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Article 8 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states:
1. Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture.

Es importante reconocer las experiencias distintas que tienen personas Indígenas. Para Olga Montúfar, una activista mexicana que trabaja con la organización Paso a Paso, el abogar por los derechos de personas Indígenas con discapacidad es una manera de ayudar a una población marginada. Además de hablar sobre su propia experiencia como persona con discapacidad, explica cómo intenta educar a las personas Indígenas con discapacidad sobre sus derechos como personas Indígenas y discapacitados.

El tema de la diversidad sexual no ha sido discutido abiertamente en el Mecanismo de Expertos de las Naciones Unidas. Andrea Sánchez Lezama, de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, habla de la importancia de reconocer las necesidades y los derechos fundamentales de personas Indígenas con diversas identidades sexuales.

Jennifer Lopez Vicente, facilitadora comunitaria en Guatemala y autora de un artículo sobre los derechos de las mujeres mayas y jóvenes, habla de su experiencia como maya y mujer para dar una voz a su comunidad.

Luis Victor, representante peruano de la Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas, comparte sus observaciones sobre el problema de los gobiernos de países latinoamericanos y empresas que promueven la extracción de recursos naturales y cómo afecta la soberanía y salud de los pueblos Indígenas.  

Según Capac Conde, un joven abogado aymara de Bolivia, no es suficiente sólo adoptar la Declaracion de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, sino que los Pueblos Indígenas necesitan conocer los artículos de la Declaración y saber cómo defender y exigir la aplicación de sus derechos.

Una consulta con un relator especial es una manera de buscar la que las demandas y los retos de los Pueblos Indígenas sean escuchados y respetados. Sandra Cevallos de Argentina explica el proceso de solicitar y gestionar una visita del relator.

Albert Deterville, Expert Mechanism representative of Latin American and the Caribbean, discusses the Expert Mechanism, as created by the UN, on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the process in which they aid the monitoring of rights in regions around the world.

Les Malezer, of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, discusses the origins and goals of the expert mechanism and it's importance to the rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world.

Nina Cass, of New South Wales, Australia, discusses her work with Madala, a youth organization that helps Indigenous young people go to school as well as the issues facing the Indigenous Peoples in Australia such as the promotion of culture, relocation, discrimination, suicide, etc. and how she can help in her role. 

Ben Sherman, of the Lakota Nation, discusses his work with the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance and his hopes to reach and engage more people through his organization, as well as the challenges facing the organization as it spreads to other parts of the world. 

Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard (Anishinaabe, Canada) explains how the concerns that have been labeled as “women’s issues” are in fact central to the progress of Indigenous rights. Often, concerns such as domestic abuse, schooling, and healthcare are often sidelined in favor of focusing on issues that are seen as more universal. Dr. Lavell-Harvard places them at the center of her activism efforts, showing that there is no need to compromise or postpone the rights of Indigenous women in Indigenous movements globally.

Producer: Avexnim Cojti

This program is dedicated to Joan Carling, an activist from the Kankanaey people of the Philippines. She has served as an Expert Member on the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during 2014 and 2016, and as the Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Pact. In this interview, she explains the benefits of the participation of Indigenous Peoples in local and global decision-making, which would bring a diversity of perspective and solutions to pressing issues.

Producer: Avexnim Cojti

Vicky Tauli-Corpuz (Igorot Kankanaey, Philippines), a long-time activist and UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, shares her experience with successes of small, local groups reaching out to the international community to collaborate in better defending their rights. She explains how her experience as a nurse led to community engagement, which quickly turned into a passion for advocating for the needs of community members as an activist.

Producer: Avexnim Cojti

Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough (Innuit, Alaska, USA) discusses her early engagement in the politics of Indigenous Peoples land rights, and shares her insight into why the defense of land merits extra international legal attention. She urges leaders to have optimism, and take “the long view” approach to making progress in the protection of Indigenous rights.

Producer: Avexnim Cojti

Indigenous peoples' day is about honoring indigenous resistance, and celebrating the contributions of indigenous peoples all over the world. In this newsletter we celebrate the activism of Antie Pua Case from Hawaii, and other activists around the world who fight to preserve our mountains, our rivers, our valleys, our Earth. The program ends with a song by Taino artist Brothery Mikey, who produced a song called "Like the Mauna", inspired by the Indigenous People of Hawaii's efforts to protect the sacred Mauna.