Holy See highlights Indigenous youth as guardians of culture
By Sr. Francine-Marie Cooper
Archbishop Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, spoke on Tuesday at the 23rd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.
The meeting had the priority theme: 鈥淓nhancing Indigenous Peoples鈥� Right to Self-determination in the Context of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Emphasizing the Voices of Indigenous Youth鈥�
In his statement on Tuesday, the Archbishop expressed that the Holy See acknowledged the work of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He continued to offer some 鈥渞eflections on this year鈥檚 priority theme.鈥�
Noting the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Archbishop described the importance of recognizing 鈥渢he role of indigenous youth as present and future custodians of their culture.鈥�
He explained that 杏MAP导航 Francis has encouraged indigenous young people to preserve their cultures and roots by fighting exclusion, waste and impoverishment in order to build a more just and humane world.
Youth as safeguards and bridges
The Vatican diplomat spoke further of the contribution indigenous youth have to give in the cultural field. 鈥淭hey can actively engage in safeguarding and revitalizing their cultural practices and contribute to the preserving of their communities鈥� distinct ways of life, which are integral to their right to self-determination,鈥� he said.
Indigenous youth serve as 鈥渂ridges between generations, fostering inter-generational dialogue, understanding, and cooperation within their communities,鈥� the Archbishop added.
They are also at the 鈥渇orefront in advocating for the protection of ancestral lands, natural resources, and ecosystems, which constitute a key component of indigenous peoples鈥� identity.鈥�
Importance of dialogue
The Archbishop encouraged dialogue with indigenous people, and further explained how dialogue and identity are not 鈥渕utually exclusive.鈥� He urged States to promote a 鈥渃ulture of encounter鈥� rather than 鈥渁 completely enclosed, a-historic, static 鈥榠ndigenism鈥� that would reject any kind of blending.鈥�
The Vatican-Diplomat concluded with words from 杏MAP导航 Francis, who insists that 鈥淕od, the Creator and Father of all peoples and of everything that exists, calls us today to live out and bear witness to our human call to universal fraternity, freedom, justice, dialogue, reciprocal encounter, love and peace, and to avoid fueling hatred, resentment, division, violence and war.鈥�
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