Since 2010, every year on September 13th, the Dutch Alliance for Indigenous Peoples organizes a drum ceremony to aks attention of the Dutch government and politics for the observance of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. On 13 September 2007, this statement was adopted by the United Nations after more than 20 years of negotiations. Worldwide, the rights of indigenous peoples are still seriously violated. The partnership consists of Dutch organizations that are committed to respecting the rights of indigenous peoples.

September 13th 2012 was the 5th anniversary of the adoption by the UN of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. That day, the Dutch Alliance for Indigenous Peoples organized a drum ceremony  at the Plein in The Hague. The drum ceremony was attended by Grandmother Rita Pitka Blumenstein from Alaska and Grandmother Julieta Casimiro from Mexico and their companions. Both are members of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. Harry van Bommel of the Socialist Party (SP) was present at the ceremony and received a document with recommendations and statements of the partnership. Alma Inkary took part in the ceremony.

More information about the Dutch Alliance for Indigenous Peoples can be found on their  website.

Pictures drum ceremony 2012, The Hague

Photography by Story Teller Nico