Celebrating International Day of the World's Indigenous People, 9 August 2021

Did you know 9 August each year marks the UN’s International Day of the World's Indigenous People? This is a special day celebrating the over 476 million indigenous peoples living in 90 countries across the world, accounting for 6.2 per cent of the global population. The theme this year is Leaving no one behind:
Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract.

This August 9, International Day of Indigenous Peoples, we must demand indigenous peoples’ inclusion, participation and approval in the constitution of a system with social and economic benefits for all.

So what does this theme actually mean? A social contract is an unwritten agreement that societies make to cooperate for social and economic benefits. In many countries, where indigenous peoples were driven from their lands, their cultures and languages denigrated and their people marginalized from political and economic activities, they were never included in the social contract to begin with. The social contract was made among the dominant populations.

Over recent years and decades, various societies have sought to address this, including through apologies, truth and reconciliation efforts, legislative reforms, as well as constitutional reforms. Despite these, not all are embarked on the collective journey to ensure that no one is left behind, including indigenous peoples. Therefore, the building and redesigning of a new social contract as an expression of cooperation for social interest and common good for humanity and nature, is needed.

Looking at this theme in the Australian context, here are a few things you can do today:

  • Look into what treaty processes are happening in your local state or territory.

  • Research the Uluru Statement. What is it, what does it stand for, what’s happening now?

  • Find out more about traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinships structures.

  • Have a look at the stories on the UN website for this day.

  • Read Reconciliation Australia’s 20 ACTIONS FOR RECONCILIATION IN 2021

  • Learn more about Black Lives Matter.




Deborah Hoger