The United Nations has opened its annual two-week gathering on the plight of indigenous people worldwide. The chair of the 12th Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Paul Sena of Kenya, helped kick off the proceedings.

Paul Kanyinke Sena: “What we are doing here is not actually fighting our governments, because in Africa, for example, there is always the misconception that we are here to complain, complain, complain. No, we didn’t come to complain, but we are trying to look for solutions that can also — supportive in those governments in trying to address issues of concern to indigenous peoples.”