Indigenous leaders demand peace and recognition at UN-backed summit

Over 250 Indigenous leaders, UN officials and diplomats gathered in New York for the 2nd Global Summit on Indigenous Peacebuilding. Held on April 25th and 26th, 2026, the event focused on conflict resolution and the role of Indigenous communities in mediation. Cultural Survival attended the summit, which was also streamed live on YouTube for global viewers. The summit began with a candle-lit ceremony to honour Indigenous relatives lost in conflicts. Participants prayed for peaceful coexistence before discussions turned to urgent calls for action.

Indigenous speakers shared firsthand accounts of armed struggles and their efforts to build peace. They demanded an immediate ceasefire in all occupied Indigenous territories. The event also highlighted the contributions of Indigenous women in peacebuilding while protesting militarism and nuclear weapons. Binalakshmi Nepram, President of the Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, Gender Justice and Peace, stressed that Indigenous Peoples must be recognised as experts in mediation. The summit closed with a direct appeal to the United Nations and governments: reframe global security policies by placing Indigenous knowledge and leadership at the centre.

The two-day gathering ended with a clear message to international bodies. Indigenous Peoples called for their inclusion in peace negotiations and an end to violence in their territories. Their demands now await responses from governments and the UN.