UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 22nd Session April 17th – 28th,
2023
Statement on behalf of Global Indigenous Peoples Organizations preparatory
meeting April 15-16, 2023, at the UN Church Center.
Based on the conversation on Tuesday, 25 April, 2023, 15:00-18:00 in the room around Item 4, Discussion on the six mandated areas of the Permanent Forum (economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights), with reference to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The PFII Chairwoman for the session get referring to “my Indigenous people.” In response to this concerning phrase, Betty Lyons made the following prefatory statement before reading the statement on behalf of the Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus (GIPC):
“We note the dangerous and patronizing language of “my Indigenous people.” We belong to no one. Many of us are still here in this room, participating at our great expense.”
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