Submitted by Cultural Survival

EMRIP Item 5: Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Chair of the UNPFII and the Board of Trustees of the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples and members of the United Nations Treaty Bodies on UNDRIP implementation

Esteemed Special Rapporteur, distinguished delegates, and esteemed colleagues and parentes, 

Aimee Roberson is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and also of Chickasaw, Scottish, Irish, and English descent. She is a lifelong student of Mother Earth’s wisdom and holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master’s in conservation biology. She is committed to reciprocity and community, and works with people to ensure that the social-ecological systems upon which we all depend continue to flourish.

This June, in honor of Pride Month, Cultural Survival celebrates the wide range of identities and experiences in Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ communities. Cultural Survival's Indigenous Youth Fellowship Program stands at the forefront of this celebration, recognizing and supporting the unique voices and leadership of Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Through their projects, these fellows are embracing their identities, honoring their cultures, and driving positive change within their communities, creating successes and influence that reach far beyond the confines of Pride Month.

The importance of educating youth in their own languages about their own cultures using curricula designed by, or with the participation of, Indigenous  Peoples cannot be stressed enough. When youth are taught content in a manner that is culturally responsive to their Indigenous communities, it strengthens their identities and history, creating healthy spaces for self-determination.

Registration: tinyurl.com/iplang2024 

Dear Cultural Survival Community,

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to announce that Aimee Roberson will join Cultural Survival as our new executive director. She will be based out of New Mexico.

¡Después de un increíble año de arduo trabajo y profundo impacto, estamos emocionados de compartir con ustedes el Informe Anual 2023 de Cultural Survival!

Desde su creación en 1972, Cultural Survival ha apoyado a miles de comunidades Indígenas a través de campañas conjuntas de defensa, desarrollo de capacidades, becas para jóvenes, investigación, subvenciones directas, publicaciones y más.

By Bryan Bixcul (Maya Tz’utujil, CS Staff)

For Immediate Release
Contact: Noreen Quadir noreen@sirgecoalition.org

Indigenous Leaders to Participate in 17th OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains on May 21-24, 2024 at OECD Headquarters, Paris

By Shaylin Salas (CHamoru)

My name is Shaylin Salas, and I am a CHamoru woman from Guåhan, Mariana Islands. Guåhan (popularly, Guam) is the southernmost island of the Mariana Islands chain in the western Pacific Ocean. The Indigenous Peoples of this region are the CHamoru and the Refaluwasch communities. In 2022, I was a Cultural Survival Indigenous Youth Arts Fellow. For this, I was invited to attend the 23rd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York in April 2024.

Every year, on May 3, we celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom.

Indigenous youth worldwide embody resilience and hope, boldly navigating systemic challenges to champion collective action within their communities. Despite facing these complexities, their unwavering commitment to growth, empowerment, and aspiration shines through. Our Indigenous Youth Fellowship Program provides a supportive platform for these young leaders to amplify their voices and advocate for change.