Indigenous Youth Caucus Statement on the theme of
Social and Economic Development to the
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
UN HQs, New York - May 17, 2007
by Kiritapu Allan

Goodmorning Madame Chair,

We would like to acknowledge the peoples of this land, the mountains the rivers the seas and all other living beings that have inhabited this place since time immemorial. 

My name is Kiritapu Allan of the Ngati Ranginui peoples of Tauranaga Moana in the south pacific islands of Aotearoa. On behalf of the indigenous  youth caucus, I would like to thank the Permanent Forum for giving this opportunity to express our concern on the agenda on Social and Economic development. 

We, the indigenous youth, makes up 48% of the indigenous peoples around the world.  We rally upon the responsibility of the youth to sustain this world for the future generations to inherit.  The General Assembly adopted the following statement in 1995 ‘that young people in all countries are a vital human resource for development and key agents for social change, economic growth and technological innovation’ therefore I call on any other indigenous youths to stand in solidarity as we present this statement on behalf of the indigenous youths of the world.

We express our specific concerns on the following:

In order to make a more hospitable place for future generations we must consider the cycle of life and that young peoples as much as old peoples have an integral role to play.

Madam Chair and distinguished delegates, we urge you to rise above the economic and political rhetoric.  Please focus on the moral and ethical responsibility that you have toward this generation and future ones. 

Indigenous cultures inform our approach to youth development.  The inter-related nature of life reveals to us the importance for us to be responsible for the generation after us and those that came before us.  We urge the forum to help us to support and protect our elders and their traditional knowledge which is essential to sustaining our indigenous livelihood.

We reaffirm our intrinsic responsibilities to future generations in protecting and sustaining the continuity of our collective and unique values, spirituality and principals that spring from our inter-relationship with Mother Earth in line with safeguarding our pride and dignity as Indigenous Peoples;

We urge the UNPFII to recommend that Governments acknowledge the past and ongoing grievances done to Indigenous people. That these grievances have led to the degradation of Indigenous peoples communities social, spiritual, economic and all other types of development and that Governments support Indigenous control over Indigenous social and economic developments and initiatives. Land is life, water is life and until indigenous control over indigenous lands, rivers, seas and mountains is affirmed and honored economic and social development is a non-issue as our livelihoods is intrinsically connected to all living things.

We express our concern that a continued limited participation of Indigenous Youth in decision-making processes locally, regionally and internationally restricts the integration of our perspectives and experiences in decisions impacting our survival;

We call upon other UN Agencies to support and ensure the full and active participation of Indigenous youth at the Permanent Forum and all decision making process of UN Agencies impacting Indigenous youths and to recommend to UN  inter-agencies and foundations for greater & equitable access to financial and other aids in enhancing our rights as IP youth;

We are in a powerful position because of the shoes we were born into and the voices we carry.  The indigenous world is relying on the work that is done here.  We are ready to speak with you, if you are.

We encourage the forum to actively engage with us, the indigenous youths, because we are a new generation of peoples mandated by our ancestors to care for mother earth and ask that you, our elders, support us, so our ancestral  knowledge will be carried into the future.

Thank You.