Second day of the 12th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

The highlight of the day came at the end when there was a cultural event for all the delegates to the conference. It was a BLAST!!! What a wonderful thing to dance with compadres and comadres from all over the world. I have always had a dream to do that, and I did in front of the UN General Assembly chambers. I doubt that the UN has seen that much fun in a long time.

The low point was the fact that my camera died, so I only have one picture to share with you.



 

The party starts! Dancing and music in front of the General Assembly chambers.

In the general session today, there were many excellent presentations and interventions. I was particularly interested to hear of the innovations and policy/program developments in Ecuador where they have an Indigenous intercultural university called The House of Wisdom. Unfortunately the university faces serious challenges. Yesterday the Ecuadorian presenter had spoken about the challenges of racism in the inter-cultural health sector and some of the initiatives they have established to address intercultural health and Indigenous health issues. They are trying to ensure the recognition of ancestral medicine and also health pluralism. Another interesting presenter from Russia spoke about an Arctic university that they have to support education for nomadic and Northern peoples. There was a presentation by the Youth Caucus which highlighted the solidarity of youth delegates who came to stand around their chosen speaker. All in all, there was much to learn and much to agree with.

Tomorrow is another day....