This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.

People from different nations are encouraged to participate in observing the day to spread the UN's message on indigenous peoples.

This year's observance will highlight indigenous peoples' creativity and innovation through the theme "Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future".

Indigenous peoples express their identity through their art, designs, stories and traditions. Yet they face many challenges in maintaining this identity and their cultural contributions are at times exploited and commercialized, with little or no recognition.

"We must work harder to recognize and strengthen indigenous peoples right to control their intellectual property, and help them to protect, develop and be compensated fairly for the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge that is ultimately of benefit to us all," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message for the Day.

Activities may include educational forums and classroom activities to gain an appreciation and a better understanding of indigenous peoples.

The International Day of the World's Indigenous People is celebrated on August 9 each year to recognize the first UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations meeting in Geneva in 1982.

On December 23, 1994, the UN General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous People should be observed on August 9 annually during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People.

In 2004 the assembly proclaimed the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (2005-2014). The assembly also decided to continue observing the International Day of Indigenous People annually during the second decade.

The decade's goal was to further strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous peoples in areas such as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.

In April 2000, the Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution to establish the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues that was endorsed by the Economic and Social Council. The forum's mandate is to discuss indigenous issues related to culture, economic and social development, education, the environment, health and human rights.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011