The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection. Many indigenous peoples continue to be confronted with marginalization, extreme poverty and other human rights violations.
As we fight against the spread of the pandemic, it is more important than ever to safeguard indigenous peoples and their knowledge. Their territories are home to 80% of the world’s biodiversity and they can teach us much about how to rebalance our relationship with nature and reduce the risk of future pandemics. For communities living in “indigenous peoples and community conserved territories and areas” (ICCAs), COVID-19 poses grave health threats since they already experience lack of access to healthcare, essential services, sanitation and other key preventive measures, and have significantly higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Indigenous peoples are seeking their own solutions to this pandemic. They are taking action and using traditional knowledge and practices such as voluntary isolation, and sealing off their territories, as well as preventive measures.
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