History of the formation of the Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, Gender Justice and Peace

There are an estimated 496 million indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries, speaking about 40 percent of the world's 6700 languages. Many indigenous ways of life are not recognized and indigenous history is not included in many historical narratives in countries around the world today. Indigenous territories are militarized and weaponized and sites of resources extraction. Conflicts, environmental and gender violence occur in indigenous territories. Movements for indigenous peoples rights are targeted and attempts made to fragment and divide many indigenous communities.

The Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, Gender Justice and Peace was founded on February 11^th, 2019, in New York City. Elsa Stamatopoulou, Chief of the first United Nations Permanent Forum of Indigenous Peoples and Director of Indigenous Peoples' Rights Program at Columbia University was our Founding Advisor. Founding Members include Binalakshmi Nepram of Manipur Nation, Gilbert Smith of African American and Cherokee Ancestry, and Andrew Rizzardi, who earlier worked with Columbia University's Indigenous Studies program. Konwanahktotha Elvera Sargent from the Mohawk Nation, Akwasasne, joined as our first honorary Vice-President of the organization. Sam Simonds, a Filmmaker from Amherst, Massachusetts, and currently living in Taiwan, joined the team to support in research and development and project coordination.