Pretoria: North West Premier, Thandi Modise, has called for the preservation of indigenous cultures, languages and knowledge systems.

Premier Modise made the call on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People celebrated every year on August 9.

The day has been celebrated since 1982 following the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

“Our constitution guarantees the protection of human rights. Our indigenous people have historically suffered some of the worst injustices.

“We must embrace their unique culture and way of life as part of our social cohesion drive. Their cultures, languages and knowledge systems must be preserved,” said Modise.

However, in spite of their diversity, indigenous people of the world share a history of injustice said Modise.

She said the North West, as a province that is serious about social cohesion, is determined to ensure that all the people of the province enjoy all the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the constitution irrespective of race and ethnicity.

According to the United Nations’ Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, indigenous communities are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems.