This month, Indigenous communities across the globe are making headlines for their continued efforts to reclaim land and culture, fight for their rights, and lead groundbreaking conservation work. Here’s a summary of recent news.
North America
In the United States, two significant events have highlighted the ongoing struggles and victories of Indigenous people. On Orange Shirt Day, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Northern Michigan University honored victims of Native American boarding schools. Tribal members shared personal stories about the lasting trauma from these institutions, which worked to erase their cultural identity.
Meanwhile, the Onondaga Nation in upstate New York has reclaimed a piece of their ancestral territory. After decades of fighting, the nation has regained 1,000 acres of land near Syracuse as part of a federal settlement with Honeywell International. Though a small fraction of their original lands, this is a major symbolic victory as the nation continues its legal battles.
In Canada, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has formally apologized to Indigenous peoples for systemic racism in the healthcare system. However, many Indigenous doctors are skeptical about the apology's effectiveness, arguing it doesn't fully address the deep-rooted issues they've faced in medical education and practice. The apology is seen as a first step, but a reminder that a lot more work is needed to achieve meaningful change.
Australia and South Africa
In a major conservation win, Indigenous rangers and scientists in Western Australia have rediscovered a population of the night parrot, a bird once thought to be extinct for over a century. The team used sound recordings to identify up to 50 of these elusive birds. This discovery highlights the critical role of Indigenous-led conservation in protecting Australia’s unique biodiversity.
In South Africa, Heritage Day on September 24th was a month-long celebration of the nation’s rich culture. The George Heritage Trust (GHT) marked the occasion by planting 10 native trees at a historic site. This act was also a powerful tribute to the Khoisan people, who are the first inhabitants of the Cape. In a related story, the Khoi and San peoples are also calling for official recognition as the "First Nation" of South Africa, demanding representation in parliament to honor their historical presence and land ownership.
Australia also mourned the passing of Joyce Clague, an influential First Nations activist. The Yaegl elder was a trailblazer for Aboriginal and women’s rights, serving as an advisor to New South Wales governments and a key campaigner for the 1967 Constitutional Referendum.
Asia and South America
In Malaysia, a group of environmental and human rights organizations has asked the European Union (EU) to label the state of Sarawak as a "high-risk" area under its anti-deforestation laws. The coalition says that extensive deforestation and violations of Indigenous rights are threatening Indigenous territories there.
A similar struggle is playing out in Nepal, where Indigenous Bhote Singsa communities are fighting against a hydropower project that they say is damaging sacred lands and violating their rights. They claim the company, Sangrila Urja Pvt. Ltd., forged signatures and provided false reports to move forward with the project without their consent.
In India, thousands of Indigenous Adivasi people are protesting forced evictions from their ancestral lands to create tiger reserves. The government's plan to evict nearly 400,000 Adivasis from these reserves has been met with outrage. Activists say this conservation model ignores Indigenous rights and their connection to the forests.
Indigenous leaders in Argentina's Jujuy province are taking their case to the United Nations Human Rights Council. They plan to denounce severe human rights violations, including violent repression during the 2023 "jujeñazo" protests and recent discriminatory policies they believe violate international treaties.
In Guatemala, Indigenous authorities have urged Congress to reject "corrupt" candidates for the country's Supreme Court and Appeals Chambers. In an open letter, they called for a transparent voting process and the selection of magistrates committed to justice and democracy to ensure the court serves all people fairly.