OTTAWA,
ON, Aug. 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Defending Indigenous
rights means more than honouring our ancestors and accomplishments.
It is about building a better future for all peoples, and for the
planet.
Every culture, including the most remote and minority
communities, has unique knowledge and perspectives to help respond
to the most pressing challenges the world is facing.
My parents and my grandmother Jeannie taught me so much about
traditional Inuit ways of life and the complex, fragile ecosystem
of the Arctic. They taught me the importance of adapting our diet
and our movements to the changing ice conditions and the seasonal
migrations of wild animals. We lived with respect for this great
balance that transcends us all.
Similarly to the Inuit, millions of Indigenous peoples around
the world have remained resilient in the face of so many
challenges. We are preserving our distinct cultures and languages.
We are carrying ancient, intergenerational wisdom that makes our
world richer, and that is invaluable in fighting the climate
crisis.
I particularly admire the resilience of some 200 Indigenous
communities in different regions of the world who still choose to
live isolated from other cultures, in remote environments that they
love and have helped to preserve for millennia. These peoples are
both extremely vulnerable, and highly competent in protecting
forests and biodiversity.
On this International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, I
want to thank all Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers and agents
of change from all walks of life who actively support Indigenous
rights through their commitment to sustainable development projects
or education.
It is more than the right thing to do. It is crucial to ensuring
a rich global cultural heritage for the next generations, and a
greener future for the planet.
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SOURCE Governor General of Canada