as human beings, re-capture the true meaning of the word evolution compassion and justice.

In closing, I would like to pay tribute to the partnerships between indigenous and non-indigenous people. Without the partnerships and solidarity of our friends, it would have been even harder to get where we have arrived today. Indigenous people need solidarity and support now more than ever before.

Para terminar me gustaría rendir tributo al compañerismo entre pueblos indígenas y no indígenas. Sin esa solidaridad de nuestros amigos hubiera sido muy duro conseguir lo que hemos logrado ahora. Los pueblos Indígenas necesitan solidaridad y apoyo ahora más que nunca.

It is through our collective conscience to end widespread human rights violations and discrimination in all its forms, that we find our Identity and what it means to be truly human……

A través de nuestra conciencia colectiva poner fin a la extensión de las violaciones de los derechos humanos y la discriminación en todas sus formas y que nosotros podemos encontrar nuestra identidad y que ello signifique ser verdaderamente una persona humana.

As a young person, I feel a great responsibility towards the outcome of our future here on this earth. If we don’t act today, it will be too late.

Thank you

INDIGENOUS CULTURAL PERFORMANCES

Organized by the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues DSPD/DESA and the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Q’orianka Mom, Pamela Kraft, (Tribal Link), Q’orianka Kilcher, and Master of Ceremonies: Roberto Múcaro Borrero (Taíno, Puerto Rico), Chairperson, NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous Art Exhibition by Inty Muenala (Kichwa) and

Q’orianka Kilcher actress in the Hollywood film, New World. 2005 at United Nations Headquarters on 9 August 2006.

Indigenous Cultural Performances Crimea Tatar Ukraine and Tama Waipara (Maori New Zealand).

Rebecca Sommer. Film Screening: Indigenous People UN, and Barbara James Snyder (Washoe & Paiute Nations North America) Welcome and Spiritual Ceremony.

Hue Lui and Mariana Lopez, Secretariat Permanent Forum II.

Q’orianqa Kilcher, Marie-Daniel Samuel and Eliane Lacroix-Hopson ( Yachayhuasi ONG), Roberco Mucaro and family.

Amparo Silva (Syracuse University) , Miriam Masaquiza (Secretaria PFIII UN), Blanca Bayona, Camille Linen, Miguel Ibáñez y Gladys Silva (Hábitat Pro Association)

Miriam Masaquiza, Secretariat Permanent Forum II, Sonia Smallacombe (Maramanindji- Australia), Manuel Ibanez (Habitat Pro Peru) and Q’orianka Kilcher.

Alex Quiroz, Blanca Bayona, Camille Linen, Gladys Silva y Miguel Ibanez from Hábitat Pro Association at United Nation New York International Day of the World ‘s Indigenous People, 9 August 2006.

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

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/news_internationalday2006.html
 

Additional Programs in Commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples will take place at the American Museum of Natural History on Saturday 12 August, 2006. For more information contact the American Museum of Natural History at (212) 769-5758. 

HABITAT PRO ASSOCIATION. Habitat_pro@yahoo.com migueliba@yahoo.com VISIT WEB SITE: WWW.HABITATPRO.ORG