The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is commemorated each year on 9 August in recognition of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.

On this day, people are encouraged to spread the message that the rights of Indigenous peoples must be protected and promoted.

To coincide with the International Year of Indigenous Languages, this year’s theme is Indigenous Languages.

Read the full United Nations International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples story and watch the video on Indigenous.gov.au.