NATIVE HEROES: Three Indigenous Peoples ‘warriors’ representing the three regions in Malaysia during the celebration last year in Sabah.
MIRI: Miri is hosting this year’s national-level International Day of the World’s Indigenous People celebration to be held at the Taman Tunku community hall on Aug 9-11.
The three-day celebration is organised by the Indigenous People’s Network of Malaysia (Joas), a network consisting of more than 50 community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations whose work are focused on issues affecting indigenous communities in Malaysia.
The network provides a platform for the communities to assert their rights not only at the national level but also regional and international.
Joas president Thomas Jalong Apoi in a statement yesterday said the main objective of the annual celebration, which is rotated among the three regions in the country, is to showcase and promote the unique cultures, traditions and identity of indigenous communities in Malaysia.
The celebration was held in Sabah last year.
This year’s theme is ‘Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices.’
“This is most appropriate because the development of today’s media has opened channels for indigenous communities to voice out the challenges they’re facing, their positions on certain issues and offer constructive recommendations.
“The media can also be a tool for us to promote our best practices that may contribute to a more sustainable model of development,” said Thomas.
In line with the theme, there will be a workshop on media and the Indigenous People’s on Aug 10, discussing relevant topics involving the indigenous communities’ experience and challenges relating to the media.
Some 200 participants from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia will be at the celebration that features lots of exciting programmes that include traditional performances from different indigenous communities in Malaysia, an exhibition and traditional sports.
There will also be a dialogue session with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) on Aug 11 and the Indigenous Youth Jamboree.
But more importantly, it is an opportunity for the public to know more about the indigenous people of the country, opined the organising committee.
The launching ceremony will be held on Aug 9.
Meanwhile, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is celebrated on Aug 9 every year to commemorate the first United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations meeting in Geneva in1982.
The celebration is seen as an achievement for indigenous people in their struggle to have their unique identity and rights recognised.
It is also seen as recognition of the importance of issues faced by them all over the world.
There are more than 300 indigenous people in the world in all the continents. A large number of them are facing all kinds of issues concerning their rights, livelihood and cultural identity.