International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples August 9, 2022

 

August is the month in which UNESCO has established International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. In our review, CSL’s Spiritually Motivated Social Engagement (SMSE) Committee found UNESCO's website to be rich with resources, calls to action and inspiration for the annual celebration on August 9. In this statement, we have provided convenient links for you and your community to access UNESCO’s materials and other helpful resources.   CSL's Global Vision calls us to envision a world in which we live and grow as One Global Family that respects and honors the interconnectedness of all life; a world where this kinship with all life prospers and connects through the guidance of spiritual wisdom and experience[1]. Many Indigenous people do not experience the world this way, and UNESCO “seeks to support them in addressing the multiple challenges they face, while acknowledging their significant role in sustaining the diversity of the world’s cultural and biological landscape."[2]   We invite you to consider the importance of researching the area where you live and your own personal heritage to learn more about what it means to be Indigenous and why it is important to recognize Native, First, Original people; their origin stories; the conditions they live under today; and — perhaps most importantly — the contributions they have and continue to make to our global family of beings. It is significant that among leaders in conservation and other efforts to reduce global warming, the extinction of life-supporting species and reducing pollution of vital resources such as water, we often find Indigenous people at the forefront[3].   Throughout Africa, South America, Asia and the United States, borders were created and land appropriated by colonialism, cutting through tribal territories and interrupting cultural, social and economic communities and their welfare[4].  Today, there are individuals and organizations that recognize and seek to recover, celebrate and incorporate the values and ingenuity of Indigenous people in our collective efforts to restore healthy communities where they have been decimated and to provide reparations for past injustices[5].    CSL's SMSE Committee recognizes the spiritual importance of examining cause and effect on a global level, and how we, in our CSL communities, have the opportunity through self- and community education to put new causes in motion locally for global impact. Through our spiritual practices and the resulting actions we take from a consciousness of love and respect, we can create a new story to be told in the future: a story of cooperation, celebration and inclusion of the wisdom of all the people on the planet.   UNESCO has designated 2022 "The Decade of Indigenous People," a decade of opportunity to repatriate land or provide equivalent remuneration, to ensure equitable education, health and economic opportunities. Let us as CSL join in a consciousness of healing, respecting and honoring Indigenous people and their unique and much-needed contributions to making a world that works for all. We encourage you to share the UNESCO website links in this statement with your friends, family and community, and to initiate conversations about Indigenous people in your area. Explore the Indigenous Land Digital Map to learn more about the Indigenous people in your area (see link below) and to explore ways for the whole family to celebrate the event: Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration Ideas for the Entire Family (VeryWellFamily.com).   [1] Learn About Our Global Vision - Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL.org) [2] International Day of the World's Indigenous People | UNESCO [3] Indigenous People and Nature: A Tradition of Conservation (unep.org) [4] The World: A Century Later, Letting Africans Draw Their Own Map - The New York Times (NYTimes.com) [5] 15 Indigenous Human Rights Organizations to Follow | Human Rights Careers   For more information about the 2022 Virtual Commemoration and the Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge, visit the UN’s page here: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022 | United Nations For Indigenous Peoples   For a map to help identify Indigenous people in the area you currently live, visit: Native-Land.ca | Our Home on Native Land     Spiritually Motivated Social Engagement Committee     Rev. Edward Viljoen, D.D., Spiritual Leader, Centers for Spiritual Living Rev. Raymont Anderson, Ph.D., D.D., Chair Rev. Andrea Nelson Asebedo, D.D., Co-Chair, Ethics and Professionalism Rev. Sunshine Michelle Coleman, Ph.D. Rev. D. Jacquelyn Edwards, MPA, MCS Rev. Cindy Grimes Ayo McClennan, RScP, Liaison to the Leadership Council Rev. Mike McMorrow, D.D. Rev. Martha Quintana, Director, CSL Global Services   The Spiritually Motivated Social Engagement (SMSE) Committee strives to look beyond personal opinion and instead to the broader context that represents important global issues while avoiding spiritual bypass, exclusion and blame. We understand that our response may not capture all views, and we appreciate people who share dissenting points of views with us. There are many ways to view current affairs and topics of social significance in a spiritual context. We try to carefully research and look at as many angles and perspectives as possible given the global reach of our organization and the potential impacts on so many people, seeking always to link our statements to core Science of Mind teachings, our organization’s shared values and Global Vision. We trust that our readers understand how seriously we take our responses to these world issues.     Centers for Spiritual Living  573 Park Point Drive   |  Golden, Colorado, 80401 Phone: 720-496-1370  |  Fax: 303-526-0913 © 2013 Centers for Spiritual Living Privacy Policy

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