“Unlocking the power of next and future generations.
To truly influence global decisions, young people need spaces to lead.”
~UN Our Future Agenda
My Experience at the UN
By Elana Begay*,
Guest Contributor
March 1, 2026
About a year ago in April 2025, I had the honor of attending the 24th session of the 2025 United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City (Permanent Forum). The 2025 theme focused on Indigenous Peoples and lands affected by mineral extraction.
The first day of the Permanent Forum began with the opening ceremony, followed by two weeks of agenda items and side events. On the main floor of the UN, Indigenous groups, organizations, and member state representatives each had three minutes to present oral statements to a panel of UN experts. These statements introduced an issue, explained its impact on Indigenous communities and regions, and offered recommendations for action. For example, the Native American Church -State of New Mexico read their statement on the importance of protecting medicinal plants and knowledge, like Peyote, and how it affects sacred places, religious sites, and surrounding lands. Each agenda item and statement provide an opportunity to learn about new issues, regions, and Indigenous communities across the globe. In addition to the main floor discussions, organizations hosted side events that provided information on their work, their connections to broader movements or policies, and sometimes a Q&A session.
While the amount of information and events can be overwhelming, the shared commitment to improving the lives of Indigenous Peoples makes the Permanent Forum empowering. The people you meet during the Permanent Forum remind attendees that there are thousands of people who are actively working towards a collective goal: bettering the lives and experiences of Indigenous Peoples. And even though this is a work event, there is almost this celebratory aspect to the Permanent Forum. You meet different people from across the world, organizations, and groups that you might not have had the opportunity to cross paths with otherwise.
* MA, Sociology (Stanford University). I am a next generation contributor, and this was my first time attending the UN Permanent Forum. I specialize in the revitalization and implementation of Indigenous Peacemaking systems and mainly work with U.S. law and policy. I had little knowledge of the UN system but learned so much during my week-long experience at the UN in New York City that I now carry into my work. My familial homeplace is Lukachukai, Arizona. I am grateful to my family for their continued support. All comments are my own.
