At UN conference, Indigenous peoples say little has changed after promises made a decade ago

This story is part of the Global Indigenous Affairs Desk, a collaboration between Grist, High Country News, ICT, Mongabay, Native News Online, and APTN. Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn recently erased a display of the Treaty of Waitangi at a museum in New Zealand. This 1840 document asserted British sovereignty over Aotearoa, which offended many Māori people. Murupaenga-Ikenn is now in New York attending the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. She highlighted the lack of progress in implementing promises made to Indigenous peoples a decade ago, particularly in addressing the climate crisis. Indigenous advocates expressed frustration with the slow progress during the meeting, calling for enhanced participation of Indigenous peoples in U.N. processes and accountability for state promises. Murupaenga-Ikenn emphasized the need for real change to avoid further disillusionment among young people.