International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
Celebrating the rights of the world's Indigenous peoples and their struggles, achievements, and contributions to our world and our Earth.
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
Credit: Onu Brasil [Public Domain] via Wikimedia
Indigenous people are the original inhabitants of a place. Indigenous peoples are also called First Nations people, aboriginal people or Native peoples, such as "Native Americans."
Films about Indigenous Peoples
Voice Above Water
By: Turning Tides Films
Learn about 90 year old, Wayan Nyo from Indonesia, who does his part to clean the ocean and make the world a much better place.
Murrawah Maroochy Johnson - Goldman Environmental Prize
By: Goldman Environmental Prize
Murrawah Maroochy Johnson blocked development of the Waratah coal mine.
Nonhle Mbuthuma and Sinegugu Zukulu - Goldman Environmental Prize
By: Goldman Environmental Prize
In September 2022, Indigenous activists Nonhle Mbuthuma and Sinegugu Zukulu stopped destructive seismic testing for oil and gas off South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
The Future Innu
By: Wapikoni Mobile
An ode to the land in relation to my double identity as an urban Indigenous person. A story that is both personal and poetic.
Oasis: The Projection of your own Identity
By: Amiko Muscat
Jessica Recinos, a choreographer based in San Francisco is yearning to pursue her identity and culture through dance.
These heroes tell their stories about their fight for justice and respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples.
Looking After Our Spirit
Mark Pearce featuring Dr. Anne Poelina
Dr. Anne Poelina speaks out about the social, human, cultural and environmental values that has built the community spirit of Broome.
Protecting the Amazon by Advancing Indigenous Rights
PAUL PAZ Y MINO
Since 1996, Amazon Watch has partnered with indigenous and environmental organizations in campaigns for human rights, corporate accountability, and the preservation of the Amazon's ecological systems.
Smoke That Travels [Trailer]
Producer: Kayla Briët
"What happens when a story is forgotten? I'm making a film about my dad, Gary Wiski-ge-amatyuk, my family, and what it means to be Native American today."
Mother of All Rivers
Producer: Will Parrinello
Berta Cáceres rallied her indigenous Lenca people to wage a grassroots protest that successfully pressured the government of Honduras and the world's largest dam builder to withdraw from building the Agua Zarca Dam.
Watch this excerpt by student filmmaker Camille Manybeads TSO, proud to walk in the footsteps of her ancestors.
Yellow Woman - A Hero Report Excerpt
Produced by:Betty Bailey & Camille Manybeads Tso
Camille Manybeads Tso tells an inspiring true story of Native American Heritage.
More Films
Nonhle Mbuthuma and Sinegugu Zukulu - Goldman Environmental Prize
By: Goldman Environmental Prize
In September 2022, Indigenous activists Nonhle Mbuthuma and Sinegugu Zukulu stopped destructive seismic testing for oil and gas off South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
Murrawah Maroochy Johnson - Goldman Environmental Prize
By: Goldman Environmental Prize
Murrawah Maroochy Johnson blocked development of the Waratah coal mine.
Art about Indigenous Heroes
Historically, Indigenous art has been centered around storytelling. Land, events, people, and beliefs are central themes. These themes are culturally significant because they educate people about community and nature.
Ben Milch artwork about a mother and her baby
Credit: Ben Milch
In the coming-of-age Hamatsa ceremony, a boy on the verge of manhood is "kidnapped" and becomes wild and uncontrollable, and then the community brings the boy back to "humanity." In our modern urban reality, this concept is still very important for our youth.
Indigenous Peoples
Credit: Joel Bergner
Indigenous People of the Earth
Credit: Joanne Tawfilis
Credit: Kay Smith, Artist Laureate of Illinois
Stories about Indigenous Heroes
Reading about important Indigenous peoples brings the significance of their work into everyday consciousness, whether they fight for themselves, their land, or their right to participate freely in society.
Sona Jobarteh
By: Abigail Richardson
Sona Jobarteh's music is deeply rooted in the West African Griot Tradition.
Ariel Tweto: Flying High on Life
By: Shannon Luders-Manuel
Ariel Tweto is an Inuit Eskimo TV personality and producer who founded the nonprofit suicide prevention program Popping Bubbles.
Maria Tallchief
By: Rebecca Miller
Maria Tallchief was the first prima ballerina and Native American in the United States.
Berta Cáceres
By: Rachel Parsons
Berta Cáceres was a native Lenca environmental and human rights advocate. The Lenca are indigenous to parts of Honduras and El Salvador and have inhabited the region for thousands of years.
Frances Manuel, Native American Woman Hero
By: Deborah Neff
Frances Manuel, who was born in the early part of the 20th century, quietly changed the world of her people and the people she met through her basket weaving and cultural presentations.
Chief Wilma Mankiller
By: Susannah Abbey
Chief Wilma Mankiller was the first woman to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Rigoberta Menchu Tum
By: Lydia Ratna
Rigoberta Menchú Tum, winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize, became involved with various groups in their struggle for the indigenous people out of personal conviction and sense of justice. [This story is also available in Spanish.]
Cathy Freeman
By: Alex from Forster, New South Wales, Australia
Cathy Freeman is a former Olympic sprinter and the first Australian indigenous person to become a gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games.
NYLA INNUKSUK
By: Wendy Jewell
Nyla Innuksuk is an exciting young indigenous filmmaker who is pushing the boundaries of filmmaking, going beyond 2 D (flattie) films to VR/AR and 360 with her Mixtape VR company. Check out her journey to date.
He hears America singing. Jake Xerxes Fussell brings new life to folk music.
By: Simon Montlake
July 11, 2024 - America has a rich tradition of folk music. Jake Xerxes Fussell breathes new life into this legacy as one of the country’s leading folk musicians. [CSM Story]
Listen & Read Along
Great for ESL students and the visually impaired! Listen and Read Along Stories.
Chief Oren Lyons
By: Aibanrihun Lyngdoh
Chief Oren Lyons
is an internationally venerated advocate for preserving biodiversity.
Read about filmmaker Will Parrinello's work with Goldman Prize award-winning environmental activists in the Amazon.
Will Parrinello’s "Water for Life" World Premiere
By: Deborah Neff
Will Parrinello's new feature film, Water for Life, has its World Premiere and other screenings in the Bay Area in October 2023.
Mill Valley Film Group short films | Goldman Environmental Prize Winners
By: Deborah
Will Parinello of the Mill Valley Film Group has submitted these short films about Goldman Environmental Prize winners to The MY HERO International Film Festival over many years.
Will Parrinello Wins 2021 Best in Fest
By: Deborah Neff, MY HERO Staff writer
Behind the scenes with filmmaker Will Parrinello among the Cofán
By: Deborah Neff, MY HERO Staff writer
In May 2022, two young indigenous Cofán activists from Ecuador were awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize. Will Parrinello went to Ecuador to film them.
Check out more resources listed by region
International Day of the World's Indigenous People
By: Becky Miller
This day is celebrated on August 9The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of the World's Indigenous People is observed on August 9 each year to promote and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.
Links
Official UN Website
UN International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
