Message from Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the Occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

教科文组织总干事奥德蕾·阿祖莱世界土著人民国际日致辞

9 August 2021

2021年8月9日

In the Lakota language of North America, the word “Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ” means “all is related” or “all my relatives” – both human and non-human. In Hawaiian, the phrase “ike loa” means “to see much” and describes a philosophy of lifelong learning to better understand our relationship with the world. And in the nearly extinct Nǀuu language of South Africa, the word “lgqe” refers to the life-force shared by all living things.

在北美的拉科塔语中，“Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ”一词的意思是“一切都是相关的”或者“我的所有家庭成员”，人类和非人类都包括在内。在夏威夷语中，“ike loa”的意思是“见多识广”，阐明了某种坚持终身学习以更好地把握我们与世界的关系的理念。在濒临灭绝的南非Nǀuu语中，“lgqe”一词指的是所有生物共同具有的生命力。

In the face of global challenges, from climate change to COVID-19, concepts like these offer incredibly useful insights. As stewards of the land, with a vast range of cultures, traditions and languages, indigenous peoples have impressive wisdom to draw on – but only if they are listened to.

面对从气候变化到COVID-19疫情等全球性挑战，来自土著人民的这些语言概念提供了令人茅塞顿开的真知灼见。土著人民守护着土地，承载着广泛的文化、传统和语言，拥有可供借鉴的丰富智慧，有待我们前去倾听。

Marked every year on 9 August, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is an opportunity to celebrate these communities and their knowledge. This year’s theme focuses on building a new social contract with indigenous peoples – one that is anchored in human rights and respect for cultural diversity, and leaves no one behind.

每年的8月9日世界土著人民国际日，都是我们礼赞土著群体及其所掌握知识的契机。今年国际日的主题是与土著人民建立一种新的社会契约，一种植根于人权和尊重文化多样性并且不让任何人掉队的契约。

Because while indigenous peoples may be uniquely placed to guide us towards greater sustainability, they are also particularly vulnerable to the challenges of our changing world. For instance, minority groups have been more vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19, notably due to unequal access to healthcare and public information.

因为，虽然土著人民可能在引导我们走向更加可持续的发展方面具有独特优势，但他们在应对这个不断变化的世界的挑战方面，依然十分脆弱。例如，少数群体更容易受到COVID-19疫情的影响，特别是由于在获取医疗保健和公共信息方面存在机会不平等的问题。

Indeed, although indigenous peoples represent 6.2 per cent of the global population and speak an estimated 4,000 languages, many of these cultures and languages are now at risk of disappearing. This is why UNESCO is stepping up its work to amplify the voices of these communities in all of the fields covered by our mandate.

事实上，尽管土著人民占全球人口的6.2%，并且使用大约4000种语言，但其中的许多文化和语言现在正面临消失的危险。正因如此，教科文组织正在加紧努力，在我们职责范围内的所有领域广泛传播土著人民的声音。

One way we are doing this is by supporting the transmission of indigenous languages – for example, as the lead agency for the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages, from 2022 to 2032.

其中一种方式是支持土著语言的传播，例如充分发挥本组织作为联合国国际土著语言十年（2022-2032年）牵头机构的作用。

Another way we are doing this is by highlighting the value of indigenous knowledge in addressing environmental issues – through creative exchanges as part of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and through the effective participation of indigenous peoples in forums such as the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services and the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

另一种方式是强调土著知识在解决环境问题方面的重要价值，例如在联合国生态系统恢复十年框架范围开展创造性交流，以及推动土著人民有效参与生物多样性和生态系统服务政府间平台以及教科文组织政府间海洋学委员会等论坛。

Lastly, we are doing this by fostering inclusion – for instance, by partnering with indigenous youth to implement projects in response to COVID-19 in South-East Asia.

最后，我们也正在为此开展促进包容方面的工作，例如在东南亚通过与土著青年合作，实施应对COVID-19疫情的项目。

Amid global challenges, indigenous peoples offer us unique solutions to move forward. However, if the world is to learn from their wisdom, their voices must be heard. In this spirit, UNESCO fully embraces this International Day and the will to enrich our relationships, to build resilience, and to learn to live well together.

面对全球性挑战，土著人民为我们提供了走向未来的独特解决方案。然而，如果世界要学习他们的智慧，就必须倾听他们的声音。本着这一精神，教科文组织完全支持这一国际日纪念活动，以及其中所表达的旨在丰富我们的关系、培养韧性和学会和睦相处的意愿。