9 August: International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

Tue, 08/08/2006

Since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, environmental and water-related conferences have often highlighted the role of indigenous peoples in their proposals for action – they detain a sophisticated knowledge and practices relating to water, its use and management. Their unique systems of values, knowledge and practices are often overlooked by current political, legal, scientific systems. Indigenous people still have to struggle for their rights over the water resources they have been using and protecting for generations.