On April 20-May 1, 2026, the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will take place at the UN Headquarters in New York. The annual session is the third-largest meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York. It brings more than 2,000 Indigenous Peoples’ representatives, Member States, UN agencies, and other stakeholders together every year to discuss and cover Indigenous issues. Thus, it provides an important opportunity for the media to report on the issues of Indigenous Peoples across the world.
The Secretariat of the Permanent Forum (SPFII) and the Department of Global Communications (DGC), in partnership with Cultural Survival, are organizing the Indigenous Media Zone during the first week of the UNPFII, from April 20 to April 24, 2026. This will allow Indigenous media, journalists, and platforms an opportunity to report on the session through Indigenous worldviews, perspectives, and languages, and organize media events around the theme of the session - "Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ health, including in the context of conflict."
Non-Indigenous media are also welcome to join the Indigenous Media Zone.
Further, in line with the International Decade on Indigenous Languages, the Indigenous Media Zone will aim to encourage the participation of Indigenous media practitioners in a wide variety of Indigenous languages from different regions.
The Indigenous Media Zone will be located in the UN Correspondents Association Room (3rd floor, Secretariat building, S-310) from Monday to Friday, April 20-24, 2026, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm EST. On Monday, April 20, the IMZ will be open 2pm - 6pm.
Rosy Sul González (Maya Kaqchikel), Cultural Survival Indigenous Rights Radio Program Manager, who will be a host at the IMZ, says, “Indigenous community media use their power to bring and amplify the voices of communities to make visible their struggles, demands, achievements, and challenges. The Media Zone at the United Nations Permanent Forum helps Indigenous community media and communities use this power.”
Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan), Cultural Survival Indigenous Rights Radio Coordinator, who will also be a host in the IMZ, says, "In a world where mainstream reporting easily misconstrues Indigenous worldviews, the IMZ offers a space where our stories are told, by the people, for the people."
Program and Events
The preliminary program will be posted here.
The Indigenous Media Zone will provide Indigenous media, journalists, and platforms a working space equipped with WiFi and a live stream of events happening inside the United Nations during the 25th Session of the Permanent Forum. The space will also allow for interaction with non-Indigenous media. The Indigenous Media Zone will include:
- Main stage: Live webcast interviews, panel debates, and discussions with Indigenous experts, human rights defenders, delegates and business leaders
- Media workspace: Real-time coverage, interaction with speakers and blogging about events
- Social media: Yotube Live on www.youtube.com/@culturalsurvival1972, Facebook Live on facebook.com/culturalsurvival and facebook.com/joinundesa.
If you will be attending the UNPFII and would like to use the Indigenous Media Zone for an interview, panel, or event, please get in touch with agnes@culturalsurvival.org.
