The International Day of
the World's Indigenous People was observed on August 9, 2002
at United Nations Headquarters in New York with a public program
featuring blessings from Elders, messages from UN agencies,
and performances of Indigenous songs and dances.
After welcoming remarks by Roberto
Mucaro Borrero, Chairman, NGO Committee on the International
Decade of the World's Indigenous People, a prayer of blessing
was read by Ina McNeil, Lakota Nation from the Standing Rock
Sioux Reservation and great-grand-daughter of Sitting Bull,
the famous Sioux leader. A message from Ms. Mary Robinson, UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights, was read by Mr. Bacre Waly
Ndiaye, Director of the UN High Commissioner's office in New
York.
A lively set of native Hawaiian
songs and dances were performed by a dozen members of the Native
Hawaiian Student Dance Group, currently touring the mainland
United States. The dances described Hawaiian volcanoes and battles.
Other songs were performed by the Silver Cloud Singers and Cameron
McCarthy, an Aboriginal musician and artist, who also introduced
the art exhibit on view in the UN Visitors Lobby.
On Saturday, August 10, 2002, an
additional event was arranged at the American Museum of Natural
History, featuring a second performance by the Native Hawaiian
Student Dance Group, preceded by poetry and a video introduced
by artist Barbara James Snyder describing the current efforts
of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California to reclaim their
sacred site at Cave Rock on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe.
All events were attended
by ISF Director General Yoshimi Umeda and New York Center staff. |
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