Library Journal

The opening day ceremonies for the International Year of the World's Indigenous People took place December 10, 1992 at the United Nations General Assembly; this work is its record. With a foreword by Secretary General Boutros Boutrous-Ghali and a preface by Rigoberta Mench'u, winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize, these eloquent speeches by 20 native leaders from throughout the world define the precipice upon which the world's indigenous people are teetering. Each speaker addresses survival issues confronting his/her country. In the words of Anderson Muutang Urud from Southeast Asia: "The world is rushing towards a single culture. We should pause and reflect on the beauty of diversity." Many of the representatives to the United Nations were not in attendance at this ceremony; perhaps this book will be a reminder to the world. Recommended for appropriate collections.-Vicki L. Toy Smith, Univ. of Nevada, Reno