When European explorers 'discovered' lands on the other continents, there were already people living there. All too often the explorers took the land away from the native or indigenous peoples and either killed them or suppressed them. In many cases, the native languages and cultures were suppressed and the natives were forced to adopt Western ways. Unfortunately, this isn't just a thing of the past -- many indigenous peoples and their cultures are still threatened today.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is observed on August 9 as an opportunity to celebrate the rich contributions of indigenous peoples and their cultures to the human family. It is a chance to recognize the ongoing plight of many of the world's indigenous people and to work to protect their rights, languages and culture.