REAFFIRMING that indigenous peoples are original, diverse societies with their own identities that constitute an integral part of the Americas; CONCERNED that indigenous peoples have suffered from historic injustices as a result of, inter alia, their colonization and the dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, thus preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests; RECOGNIZING the urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights of indigenous peoples, which derive from their political, economic, and social structures and from their cultures, spiritual traditions, histories, and philosophies, especially their rights to their lands, territories, and resources; RECOGNIZING ALSO that respect for indigenous knowledge, cultures, and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment; ••• 4 •••