2021 United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

The UNPFII is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The Forum focuses on indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

The Forum usually meets every year, for 10 days, at the UN Headquarters in New York.


This year’s UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will take place from April 19-30, at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States. The delegates will be attending the Forum virtually.

The session in 2021 will focus on the special theme: "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The Role of Indigenous Peoples in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16".

The 2021 UNPFII may include a discussion on the following topics:

  • Indigenous peoples facing the pandemic

  • Self-determination, participation and access to information

  • Traditional knowledge: generation, transmission and protection

DELEGATES

Nipawi Kakinoosit, Head Delegate
Paloma Griffin, Communications Coordinator
Sarah Hanson, Engagement Coordinator

Nipawi Kakinoosit

Nipawi Kakinoosi.png

Nipawi is a proud member of Sucker Creek Cree First Nation in Central Alberta and was born and raised in Prince George, BC. He is a Hereditary Leader from Treaty 8 and has worked tirelessly as a Treaty and Indigenous Rights Advocate since his start with Idle No More BC in 2012 as a Co-Founder and Media Relations Officer. Since then, he has gone on to represent both his Nation and the Urban Communities of BC at numerous events and meetings with all levels of Government. He has also worked with several Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Organisations across North America towards building better relations between the communities through direct engagement and interaction.

 

Paloma Griffin

Paloma is currently a PhD student at the New School for Social Research and a research assistant at the Zolberg Institute for Migration and Mobility. Her research focuses on transnational solidarity and the movement of vulnerable groups across borders. Paloma completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Toronto in the Political Science department and was an editor of the University of Toronto Journal of Political Science during her tenure as a graduate student there. Out of her position at the Zolberg Institute, she has led courses on the detection of racial bias in voting districts in North America, acted as a researcher for NGOs such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and written immigration policy recommendation reports with the Abolish ICE working group. She is delighted to be joining the UNPFII delegations and hopes to enrich her knowledge on transnational solidarity by listening to and learning from indigenous communities worldwide.


Sarah Hanson

Sarah Hanson is Anishinaabe from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University in Biology, while actively engaging in experiential learning opportunities through her workplaces and volunteer opportunities. In 2018, she was chosen to participate in the inaugural International Internship for Indigenous Youth Program for the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation and Northern Council for Global Cooperation, with her experience in Georgetown, Guyana shifting her work path towards places looking specifically for engagement with Indigenous People. 

For the past year and a half, Sarah has worked with Leading Change Canada as part of the Steering Committee, first as Director of Participants and now as Director of Indigenous Relations. Through her work she has increased the number of Indigenous youths involved in the main events and assisted in creating relationships with Indigenous communities in Toronto and Vancouver. 

For the past 6 months Sarah has worked with Youth4Nature as their North American Regional Director, facilitating discussions on Indigenous Rights, Social Justice and Nature Based Solutions. The majority of her time though is spent working with Experiences Canada coordinating their Online Conversation Series and upcoming Virtual Youth Leadership Forum on Reconciliation. For all her work for Indigenous youth, sustainability and climate action, Sarah was named alongside friends for Corporate Knight’s 30 Under 30 in Sustainability and The Starfishes 25 under 25 Environmentalist. During her down time, she spends time reconnecting to her ancestry and identity through beading, ribbon skirt making and learning Anishinaabemowin.