WCC > Programmes > Unity, mission, evangelism and spirituality > Just and inclusive communities > Indigenous Peoples

Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples have faced discrimination for centuries, and the WCC has stood in solidarity with their struggles for land, identity, language and survival of indigenous cultures.

WCC work in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples provides a framework for bringing people from different communities into contact with each other, strengthening their voices, and enabling them to coordinate and bring their concerns and perspectives to the United Nations.

An office and staff person currently based in South America attempt to strenthen links between Indigenous communities and church networks of Indigenous People, and support their participation in international meetings. Advocacy in UN forums is done in cooperation with the Lutheran World Federation, and church-related programmes on Indigenous Peoples.

An international reference group, composed of 12 people from Latin America, North America, Asia, Europe and the Pacific will meet in June 2007 to review this work and set future priorities.

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The WCC Central Committee meeting in Geneva, February 15-22, 2005, reiterated its support for the right of self-determination and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples.