On August 9, 2026, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) joined the global community in marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, issuing an official statement that celebrates the enduring legacy, remarkable resilience, and irreplaceable contributions of Indigenous communities across the Caribbean region and the globe.
In the statement released by CARICOM’s Secretary-General, the bloc emphasized that the wisdom, cultural traditions, and ongoing contributions of Caribbean Indigenous peoples form a foundational pillar of the region’s shared collective history. Meaningful inclusion of Indigenous voices, leadership, and equitable economic advancement, the statement notes, is non-negotiable for building a fair, sustainable CARICOM that serves all its members.
This year, the United Nations selected the theme “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being” for the international observance, a focus that CARICOM echoed in its message. The bloc underscored the critical role that Indigenous midwives play as stewards of intergenerational ancestral knowledge, trusted community caregivers, and defenders of cultural tradition. Passed down through hundreds of years, this embodied knowledge reflects a holistic worldview that connects human health, cultural identity, and the interdependence of people, culture, and the natural world — a framework that continues to strengthen Caribbean families and local communities.
As the original stewards of the Caribbean’s lands, ecosystems, and natural resources, Indigenous peoples carry deep, place-based knowledge of sustainable agriculture, traditional healing practices, endangered languages, unique cultural expressions, and community-centered governance systems. CARICOM stressed that this knowledge continues to enrich Caribbean societies and reinforce the region’s shared collective identity. Across CARICOM member states, Indigenous communities have worked tirelessly to preserve traditions that link current and future generations to the Caribbean’s ancient heritage, while offering critical, timely insights into environmental stewardship and sustainable development — insights that grow ever more urgent amid accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss, crises that disproportionately harm marginalized Indigenous communities across the region.
The statement also pointed to CARICOM’s recently relaunched Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment, which elevates a longstanding call for the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples Development Programme. The initiative is designed to create thriving Indigenous communities across the Caribbean by expanding access to social and economic development opportunities. CARICOM emphasized that advancing equity for Indigenous peoples requires sustained, meaningful dialogue and policy frameworks that center and uphold the inherent rights, dignity, and self-determined aspirations of Indigenous communities.
As the region marked the 2026 observance, CARICOM closed its message with a call to action: to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Caribbean Indigenous communities, honor the vital work of Indigenous midwives and all Indigenous knowledge holders, and renew collective commitment to protecting Indigenous rights and advancing full, equal participation of Indigenous peoples in every sphere of Caribbean public life. The statement ended with a formal greeting: Happy International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples!