Holy See: Intolerance toward indigenous heritage ‘a form of violence’

By Devin Watkins

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, delivered a statement on Monday to the UN General Assembly in New York regarding the rights of indigenous peoples.

The Italian-born Archbishop highlighted the importance of preserving the cultures, languages, traditions, and spirituality of indigenous peoples.

He also invited UN member states to recognize the contributions of indigenous peoples on the issues of environmental protection and cultural heritage.

Protection of the environment

Archbishop Caccia commended indigenous peoples for their harmonious relationship with the environment and their role in combating climate change by “enhancing the resilience of ecosystems.”

He pointed out that indigenous lands safeguard a significant portion of the world's biodiversity, making them custodians of conservation efforts.

The Archbishop raised concerns about the establishment of protected areas without consultation or consent from indigenous peoples.

“This can expose them to the risk of additional human rights violations, such as trafficking, forced labor, and sexual exploitation,” he said.

Respect for indigenous cultures

The Holy See’s representative at the UN also spoke about the importance of respecting the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, which includes “culturally meaningful knowledge, experiences, practices, objects, and places.”

He emphasized the importance of open dialogue while respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples.

He said it is important to promote a culture of encounter against “a completely enclosed, a-historic, static ‘indigenism’ that would reject any kind of blending,” citing Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia.

Overcoming intolerance

Turning to the issue of unsustainable tourism, Archbishop Caccia expressed concerns about activities that commodify indigenous culture and lead to the expropriation of their land and resources.

He emphasized the need for sustainable tourism that respects natural and social ecosystems and does not impose a standardized way of life on indigenous peoples.

In conclusion, Archbishop Caccia called for the protection of indigenous peoples' rights, their cultural heritage, and their role as stewards of the environment.

“Intolerance and lack of respect for indigenous popular cultures is a form of violence, based on a cold and judgmental way of viewing them, which cannot be accepted.”