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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. 

Kaimana Barcarse interviews Menase Ntutu from the Maasai nation about the concerns of Indigenous Peoples living with disabilities, and how communities can collaborate to support the work of the Disability Caucus. Recorded at the 2015 UNPFII. 

Kaimana Barcarse interviews Doreen Demas of the Dakota Peoples in Canada about the focus, message, and goals of the Disability Caucus at the UNPFII. She discusses the growing impact and voice of the Indigenous with Disabilities activist community. Recorded at the 2015 UNPFII.

Kaimana Barcarse interviews Setareki Macanawai from Fiji. They discuss how the Disability Caucus hopes to extend its presence to regions and communities, in order to grow the network of Indigenous Peoples with disabilities. Recorded at the 2015 UNPFII. 

Kaimana Barcarse interviews Perty Maguru from Nepal about the unique dual identity that Indigenous Peoples with disabilities occupy. She hopes to help bring a voice to this community. Recorded at the 2015 UNPFII. 

Nancy Bordeaux (Sicangu Lakota) from South Dakota shares her work in domestic violence and sexual assault and gives advice on how to make a change. She speaks about historical trauma and its effects on Native American peoples today. Nancy works with women who are victims of domestic violence and human trafficking and hopes to lessen the economic and mental health disparities in Indigenous women.  We caught up with Nancy at the UNPFII 2015. 

Lemoine LaPointe, a Lakota of South Dakota and Minnesota, speaks about community conversations and their importance in providing support for Indigenous Peoples and their relationship with the surrounding region both in the present and in the future.  We met up with Lemoine at the UNPFII 2015.

Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn speaks about successes at the 2015 UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Communities in the Pacific region have united over common issues, different groups have made efforts to align as Indigenous Peoples as a body in international conferences, and Indigenous Peoples were represented in a major climate change conference.

Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn speaks about successes at the 2015 UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues, including the new participation on Indigenous Peoples of Japan and Taiwan in the conferences.

The world will indeed be a poorer place without the languages and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.
So it is necessary to celebrate and promote Indigenous Languages, thereby improving the lives of the peoples who speak the languages.
Producer:  Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan, South Africa)

Interview: Kaimana Barcase, Hawaii and Denver Breda, South Africa.

Music : Whispers by Ziibiwan, used with permission.

Picture:  A man plays a Khwe finger piano, West Caprivi Strip. Photo by Julie Taylor 2007, Courtesy of Cultural Survival

The  18th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues ran from  22 of April until 3 May 2019.
The theme was Traditional knowledge: Generation, transmission and protection.
This program is about the the importance of Indigenous languages in the digital era.

Producer:  Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan, South Africa)
Sound Clip: Alili Kiskitalo (Sami), Co-chair of IYIL steering committee.
Music : Whispers, by Ziibiwan, used with permission.

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is the UN’s central body dedicated to all matters relating to the rights of the approximately 370 million Indigenous Peoples around the World.
In 2019, The 18th session of the Forum in New York will highlight the year that has been declared the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
Cultural Survival's Avexnim Cojti spoke to Richard Grounds from the Yuchi Nation, who tells us how this commemoration came about.

This radio program  is part of a series of programs produced by Indigenous Rights Radio, to commemorate the International Year of Indigenous Languages, 2019. In this program, we showcase the Newar Indigenous Language which is called, Nepal-Bhasa. The Newar are one of the 59 Indigenous Peoples recognized so far by the government of Nepal. They are the original habitants of Kathmandu valley, the capital city of modern Nepal. The Newar people have diversity in terms of religion, rituals and culture, but share one common language. 

Naro is spoken by the Ncao Khwe , which means the red people, sometimes referred to as the San people of Botswana.
This program provides a sound clip of Naro, and gives some information about the Indigenous People who speak the language.

PRODUCTION
Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan)
Indigenous Rights Radio Intro track features "Burn your Village to the Ground" by @a-tribe-called-red. Used with permission.
Music: Lights in the Forest by Yarina. Used with permission.

Khwedam is spoken by the Bwabwata San People in Namibia. There are also some speakers in Botswana and South Africa.
This program provides a sound clip of Khwedam, and gives some information about the Indigenous People who speak the language.
PRODUCTION
Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan)
Indigenous Rights Radio Intro track features "Burn your Village to the Ground" by @a-tribe-called-red. Used with permission.
Music: Lights in the Forest by Yarina. Used with permission.