Indigenous Peoples Day highlights AI’s risks and opportunities | UN News
In honour of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, the UN hosted a virtual commemoration on Friday on the theme AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures.
This award honours environmentally grounded solutions led by Indigenous Peoples that promote sustainable development, with winners demonstrating this year’s prize theme, “Nature for Climate Action”.
Winners will receive $10,000, be honored at a high-level online ceremony later this year and may join global events, including the UN General Assembly and the UN Climate Change Conference, COP30, taking place in Brazil later this year.
Prize recipients
The Latin American recipients include Cooperativa de Mujeres Artesanas del Gran Chaco (COMAR) in Argentina, Associação Uasei dos Povos Indígenas de Oiapoque (Uasei) in Brazil, the Hakhu Amazon Foundation in Ecuador and the First Agrobiodiversity Zone in Peru.
COMAR supports Indigenous women through Matriarca, a brand turning traditional crafts into sustainable products. Uasei fosters an Indigenous-led bioeconomy around native açaí, while Hakhu defends the Ecuadorian Amazon and Indigenous rights through advocacy, decolonial education and grassroots media.
In India, Bibifathima Swa Sahaya supports village farmers through multi-cropping, seed banks and solar-powered processing – combining traditional knowledge with regenerative agriculture and renewable energy.
In Indonesia, Mitra BUMMA supports community enterprises protecting 100,000 hectares of rainforest while also boosting local economies and governance. The Ranu Welum Foundation empowers Indigenous Dayak communities through forest conservation and cultural preservation.
In Papua New Guinea, Sea Women of Melanesia Inc. empowers women to lead marine conservation by combining traditional knowledge with modern science.
And in Africa, Nature and People As One in Kenyaempowers pastoralist communities to restore drylands using traditional knowledge and affordable restoration methods, and Sustainable Ocean Alliance Tanzania restores marine ecosystems through sustainable seaweed farming and empowers coastal communities.
“On this important day, the 2025 Equator Prize winners are a reminder of the importance of honoring and recognizing the vision and leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities,” said Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.
