Indigenous Peoples

“We respect the sacred wisdom of each religion, spiritual expression and indigenous tradition.” - URI Principle 2
Caminhos Da Terra CC Indigenous Blessing

Indigenous voices have been an essential part of URI since its beginning. Cooperation Circles act to protect Indigenous peoples' rights to live and thrive in accordance with their traditions.

Examples of our work in this Action Area:

  • Comunidad Cosmica CC, in Buenos Aires, Argentina preserves Indigenous cultures' rich oral histories by publishing written stories.
  • 1God CC, in Clayton, Victoria, Australia, leads a movement to return uncovered Aboriginal human remains for dignified burial in accordance with Aboriginal traditions.
  • Indlondlo Zulu Dancers Cultural and Art Centre, in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, keeps traditional Zulu dances, costume, and culture alive through classes and performances.

The URI delegation delivers prayers and sacred water from around the world as part of the Interfaith Day of Prayer at the Oceti Sakowin Camp on December 4, 2016. URI has a long history of honoring Indigenous traditions, protecting the environment, and creating cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

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Stories

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Indigenous Youth Participation in URI Latin American Assembly

Latin America and the Caribbean
Community Building
Indigenous Peoples
Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation
Youth

This is a post that was sent in by one of our URI Youth Ambassadors, Francisco Morales Ventosa, Indigenous Aymara, who currently resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He had the opportunity to participate in the URI Latin American Regional Assembly and to present about his new Cooperation Circle, "Comunidad Cosmica"  - Cosmic Community.

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Following the Path of Transformation

Multiregion
Environment
Indigenous Peoples
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

This is an inspiring message sent by Weston Pew, one of the members of our URI Global Youth CC, to the URI global youth community at the beginning of 2010, as a New Year's Greeting.... "In this universal breath that is this moment we hold the power for absolute destruction or absolute transformation. Each of us feels this possibility from within and I believe that each of us is here right now at this time to access our greatest human potential, our greatest individual gifts and direct them towards the transformation of the greater good. In a sense we are all here as midwives to usher in this new chapter of human existence on earth and within the universe." Weston is traveling on the Sacred Door Trail right as we speak. We look forward to hearing of his experiences when he returns!