Media Center

Press Advisory

OAS Celebrates Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples

The Organization of American States (OAS) will celebrate the VI Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples from August 7-11, 2023, with a series of activities focused on highlighting the rich cultural heritage, traditions, languages, and other societal contributions of indigenous peoples in the Americas.

Under the theme "Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination in the Americas: Intergenerational Connections," the commemorative week will underscore the transformative role of young people to serve as catalysts for positive change in their societies.

The OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, and Assistant Secretary General, Nestor Mendez, will launch the week on August 7 with a ceremony at OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C, which will feature a cultural indigenous presentation.

This year’s activities will include:

From August 7-11:

• An exhibition by the Art Museum of the Americas and the Columbus Memorial Library showcasing indigenous artwork, literature, and film projects. The exhibition will be displayed at OAS Headquarters and on the OAS website and social media.

• The Online Children and Youth Reading Corner, an initiative to promote intergenerational connections and the transmission of ancestral knowledge, will feature submissions of works of fiction (poetry, drama or prose) or non-fiction which illustrate the knowledge and accomplishments of Indigenous peoples.

• Profiles of Indigenous peoples who are helping to cultivate and maintain ancestral traditions while implementing modern practices will be highlighted on the OAS website and social media.

August 9:The OAS Permanent Council will hold a special session to commemorate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and the Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples. This special session will feature high level authorities from sub-regions of the hemisphere and will offer an opportunity for constructive dialogue with member states. The meeting will be livestreamed through the Organization’s media platforms.

August 11: A Special Edition of a Chat with the OAS, a virtual live event, will feature panelists addressing the theme, Intergenerational Connections: The role of gastronomy in preserving time-honored traditional customs and strengthening indigenous identity.

The General Secretariat’s offices in member states will also hold cultural events in their respective countries, focused on the preservation and transmission of indigenous traditional knowledge.

Press Contact: Maria Isabel Rivero ([email protected]).

WHAT: Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples

WHEN: August 7-11, 2023

WHERE: OAS headquarters, General Secretariat Offices in member states and on social media.

Reference: AVI-138/23