E/2007/43 E/C.19/2007/12 Chapter IV Organization of the session A. Opening and duration of the session 168. The Permanent Forum held its sixth session at United Nations Headquarters from 14 to 25 May 2007. It held 17 formal meetings to consider items on the agenda and five informal meetings for consultations among members of the Forum. 169. At its 1st meeting, on 14 May, the sixth session was opened by the UnderSecretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. At the opening ceremony, Clint Shenandoah, Chief of the Onondaga Nation, United States of America, offered words of blessing to the session. 170. At the same meeting, statements were made by the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Economic and Social Council, the President of the Human Rights Council and the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. 171. Also at the 1st meeting, a statement was made by Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the sixth session of the Forum. B. Attendance 172. Members of the Forum and representatives of Governments, United Nations entities, intergovernmental organizations and bodies and non-governmental and indigenous organizations attended the session. The list of participants is contained in E/C.19/2007/INF/2. C. Election of officers 173. At its 1st meeting, on 14 May, the Forum elected the following members of the Bureau by acclamation: Chairperson: Victoria Tauli-Corpuz Vice-Chairpersons: William Ralph Joey Langeveldt Otilia Lux de Coti Aqqaluk Lynge Ida Nicolaisen Rapporteur: Michael Dodson 30 07-37675