THIRD ANNUAL PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES OPENS AT UNITED NATIONS
Native Hawaiians Have Large Representation At International Forum
New York, NY – Native Hawaiians were in broad attendance today at the opening of the Third Annual Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations.
Education, culture, and human rights, including independence, are some of the issues that Hawaiians, as part of the Pacific Region Caucus, are working together on towards a unified statement that all Pacific Caucus members can ascribe to and support
“One of the great success stories in Hawai’i so far are our native charter schools as a means of establishing indigenous education systems,” stated Kai’opua Fyfe, a director of the Koani Foundation. “Really all of the ingredients of independence, culture and even human rights start with education and the native Hawaiian charter schools are flourishing to the extent that they can now be models for the rest of the Polynesian Triangle and Pacific nations.”
A highlight of today’s’ session was welcoming remarks delivered by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who promised increased UN support for the Permanent Indigenous Forum.
In a further show of impact of Hawaiian participation, activist Mililani Trask was re-elected by acclamation of the assembly as a vice-president of the Forum.
The Forum continues through next week with presentation of recommendations regarding indigenous issues as a function of the Polynesian and global community.
