9 August is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples .There are more than 5,000 communities around the world commonly defined as “indigenous”. The UN celebrates this diversity as a world heritage that must be preserved. According to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, “indigenous peoples and individuals are free and equal to all other peoples and individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity” But, there are still many communities around the world that are trying to resist cultural levelling and are keeping ancient traditions and ways of life alive that have different social, cultural, economic and political characteristics compared to dominant societies. To celebrate this wonderful human diversity in December 1994 the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the 9th of August as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Mir Meharullah Mengal, Karachi