Although international migration has moved
to the top of governments' agendas, there is little if any
information on indigenous peoples and migration or a framework for
addressing the phenomenon consistently and systematically.

An Expert Workshop on Indigenous Peoples and
Migration, cosponsored by IOM and the UN Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), held last week in Geneva, provided an
initial mapping out of the intersection of these two issues. The
workshop marked the first expert-level meeting on the nexus between
indigenous issues and migration.

The meeting brought together more than 30
participants including representatives and experts from 5 of the 7
socio-cultural regions of indigenous peoples including Africa, the
Arctic and Europe, Asia, Central and South America and the
Caribbean, and the Pacific and representatives from international
agencies including the World Bank, UNESCO, UNHCR, OHCHR and ILO as
well as observers from permanent missions in Geneva.

The workshop discussions were outlined in four
key areas: indigenous peoples as voluntary migrants; indigenous
peoples as forced migrants and displaced peoples; impact of
migration of indigenous peoples on indigenous communities; and
impact of migration of non-indigenous populations on indigenous
communities.

The outcomes of the workshop included the
importance of indigenous peoples' cultural tie to their lands that
may affect their migration. Participants also emphasized
development processes in addition to development objectives,
specifically noting the need for indigenous peoples' participation
to inform and determine policies that may have a direct impact on
their territories and their migration.

They also stressed the importance of sharing
best practices and lessons learned amongst all stakeholders. The
gender perspective and the need for disaggregated data to include
indigenous peoples in national statistics were also
underscored.

Additional recommendations of this expert
workshop included effective implementation of international law and
an exploration of mainstreaming indigenous issues and migration
into development policies. Positive attributes of indigenous
migration, such as the use of remittances, the transfer of skills
and knowledge, the enhanced status of indigenous migrants abroad,
and the increased global knowledge of indigenous peoples through
their migration, where also discussed.

A paper will be presented to the UNPFII in its
upcoming Fifth Session to be held 15-26 May 2006 at UN headquarters
and will include key conclusions and recommendations from this
workshop regarding ways the UN System, other international,
regional and national organizations and indigenous communities can
collaborate.

For more information contact:

Amy Muedin

IOM New York

Tel: 212-681-7000 ext. 212

E-mail: "mailto:amuedin@iom.inr" target="_blank" title=
"">amuedin@iom.inr