International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2013

Today is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2013.  The theme of this year's observance is "Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements."  

By United Nations General Assembly Resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the UN selected to observe the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on 9 August each year.  August 9, it is commonly thought, was selected as an alternative date to the second Monday in October, the date on which Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day are both observed in the United States.  South Dakota Codified Laws 1-5-1.2 provides that the State of South Dakota will observe Native American Day as a state holiday on the Second Day of October. Native American Day is "dedicated to the rememberance of the great Native American leaders who contributed so much to the history" of South Dakota.

The theme for International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 2013  is intended “to highlight the importance of honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements, between States, its citizens and indigenous peoples. Both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples have a pivotal role in making treaties ‘living documents’ in their own communities, by establishing new ways to live together, respecting one another and cooperating in the pursuit of common goals.”

In observance of this International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples there is a display of some of the resources on Indigenous Peoples and Native American Law available via McKusick Law Library. The display includes the a volume of the Statutes at Large containing treaties with Native American Tribes.

(This entry was originally written and posted by Darla Jackson)