International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
Today is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, and we at Woozworld want to take this opportunity to reflect on how we can do better to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and supporting the world's indigenous population.
With over 475 million indigenous people across the globe, we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate and recognize the many achievements that indigenous peoples have accomplished to improve the world that we all share.
We are, no doubt, aware of the recent news surrounding the mistreatment of indigenous peoples across Canada, and our hearts go out to the many families and individuals who have suffered. We have been listening and learning about different ways that we can come together and support those who have been affected.
If you are also looking to make a difference, below is a list of things that some of us at Woozworld have been doing to support/learn more about indigenous groups.
Visit Museums/Galleries
There are tons of museums that have exhibits that focus on different indigenous groups throughout history. With millions of different aboriginal groups living in 90 countries across the globe, you're bound to find a wide range of exhibits in different museums near you. If museums aren't your thing, you can always head over to the closest art gallery and admire the works of art created by indigenous peoples.
Shop at Indigenous-owned businesses
From cosmetics, to books, to essential oils, there are so many products from indigenous-owned businesses to choose from. If you aren't able to find any shops around your neighbourhood, you can always turn to the internet and search for an indigenous owned business online that sells exactly what you're looking for.
Read Indigenous Books/Papers
Check out your local library, or even online, for books/novels written by indigenous authors. Whether you find yourself drawn to autobiographies, history books, or even fictional novels, you can support indigenous authors by reading some of their works. If you're interested in something shorter, like a little article here and there, you can always check out the hundreds of indigenous newspapers on the net.
Share/Promote Indigenous Events
While the weather is nice, it's a great time to get outside and check out some different local aboriginal events. Whether it's a festival, an arts & crafts fair, a tour, or even a cooking class, there are always different events going on that you can attend. If you can't attend, you could always share the event on social media, or even find out if it's possible to attend virtually. Just getting the word out is a huge help to those that are organizing the event.
While all of this is just a start, we want to continue to do better, and we are happy to keep learning and listening.
If you would like to learn more, you can visit the United Nations website, where you can find webinars and information about the world's indigenous peoples. They will be hosting a webinar to discuss the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (If you miss it, it will also be posted on their website afterwards).