Advocates for the Protection of Sacred Sites

Advocates for the Protection of Sacred Sites

It is expected that in this century many Indigenous languages will become extinct. In the 2008 Report of the international expert group meeting on indigenous languages, the conclusions and recommendations section states that the protection of Indigenous languages is not only a cultural and moral imperative, but an important aspect of global efforts to address biodiversity loss, cultural loss, climate change and other environmental challenges. The report also states that Indigenous Peoples and Nations’ language rights include, but are not limited to, the right to maintain personal names, place names and the proper names of their languages. Indigenous peoples and their representative organizations have devoted and continue to dedicate a great deal of time and energy to developing and implementing effective strategies to protect Indigenous languages and sacred areas.