Photo: CEDIAC
On the UN’s commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, August 9, Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) reaffirms its commitment to support the right of Indigenous people to self-determination and governance.
CJI highlights the work of its partners in peace-building from an Indigenous perspective, and in intercultural and bilingual education.
The AC Indigenous Rights Centre (CEDIAC) based in Chiapas, Mexico, promotes conflict resolution mechanisms based on reconciliation and community integrity. The project, Conflict Resolution from the Tseltal Normative System, strengthens the capacity of local Indigenous communities to manage their conflict resolution system.

Photo: Pan Amazon Intercultural and Bilingual Education project in Chiapas, Mexco.
The Jesuit Service of the Pan-Amazon Region (SJPAM) and Fe y Alegría (FyA) International Educational Network not only promotes meaningful and culturally appropriate education, but also raises awareness about ecological and social justice issues. Indigenous people hold traditional ecological knowledge that is critical to the protection and preservation of the environment.
This year’s theme, Indigenous youth as agents of self-determination, highlights the role that Indigenous youth “must occupy in decision-making, while recognizing their dedicated efforts in climate action, the search for justice for their people, and the creation of an intergenerational connection that keeps their culture, traditions and contributions alive.”
There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous peoples living in 90 countries, according to the UN. They account for less than five per cent of the world’s population but make up 15 per cent of the poorest.
Indigenous peoples’ rights have often been violated, and oftentimes they spring from the historical burden of colonization, said the UN.
“Indigenous Peoples today, are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and way of life,” said the UN.
Learn more about CEDIAC’s work here.
Learn more about the work of the Jesuit Service of the Pan-Amazon Region (SJPAM) and Fe y Alegría (FyA) International Educational Network here.