Indigenous Peoples, Keepers of Our Past - Custodians of Our Future

Recognition of, and respect for the basic rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples is an important subject that has received growing attention from the international community mainly in the last 25 years. Erica-Irene Daes, the author of this book has been at the heart of the international discussion on indigenous peoples rights. She is internationally most known for her work in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations. As Chairperson of the Working Group from 1984 until her retirement as an active member of the Sub-Commission in 2001, she was one of the driving forces behind the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, she authored numerous UN studies on issues related to indigenous peoples rights and visited many indigenous communities all over the world. This book is Erica Daes’ personal record on more than twenty years of efforts to promote the cause of indigenous peoples and the recognition of their fundamental rights by the UN system. The author explores the definition of “indigenous peoples"; describe the resurgence of the world’s indigenous peoples in the international arena and review the work accomplished by the United Nations system over the last three decades, including new instruments and machinery for the recognition, and protection of indigenous rights.