This starter kit provides resources that highlight Indigenous communities around the world and specifically seeks to uplift Indigenous Youth voices. It is essential that youth changemakers recognize the importance of Indigenous voices and seek to center Indigenous perspectives in efforts to affect change. To help educate young changemakers on Indigenous perspectives, this starter kit includes an introduction to the concept of Indigeneity, various resources about the rights of Indigenous peoples, challenges faced by Indigenous communities, the value of Indigenous knowledge, and resources specifically about Indigenous Youth.
The Basics: These resources will help acquaint you with what Indigeneity is, the Indigenous associations of the lands you occupy, Indigenous rights, and the challenges Indigenous communities face.
- What is Indigeneity? - This two-page fact sheet produced by the United Nations offers a brief introduction to the concept of Indigeneity. For more information on what it means to be Indigenous, view this short video in which Indigenous people share what being Indigenous means to them and/or this video about global Indigeneity.
- Native Land Map - This website allows users to discover which Indigenous group’s land they are currently living upon.
- Decolonization is not a Metaphor - This seminal piece by Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang reminds readers of the true nature of decolonization, a practice that inherently entails the centering of Indigenous voices, and describes how harmful it is to use the word “decolonization” without care for the input of Indigenous people.
- UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - This resolution, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007, establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of indigenous peoples.
- The Indigenous World 2021 - This extensive resource is a collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists and scholars that documents the developments Indigenous Peoples experienced throughout 2020.
- Combatting Generational Anti-Indigeneity - This resource details the unfortunately pervasive attacks on Indigeneity that have existed around the world for centuries. Themes discussed include rights to citizenship and self-determination, the negative effects of white supremacy, and the need for large-scale decolonization.
- Indigenous Representation - This article describes the harmful ways in which the media has portrayed Indigenous People and those filmmakers, artists, and others working to combat this.
- COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples - This UN brief explores the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected Indigenous communities and how this has been compounded by pre-existing inequities.
Indigenous Knowledge: These resources explain the concept of Indigenous knowledge and the importance of valuing Indigenous knowledge in approaching the challenges our world faces today.
- What is Indigenous Knowledge? - This article offers 16 attributes that help to define Indigenous knowledge.
- The Value of Indigenous Knowledge - This article illustrates the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge and voices into the mainstream, specifically as it relates to biodiversity and environmental protection.
- Global Preservation of Indigenous Knowledge - This webpage describes the need to transmit Indigenous knowledge from generation to generation despite the obstacles imposed by the remnants of colonialism, exploitation, and dispossession.
Indigenous Youth: These resources focus specifically on Indigenous Youth and uplift the voices of Indigenous Youth changemakers around the world.
- The Situation of the World’s Indigenous Children and Youth - This webpage details the unique challenges Indigenous youth may experience, including the intergenerational effects of colonization and assimilation policies as well as the continued struggles to ensure their rights and identity as indigenous peoples. Despite these struggles, Indigenous Youth have often led the way in fighting for change in how the world treats and perceives their communities.
- Global Indigenous Youth: Through Their Eyes - This book, written by Indigenous Youth, explores the human rights challenges faced by Indigenous Youth. It is multi-authored by 14 Indigenous Youth from the seven Indigenous socio-cultural regions of the world.
- United Nations Global Indigenous Youth Caucus - The Global Indigenous Youth Caucus is composed of Indigenous youth from around the world. Since the first session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), young indigenous participants have gathered together and developed statements and positions voicing concerns of Indigenous Youth in various international bodies, mechanisms, and processes.
- 7 Young Indigenous Activists Standing Up for Their Communities - From saving sacred lands to fighting for climate justice to protesting race-based mascots, these young people are lending their voices to issues impacting Indigenous communities around the world.
- Indigenous Youth Leading the Way - This article describes the important role of youth in fighting for Indigenous rights and includes excerpts from panels and interviews with youth conducted by Indigenous Rights Radio producers.
Now what? Putting the starter kit in motion:
- Read through these resources to develop a basic understanding of Indigeneity and Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Did you check out the Native Land Map to learn more about the land you stand on?
- After reading about the value of Indigenous Knowledge, how do you think we can better center Indigenous perspectives in solving today’s global challenges? How can we uplift Indigenous voices to leadership roles in solving these challenges?
- Continue learning beyond this starter kit. Here are two lists of Indigenous rights groups you can follow to learn more about Indigenous Peoples and support Indigenous human rights efforts.
- Provide your feedback on this site! Which tools are working and what is missing? How else can we support you?