International Day of the World's Indigenous People observed on 9 August

9 August: International Day of the World's Indigenous People

The world observed the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on 9 August 2013. The theme selected for the year 2013 is Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements.

The theme aims to highlight the importance of honouring arrangements between States, their citizens and indigenous peoples that were designed to recognize indigenous peoples' rights to their lands and establish a framework for living in proximity and entering into economic relationships. Agreements also outline a political vision of different sovereign peoples living together on the same land, according to the principles of friendship, cooperation and peace.

About the International Day of the World's Indigenous People

In 1994, the General Assembly of United Nations for the first time proclaimed that the International Day of the World's Indigenous People will be celebrated every year during the first International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995 – 2004).

In 2004, the second international decade was announced from 2005-2014 and the theme opted for the second decade was A Decade for Action and Dignity. The focus of this year's International Day is Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements.

International Day of the World's Indigenous People 2013

The UN Headquarters in New York hosted a special event on this day 9 August 2013 feauring the UN Secretary-General, the Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, a delegate of Panama, a representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, and an indigenous representative that started at 3 pm.

On the same day hundreds of indigenous and non-indigenous rowers arrived at Pier 96 at 57th Street in Manhattan. These rowers have travelled thousands of miles on rivers and horsebacks collectively to honour the first treaty – the Two Row Wampum – concluded between Dutch immigrants and the Haudenosaunee. The Two Row Wampum is a confederacy of six nations, with capital in the Onondaga nation, in NY State that was made 400 years ago, in 1613.

Sri Lankan President felicitated tribal community, Veddas on World Indigenous Peoples Day