Indigenous Peoples

Agenda 21: Chapter 26 – Recognising and strengthening the Role of Indigenous People and Their Communities

26.1. Indigenous people and their communities have a historical relationship with their lands and are generally descendants of its original inhabitants. In the context of this chapter the term “lands” is understood to include the environment of the areas which the people concerned traditionally occupy. Indigenous people and their communities represent a significant percentage of the global population. They have developed over many generations a holistic traditional scientific knowledge of their lands, natural resources and environment. Indigenous people and their communities shall enjoy the full measure of human rights and fundamental freedoms without hindrance or discrimination. Their ability to participate fully in sustainable development practices on their lands has tended to be limited as a result of factors of an economic, social and historical nature. In view of the interrelationship between the natural environment and its sustainable development, and the cultural, social, economic and physical well-being of indigenous people, national and international efforts to implement environmentally sound and sustainable development should recognize, accommodate, promote and strengthen the role of indigenous people and their communities.

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Contact Details for Organising Partners

Ms. Vicky Tauli Corpuz CSD Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus Tebtebba – Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education 1 Roman Ayson Road, Baguio City, Philippines, 2600 Tel: +63-74-4447703; Fax:+ 63-74-4439459 E-mail: [email protected] — [email protected]	Ms. Jocelyn Carino Nettleton Tebtebba – Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education European Office 111 Faringdon Road, Stanford-in-the-Vale, Oxon SN7 8LD, UK Tel: +44-1367-718889 (work/home); +44-207-326-0363 (work) E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Mr. Tom Goldtooth Indigenous Environmental Network P.O. Box 485, Bemidji, MN 56619-0485,USA Tel: +1-218-751-4967; Fax: +1-218-751-0561 E-mail: [email protected]