The Permanent Forum welcomes the invitation extended by the Maskwacis Cree and the Confederacy of Treaty Six Chiefs to the members and the secretariat to attend the United Nations Expert Seminar on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and indigenous peoples at the Samson Cree Nation from 25 to 27 September 2006. This is a historic first United Nations expert meeting to be held on indigenous treaty territory.
The gaps and challenges facing IFAD in terms of its commitment to indigenous peoples’ issues include the mainstreaming of the new institutional policy on engaging with indigenous peoples at all levels of the organization globally, regionally and nationally. The Permanent Forum recommends that institutional mechanisms be established so as to secure the process of mainstreaming within the agency.