09/08/2026
Today, 9th August, is officially “International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.” It’s a great opportunity to celebrate culture, knowledge and language linked to rich traditions of Indigenous Peoples from around the world. The day also highlights the importance of protecting cultural heritage and supporting communities in keeping their languages and traditions alive for future generations.
Here in Wrexham, this provides an opportunity to reflect on the value of linguistic and cultural diversity, and our continued commitment to the promotion of Cymraeg goes a long way in helping us to understand the role language plays in strengthening identity, community, and belonging. Through events such as the National Eisteddfod, Wales also welcomes opportunities for cultural exchange, celebrating creativity, sharing stories, and learning from communities across the world.
Today, we stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples globally while recognising the importance of respecting and celebrating the diverse languages and cultures that enrich all our communities.
Who are Indigenous people? Good question. There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous people globally across 90 countries, including…
• the Sámi of Europe (covering parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia),
• the Maasai of Africa (Semi-nomadic pastoralist indigenous people living in Kenya and northern Tanzania),
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (the original inhabitants and custodians of Australia),
• Adivasi and Lumad Groups (original tribal and indigenous populations across parts of Asia, such as India and the Philippines)
• and Native American and First Nations groups in the Americas (Indigenous communities spanning North, Central, and South America - such as the Navajo, Cherokee, and Quechua).
There are an estimated 4,000 different Indigenous languages spoken globally. While there are over 7,000 living languages overall, Indigenous communities speak the vast majority of them despite making up less than 6% of the world's population!
