Quick update from UNPFII6 (photos)

Hello all. I hope this finds you in good spirits and health. I have talked with a number of individuals here at the UNPFII regarding photos that I have been taking. I am including some photos in updates but there are a lot more that have been uploaded on my flickr site. To access them, please visit my Flickr page. What's currently uploaded there are web friendly photos - if you are interested in more photos please send me an email or leave a comment.

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Indigenous Youth at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, a number of statements were made by Indigenous Youth regarding the future work of the Permanent Forum. As a young person, I was very happy to see young people requesting assistance from the Permanent Forum, NGOs and States for financial support and more access to this meeting. While it was great to see these young people, the over all numbers are quite small.

|| Myron Lameman ||
Making a statement on behalf of the Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association

It was stated by many people, from youth to elders, that young people need to participate more in UN meetings. However, financial barriers, coupled with growing difficulties in obtaining visas and other required documentation for international travel, continue to make it difficult. It has yet to be seen how these requests for help will translate into higher numbers of youth attending these meetings.

|| Indigenous Youth from Hawaii ||

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Reporting from the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Greetings from the United Nations in New York!

My name is Alyssa Macy and I am an indigenous woman from here in the United States. My father is of the Wasco descent and my mother is Navajo and Hopi. I was raised on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Central Oregon with my fathers people. I currently reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I am attending the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues here in New York as a delegate with the International Indian Treaty Council. I have been writing a blog on the daily proceedings as well as taking photos. The UNPFII is a standing UN organ, made of experts whose main responsibility is to "advise the UN system through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on issues related to the situation of Indigenous Peoples, to promote cooperation and coordination and indigenous issues and to raise awareness about individual issues." Indigenous participation is central to the UNPFII as they bring the voices of Indigenous Peoples worldwide to Nation-States and the United Nations. The UNPFII has been meeting for over a week and will adjourn this Friday. Please feel free to leave comments or questions.

In solidarity,
Alyssa Macy
indigeniusmedia.blogspot.com
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon

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