Kathmandu, 09 Aug: The 31st International Indigenous Day was celebrated in Kathmandu on Saturday.
Led by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, people from various indigenous communities living in Kathmandu marked the day by showcasing their respective traditional attire, art, and culture.
Under the federation’s leadership, ethnic organizations of Gurung, Magar, Tharu, Newar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, and others took out rallies from Bhrikutimandap, carrying their banners and presenting cultural displays.
The rally that started from Bhrikutimandap passed through Bhadrakali and Ratnapark before concluding at the National Assembly Hall, where the main ceremony was held.
We must work in a way that promotes diversity: Minister Gurung
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has urged the indigenous community to work in ways that promote Nepal’s diversity.
He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a program titled “Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence: Protecting Rights and Building the Future” organized by the Indigenous Nationalities Commission on the occasion of the 31st International Indigenous Day.
Minister Gurung said, “The constitution envisions protected areas, autonomous regions, and special regions for indigenous peoples. The Indigenous Commission and related organizations must also focus on this, and they must keep reminding the government about it.”
Highlighting the need to preserve indigenous traditional knowledge and native cultures, he added that the Indigenous Commission and organizations affiliated with indigenous nationalities should pay attention to this issue. “Indigenous lawmakers should also work to ensure that the rights of indigenous peoples are addressed. Indigenous communities have made significant contributions to the country’s social and economic development, as well as to nation-building,” he said.
Highlighting the development of technology and how artificial intelligence (AI) has made many tasks easier, Minister Gurung stressed the need for proper use of AI. He said the country’s development should be based on the principle of proportional inclusion in order to build an equitable society.
Indigenous Nationalities Commission Chairperson Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar said that indigenous peoples have played an important role in bringing about the current political and social changes, and therefore proportional representation of indigenous peoples in the state structure is necessary. Stating that out of 124 languages spoken in the country, 93 belong to indigenous communities, he emphasized the need for state investment to preserve these languages.
He also drew the government’s attention to the fact that it has addressed less than 10 percent of the matters recommended by the Indigenous Nationalities Commission. He noted that political changes have brought federalism, inclusivity, and secularism as major achievements in the country.
Commission member Rina Rana also expressed her views during the event. AI experts Dovan Rai and Nawaraj Gurung gave presentations on AI, indigenous rights, and building the future. The program was attended by leaders of indigenous organizations as well as chairpersons and members of various commissions.
