UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Begins

On May 13th, 2001, in New York, 1,000 representatives from throughout the world met for the first meeting of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Ole Henrik Magga, the former two-time president of the Sami parliament in Norway was unanimously elected chairperson. He hopes that the forum during its first year can establish itself within the UN as something more than a conversation club. “We hope that the forum will have influence on the issues that the UN deals with,” says Magga.

The immediate expectation is for the forum be a voice for indigenous people. “It is a matter of taking a small step forward, at least in the startup phase,” says Magga. “As in all political work, there has to be a balance between the long view and the short view – that’s what we’re aiming for.” From www.un.org/rights/indigenous/mediaadv.html: “UN Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/22 establishes the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to serve as an advisory body to the Council, with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues relating to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

The Forum is specifically expected to:
(a) provide advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the UN through the Council
(b) raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of activities relating to the indigenous issues within the UN system; and
(c) to prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues.

The Forum will be comprised of 16 independent experts, 8 of whom are nominated by governments and 8 individuals appointed by the President of the Council following formal consultations with governments on the basis of consultations with indigenous organizations. The Forum is authorized to meet for 10 days each year and it is proposed that it will hold its first session in New York from 13–24 May 2002.” The forum submits an annual report to the Council on its activities, including recommendations for approval.

“Today is a historic day. Many Indigenous people have worked hard for many years and are still working to be recognized in their homeland. For those who do not have recognition at home, it is an enormous help that we now received this recognition in the UN,” said Magga after the opening meeting. Before the meeting he said, “It is for the most part unclear, including which concrete assignments we will have, and how large the budget will be. For now we only have funds for the first meeting. I am afraid that we will be a body that only meets once a year and therefore not have that much influence,” says Magga.

Magga is a European representative and therefore has a special responsibility to represent Sami and Inuit interests. Denmark also has an indigenous representative in the forum. Undersecretary general Louise Frechette called the forum “a milestone in the struggle for thousands of indigenous peoples for achieve recognition of their rights and identity.” She continues “There are between 300 and 500 members of large and small indigenous peoples with many different traditions, interests and relationship to the future. But one thing they all share, is a history characterized by horrible injustices. Indigenous people have been killed, tortured and kept as slaves. They have had their political rights taken away, including the right to vote. Their land has been taken from them through expropriation and colonization. Even today their children grow up in poverty and die of malnutrition and disease.” She added that in many countries indigenous people do not have the right to receive instruction in their own language, and their sacred objects are stolen, and they continue to experience discrimination and intolerance.

One concrete demand from the forum was for the UN to give a clear message for a special secretariat with its own budget. With such a secretariat, contacts with indigenous representatives would increase and all knowledge could be centralized. Magga says "It is important that people be realistic and see this as a step by step process," satisfied with the preliminary phase for the permanent forum. The representatives of the forum maintain that the problems of indigenous people around the world are much the same: land rights, violent oppression and not being able to practice their culture and traditions. According to the UN, it is estimated that there are at least 5,000 indigenous groups composed of 300 million people living in more than 70 countries on 5 continents. Growing awareness of the critical situation of indigenous people and their invaluable contribution to the survival of humankind led the UN in 1995 to proclaim the International Decade for the World Indigenous Peoples. “This is the greatest moment of my life,” said Magga in his thank you speech.

According to Ságat, "the naming of the Sami politician and language professor indicates the great trust and respect Magga enjoys throughout the world. He expresses himself with depth and great competence on indigenous issues. Magga speaks fluent English as well as Finnish, German and French, as well as his mother tongue North Sami and of course Norwegian. He is also can speak South Sami when the occasion arises.”
Photo courtesy Torkel Rasmussen

Read the opening statement of the forum by Ole Henrik Magga

For more on the Forum, visit the
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Website