¡°Languages are how we communicate, and they are inextricably linked to our cultures, histories and identity¡±, the UN chief said, noting that 2019 also marks the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
He pointed out that almost half of the world¡¯s estimated 6,700 languages, which are mostly indigenous, risk extinction. ¡°With every language that disappears, the world loses a wealth of traditional knowledge¡± said Mr. Guterres.
Noting that a significant proportion of the estimated 370 million indigenous people in the world today ¡°still lack basic rights, with systematic discrimination and exclusion continuing to threaten ways of life, cultures and identities¡±, the UN chief stressed that this contradicts the UN?Declaration?on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the?for Sustainable Development, ¡°with its promise to leave no one behind¡±.
Offering the UN¡¯s support to realize ¡°the rights and aspirations of indigenous peoples¡±, the Secretary-General concluded: ¡°I count on Member States to engage and support indigenous peoples in determining their own development through policies that are inclusive, equitable and accessible¡±.
Education ¡®pivotal¡¯
As part of this year¡¯s commemoration, the UN organized an event at its Headquarters in New York featuring expert panels and innovators on indigenous languages and technology.? But it opened with a ceremonial call to order by Chief Howard Thompson of the United States¡¯ Mohawk Nation.¡°People listen for a few moments¡±, he said. ¡°This is our way when we gather anywhere to give thanks¡±.
He began by first acknowledging that everyone had ¡°arrived safely and are healthy¡± before giving thanks to Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon, the stars and the creator, saying ¡°we give thanks daily because it may not be here tomorrow¡±.
When Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed took the podium, she zeroed-in on the ¡°pivotal role¡± of education for indigenous people to ¡°enjoy and preserve their culture and identity.
¡°Intercultural and multi-lingual education are necessary to prevent irreparable loss¡±, she said. ¡°Failure to provide multilingual and inter-cultural education puts indigenous peoples at a disadvantage, threatening their very survival¡±.
Ms. Mohammed accentuated that more must be done to enable indigenous languages to flourish, ¡°so we may retain the wealth of knowledge and cultures that are part of the world¡¯s rich diversity¡±.
¡°On this International Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to work together to realize the rights of indigenous peoples¡±, she concluded.
Symbols of identity
Through a video message, General Assembly President Mar¨ªa Fernanda Espinosa called indigenous people ¡°the bearers of millenary knowledge systems¡± where ancient and distinct languages are central.More than a means of communication, they also provide ¡°unique ways to see and understand the world¡± she stated. ¡°They are symbols of identity and belonging; they are vehicles of values to transmit culture and connecting the indigenous peoples with nature¡±.
And these languages are all vulnerable, many ¡°seriously endangered¡± or ¡°on the brink of extinction¡±, according to Ms. Espinosa. ¡°Others, unfortunately, have already been lost forever, taking the wisdom of their peoples with them¡±, she lamented.
Painting a picture of indigenous languages as ¡°a priceless heritage and a vehicle of ancestral knowledge¡± on culture, medicine and astronomy , which is ¡°vital to reach the goals of the 2030 Agenda¡±, she stressed that ¡°we must defend¡± their rights and respect their way of life as it is ¡°closely linked to the survival of their languages¡±.
Linking biological and cultural diversity
For her part,?Cristiana Pa?ca Palmer, Secretariat chief of the Convention on Biological Diversity, highlighted that although they constitute a relatively small part of the world¡¯s population, indigenous people represent ¡°the largest portion of linguistic and cultural diversity on Earth and their traditional lands and waters overwhelmingly contain the greatest remaining reserves of biodiversity¡±.She maintained that the International Day draws attention to their powerful contribution to preserving biodiversity: ¡°It allows us to tell the story of how these communities¡have been stewards of biodiversity for millennia, responsible for preserving and even increasing biodiversity through their traditional management practices¡±, she acknowledged.
Linking biological and cultural diversity, she spelled out that the resilience of human communities and ecosystems are under ¡°grave threat¡±.
¡°The colourful tapestry of life is fading like watercolours in the rain¡±, she bemoaned. ¡°The loss of indigenous, traditional and local languages is closely related to biodiversity loss¡±.
Moreover, she stated that their local and traditional communities¡¯ languages are ¡°representative of diverse world views, value systems and cultural expressions¡±.
¡°Let us commit ourselves to restoring indigenous languages as the vibrant colours of the tapestry of life¡±, she urged.
In closing, Ms. Palmer emphasized the ¡°centrality of traditional and indigenous languages in strengthening the links between biological and cultural diversity for attaining the global??of humanity living in harmony with nature¡±.
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