International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
August 9, 2024
On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Justice for All Canada (JFAC) reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the rights of Indigenous communities globally, including Indigenous Muslim peoples facing genocide. In Canada, the history of Indigenous Peoples—First Nations, Inuit, and Métis—is also deeply intertwined in a dark legacy of residential schools, land dispossession, and cultural erasure. These scars demand not only recognition but restorative justice. This day honours their enduring strength and resilience, while also serving as a reminder of the structural injustices they continue to face—ranging from discrimination to ongoing threats against their right to independence and self-determination.
Indigenous Muslim Peoples around the world—from the Rohingya in Myanmar-Burma to Uyghurs in East Turkestan, and from Kashmiris to Palestinians—share a common struggle against forces of colonialism, state-sponsored violence, and systemic racism. While Canada has acknowledged it’s commitment to Indigenous rights, it is imperative to explicitly recognize the genocidal actions faced by Indigenous Muslim communities globally. The ongoing atrocities against the Rohingya, Uyghurs, Kashmiris, and Palestinians must be more thoroughly addressed as part of Canada’s broader commitment to Indigenous rights and global justice. Canada has the opportunity to lead by holding states accountable for genocide and crimes against humanity against Indigenous peoples, including Indigenous Muslims.
JFAC recognizes the unique contributions of Indigenous knowledge systems, which have sustained communities for generations and offer solutions to today’s global challenges. The wisdom of Indigenous Peoples—rooted in a profound connection to the land, respect for biodiversity, and sustainable living—offers a crucial counter-narrative to the exploitative practices that have led to ecological degradation and climate change.
Despite this wisdom, Indigenous communities continue to face egregious violations of their rights, from the theft of land and resources in Assam and the persecution of Dalits in India, to the ongoing violence against Kashmiris and Kashmiri human rights defenders. In Maungdaw, Rohingya civilians are facing renewed atrocities, including drone attacks and mass killings, and in Israel's Sde Teiman prison, Palestinian prisoners have been subjected to severe sexual abuse—both events indicating the normalization of violence against Indigenous communities struggling to survive in their own lands. As part of larger efforts to repress Uyghur identity and culture, Chinese authorities have renamed hundreds of settlements in East Turkestan, removing names with religious, historical, or cultural importance to the Uyghur people. The fight for justice is far from over. As we commemorate this day, we stand in solidarity with these Indigenous peoples facing genocide and those whose autonomy is continuously undermined. Their struggles are not isolated; they are part of a broader, interconnected fight for dignity, equality, and the right to autonomy and self-determination.
Canada must take stronger action to protect the rights of these Indigenous Peoples, as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and other international legal frameworks. JFAC remains committed to challenging the genocides against all minorities and advocating for a world where Indigenous rights are fully recognized and respected.
How you can help
Educate Yourself and Others
Knowledge is power—use it to advocate for change.
Take Action
Access Our Resources
On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Justice for All Canada (JFAC) reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the rights of Indigenous communities globally, including Indigenous Muslim peoples facing genocide. In Canada, the history of Indigenous Peoples—First Nations, Inuit, and Métis—is also deeply intertwined in a dark legacy of residential schools, land dispossession, and cultural erasure. These scars demand not only recognition but restorative justice. This day honours their enduring strength and resilience, while also serving as a reminder of the structural injustices they continue to face—ranging from discrimination to ongoing threats against their right to independence and self-determination.
Indigenous Muslim Peoples around the world—from the Rohingya in Myanmar-Burma to Uyghurs in East Turkestan, and from Kashmiris to Palestinians—share a common struggle against forces of colonialism, state-sponsored violence, and systemic racism. While Canada has acknowledged it’s commitment to Indigenous rights, it is imperative to explicitly recognize the genocidal actions faced by Indigenous Muslim communities globally. The ongoing atrocities against the Rohingya, Uyghurs, Kashmiris, and Palestinians must be more thoroughly addressed as part of Canada’s broader commitment to Indigenous rights and global justice. Canada has the opportunity to lead by holding states accountable for genocide and crimes against humanity against Indigenous peoples, including Indigenous Muslims.
JFAC recognizes the unique contributions of Indigenous knowledge systems, which have sustained communities for generations and offer solutions to today’s global challenges. The wisdom of Indigenous Peoples—rooted in a profound connection to the land, respect for biodiversity, and sustainable living—offers a crucial counter-narrative to the exploitative practices that have led to ecological degradation and climate change.
Despite this wisdom, Indigenous communities continue to face egregious violations of their rights, from the theft of land and resources in Assam and the persecution of Dalits in India, to the ongoing violence against Kashmiris and Kashmiri human rights defenders. In Maungdaw, Rohingya civilians are facing renewed atrocities, including drone attacks and mass killings, and in Israel's Sde Teiman prison, Palestinian prisoners have been subjected to severe sexual abuse—both events indicating the normalization of violence against Indigenous communities struggling to survive in their own lands. As part of larger efforts to repress Uyghur identity and culture, Chinese authorities have renamed hundreds of settlements in East Turkestan, removing names with religious, historical, or cultural importance to the Uyghur people. The fight for justice is far from over. As we commemorate this day, we stand in solidarity with these Indigenous peoples facing genocide and those whose autonomy is continuously undermined. Their struggles are not isolated; they are part of a broader, interconnected fight for dignity, equality, and the right to autonomy and self-determination.
Canada must take stronger action to protect the rights of these Indigenous Peoples, as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and other international legal frameworks. JFAC remains committed to challenging the genocides against all minorities and advocating for a world where Indigenous rights are fully recognized and respected.
How you can help
Educate Yourself and Others
- Explore our detailed reports to understand the gravity of genocides and human rights abuses faced by Indigenous Muslim communities worldwide.
- Learn about the systemic persecution of key communities including Palestinians in Gaza, the link between Islamophobia and the genocide of Muslim minorities, the repression of Uyghurs in East Turkestan, the ongoing killings of Rohingya in Myanmar-Burma, including others.
Knowledge is power—use it to advocate for change.
Take Action
- Participate in our action alerts and share findings from our reports with your networks to raise awareness and inspire others to join the fight against genocidal injustice.
- Raise your voice to demand accountability from Canada’s government and international bodies, ensuring that the rights of Indigeneous communities are upheld.
Access Our Resources