Ten Thousand Things
Multicultural Webfinds

"Ten Thousand Things" is a Buddhist expression representing the dynamic interconnection and simultaneous unity and diversity of everything in the universe.

This is the 200th posting in this series...

Ainu Leaders host INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SUMMIT July 1-4, 2008

"The time has come to be aware of the treasures within ourselves that we have inherited from our ancestors. 'Ainu'… a word I once did not dare to speak in this country, has become a word I can say with pride. We are holding this Indigenous Peoples Summit to move towards a society where Ainu people can speak the word 'Ainu' without shame."
– Mina Sakai

The General Assembly of United Nations ratified the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, recognizing the rights of 370 million indigenous people around the world. Only four nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S.) voted against it. The Japanese government supported the Declaration, but still does not recognize the Ainu as an indigenous people.

Against these latest developments in a globally and historically interrelated, as well as mutually supportive, indigenous peoples' movement, Ainu leaders are hosting the first Indigenous Peoples (IP) Summit, from July 1 to 4, in Ainu Mosir (Hokkaido) shortly before leaders of industrial nations will gather for the annual G8 summit, also meeting in Hokkaido. Indigenous leaders from other parts of the world will join the Ainu and their supporters to call for sustainable development, respect for indigenous rights and for action to be taken for environmental protection.

Catherine Makino's article at IPS, "Ainu People to Press Demands at G8 Summit" outlines changes in attitudes among Ainu regarding ethnic pride and activism and quotes Ainu Rebels musician Mina Sakai:

"Mina, a member of the younger generation, is now proud of being Ainu. Her life changed at 16 when she met other indigenous peoples on a trip to Canada.

"'Ainu was a word I didn't dare speak in this country before, but now I can say it with pride,' she said 'I was so shocked when I met them. They were dancing and singing because they had so much pride in being indigenous people. They gave us courage. I know at the summit we can make Japanese aware of our situation.'

"About 1,000 people will participate in the event, including delegates from the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, United States, Russia, Norway, Guatemala, and Taiwan according to Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

"There are about 5,000 groups of indigenous people living in more than 70 countries. They represent only 4 percent of the global population, but make up the various cultures in about 70 -80 percent of the world.

"The group will submit an appeal to the world's leading industrialised leaders who will gather in Hokkaido in July for the G8 summit. It calls for recovery of indigenous rights, education and language, environmental protection and full recognition of the Ainu's status as an indigenous people."

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