International Day of the World's Indigenous People, celebrated each year on 9 August

The International Day of the World's Indigenous People, celebrated each year on 9 August, marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

ndigenous Media

This year's commemoration is organized under the theme "Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices" which encompasses the role of media in supporting indigenous peoples’ models of development that are in accordance with their own priorities, cultures and values. Moreover the theme highlights how the use of media by indigenous peoples, in its traditional and new media forms, enables them to promote their cultures and languages, to transmit their knowledge, and to represent their own views that often may differ from mainstream analyses.

The media are a key to unlock the visions of indigenous peoples of sustainable development. We must harness this power for sustainable development for all.

Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General
Message on the International Day of the World's Indigenous People 2012

The power of the media in shaping the lives of individuals and communities is widely acknowledged. Communication and media are the keys to raising awareness, sharing knowledge and supporting a broader debate on indigenous knowledge, culture and values, all of which are conducive to more effective policies and actions.

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-people/