INTERNATIONAL DAY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Dear friends,

August 9th marks the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, a call to continue the struggle to maintain their rights, their identities, and their rights to their traditional territories and natural resources.

According to the United Nations, there are more than 476 million indigenous peoples across 90 countries around the world, and despite their cultural differences, they share common challenges when it comes to protecting their rights.
"These peoples constitute approximately 6% of the world's population, yet they are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, representing at least 15% of the world's poorest," the UN states.

May this commemoration be an opportunity to highlight the richness of our indigenous peoples. We at Misión Kateri Civil Association join the cry of... Enough is Enough! Enough with the folklorization, dispossession, displacement, discrimination, and commodification of Indigenous groups. We firmly believe that it is time to promote knowledge, strengthening, and dissemination of the spirituality and culture of Indigenous peoples.

To our friends from Indigenous groups in Sonora, we thank you for your teachings and friendship. Long live the Yoreme Mayo, Yoeme Yaqui, Makurawe, Comca'ac, O'ob, Cucapá, Kickapoo, Tohono O'odham, and N'dee peoples. Long live the Triqui and Mixtec peoples who made our state what it is: their home.

Thank you for allowing us to walk together toward places where it is no longer necessary to talk about inclusion because equality and respect will always be present.

Fano Campoy
Misión Kateri A.C.