My Time at UNPFII25

It was a great privilege to be selected as an UNA-USA delegate to the Twenty-Fifth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII25). As someone who has an indigenous background (specifically, Andean), UNPFII25 was the first time I’ve attended a UN conference that was curated to my native identity. I will forever be grateful for the experience to participate in a forum that elevated my identity. 

For context, this was not my first United Nations conference. Or my second. Or my third. As a Native New Yorker, I’ve won the geography lottery: I have been attending conferences since I was seventeen. Growing up with the UN in my background, I’ve been given the distinct opportunity to hone my political and critical thinking skills by listening to diplomats after school. Throughout the past year, I’ve rushed home from classes, taken the train into Grand Central, and walked to the United Nations Headquarters. 

As someone with deep Andean roots, walking into the UN Headquarters for UNPFII25 felt profoundly different. The theme, “Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ health, including in the context of conflict,” resonated with stories from my family and community that I had heard growing up. My mother and her family emigrated, fleeing conflict and uncertainty, leaving behind much of our connection to our Andean identity. To become American, they assimilated. This created a profound personal disconnect for me–I grew up hearing fragmented stories of our heritage but lacked the daily immersion in language, rituals, or community practices that many Indigenous youth experience. Attending UNPFII25 began to bridge that gap in a powerful way. 

I’ve always found the disconnect between both my Peruvian and American identities paradoxical, especially as my family in Peru are so involved in politics that are distinctly related to the Andean people. My great uncle is a former Peruvian Minister of Culture, and my cousin is a current Peruvian representative to the Andean Parliament; their public service in preserving and advancing cultural and regional Indigenous matters has always inspired me, even as I navigated my own sense of cultural distance in the United States. 

The forum brought together Indigenous representatives, Member States, UN entities, and civil society to confront the six mandated areas: economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health, and human rights. Discussions were grounded in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For me, it was not just about policy; it was about visibility. For the first time, my Andean identity wasn’t an aside or a footnote–it was central. I listened intently as Indigenous leaders from across the world shared testimonies that mirrored my own family’s experiences. 

One of the most powerful aspects was the emphasis on holistic health approaches that integrate traditional knowledge with contemporary needs. Sessions explored how conflict and displacement exacerbate health disparities for Indigenous communities, including limited access to culturally appropriate care, environmental contaminants affecting physical well-being, and the erosion of languages and practices that sustain mental and spiritual health. I was struck by interventions highlighting the resilience of Indigenous knowledge systems in addressing these challenges, such as community-led initiatives that draw on ancestral practices for healing and prevention. 

Though I wasn’t able to attend every single day of the conference (I still had to attend high school!), I truly do think I learned more in those focused sessions than I could have imagined. Balancing a full high school schedule with train rides to UN Headquarters meant I prioritized key plenaries and picking between side events that all seemed so interesting. Even with this selective participation, the immersive experience provided profound insights into the intersections of the forum’s six mandated areas. I absorbed powerful testimonies on holistic well-being, the resilience of traditional knowledge systems, and the urgent need for rights-based policies under UNDRIP. These lessons deepened my understanding of how displacement and conflict ripple across generations, directly echoing my family’s migration story and my own sense of cultural disconnect. Conversations with delegates and youth advocates reinforced the value of diaspora voices and intergenerational advocacy. Returning to school each day, my mind kept on lingering back to the afternoon before. This selective yet meaningful engagement transformed abstract knowledge into personal conviction, motivating me to integrate these perspectives into my studies, community involvement, and future advocacy work through UNA-USA. The experience proved that quality of presence and reflection matters as much as full attendance, leaving me more committed than ever to honoring my Andean roots.

In the weeks following UNPFII25, I’ve reflected on its broader significance. The forum isn’t just an annual event; it’s a platform for accountability and hope. It amplified calls for justice in a world where Indigenous peoples, despite comprising a small percentage of the global population, safeguard 80% of the world’s biodiversity. My participation as a UNA-USA delegate underscored the importance of youth involvement and diaspora voices in these spaces. 

This experience has reshaped my worldview. It reinforced the power of multilateralism while highlighting the need for grassroots action. As I continue rushing to UN events from school, I now do so with a clearer mission: to honor my Andean roots by advocating for health equity, cultural preservation, and peace in Indigenous territories. UNPFII25 wasn’t an endpoint but a beginning—a call to action that I will carry forward in my studies, community work, and life as someone of indigenous descent. The gratitude I feel extends beyond personal growth to a commitment to ensuring future generations of Andean youth see their identities not just elevated, but fully realized on the global stage. 

Attending as an UNA-USA delegate also highlighted the role of civil society in bridging gaps between official proceedings and on-the-ground realities. Interactions with other delegates reinforced the value of building alliances across regions, sharing best practices for cultural revitalization, and pushing for stronger implementation of existing international standards. The experience left me more committed to using my voice in future forums, continuing to learn from the diverse Indigenous leadership present, and contributing to ongoing dialogues that center lived experiences in policy-making. This deepened appreciation for the UN’s potential as a convening space will guide my continued engagement long after the session concluded. 

Moreover, the forum solidified key recommendations that will guide future work. These included enhanced support for Indigenous-led health programs, greater integration of traditional medicine into national systems where appropriate, and urgent measures to mitigate conflict-related health crises. Witnessing the adoption of these points provided a sense of tangible progress, even as much work remains. For someone who has spent years absorbing UN proceedings from the sidelines, stepping into an active delegate role transformed passive observation into active contribution. It affirmed that persistence in attending these spaces, even as a high school student rushing from classes, can lead to meaningful involvement. The emotional weight of hearing stories of resilience amid adversity motivated me to channel this energy into local community efforts, academic pursuits focused on global Indigenous issues, and continued advocacy through UNA-USA networks. Ultimately, UNPFII25 exemplified the power of collective voice in advancing dignity, rights, and well-being for Indigenous peoples worldwide. 

The personal disconnect from my Andean heritage became even more apparent during quiet moments between sessions. While family members like my great uncle and cousin actively contributed to cultural and political spheres tied to our roots, I often felt like an observer piecing together identity from afar. UNPFII25 shifted this dynamic. Hearing direct accounts of language revitalization efforts, traditional midwifery practices, and food sovereignty initiatives prompted deep reflection on what I had missed and what I could reclaim. It motivated me to seek out more connections within diaspora communities in New York, perhaps by participating in cultural workshops or supporting initiatives that document Andean knowledge systems. This renewed sense of belonging strengthened my resolve to advocate not only globally but also within my immediate circles, encouraging other young people with similar hybrid backgrounds to engage with their heritage. The forum’s focus on health in conflict contexts also resonated with my family’s migration story, highlighting how displacement affects multiple generations. By sharing these insights in conversations post-forum, I’ve begun to heal parts of that disconnect, transforming personal narrative into broader advocacy. This journey underscores the long-term impact of such international gatherings on individual identities and collective movements.