CONSULATATION ON THE ‘INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES IN ASIA’

Greetings!
Friends, Indigenous communities across the world are rich with their own
distinct multiple identities like culture, language, traditions, norms, beliefs,
knowledge, wisdom and practices. Indigenous communities have their
own Indigenous Languages that carry the origin of their identity. Indigenous
Knowledge and innovations are inherently rooted in Indigenous Languages.
Hence, Indigenous Language is the fundamental human rights for the Indigenous Peoples which has been recognized by articles 2 and 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the articles 12 and 13 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In order to protect, promote, revitalize, use and transmit the Indigenous Languages to the future generations, the United Nations declared the year 2019 as ‘International Year of Indigenous Languages’(IYIL) and 2022-2032 as International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL).
There are approximately 476.6 million Indigenous peoples in the world,
belonging to 5,000 different groups in 90 countries worldwide, about 70 percent of Indigenous Peoples live in the Asia Pacific. Sadly many of the Indigenous languages are in an endangered situation in ASIA. It invites all ASIAN Indigenous community leaders and peoples to take initiatives to protect, promote and revitalize our own Indigenous Languages in ASIA Pacific.
Having known and understood the values of languages and cultures how
collectively we take action in ASIA for IDIL 2022-2032 is a big task ahead of us. Just to have a primary discussion and sharing may, I invite you all for a webinar on 24th of Nov. 2020. Each country representative can share the status of Indigenous Languages/Cultures of your Country and thoughts for IDIL 2022-2032 for three to four minutes.
If you would like to give any suggestions, You are most welcome. You can
circulate to your known peoples/ leaders and other international friends in
Indigenous communities.
The link and other details will be sent to you soon.
Looking forward to your Cooperation
With best Wishes

Nicholas Barla

India Indigenous Peoples

Steering Committee member for Organizing IYIL 2019, Asia, UNESCO