This year, on 9 August, the world celebrates the 30th anniversary of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. On the occasion of this date, the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre has prepared a series of publications with expert opinions of specialists from different countries.
We would like to present you a commentary by Oliver Loode, Managing Director of URALIC Centre, Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), 2014-2016.
‘The right to self-determination is a fundamental collective right of all peoples, including indigenous peoples. For me, it is not concerned with any particular outcome, but rather a particular way of thinking on both collective and individual levels – to take responsibility for one’s own life and future. Only those people who themselves want to realise their right to self-determination have a chance to do so. So, the path to achieving self-determination starts with the indigenous peoples themselves,’ – he said.