The FAO Liaison Office for North America published a special issue of their newsletter “Now from North America” dedicated to North American indigenous peoples and their food systems in commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples which is observed on August 9.

Vimlendra Sharan, Director of the FAO Liaison Office for North America, opened the newsletter with a message in solidarity and in celebration of indigenous peoples, he writes "As the pandemic continues to disproportionally impact indigenous peoples in North America and around the world, we are reminded of their extraordinary resilience through history and present challenges."

H.E. Ambassador Alexandra Bugailiskis also issued a statement on North American indigenous Peoples' Food Systems, which was also highlighted in this special issue. As the Chair of the informal Group of Friends of Indigenous Peoples in Rome, she celebrates and welcomes FAOs’ collaboration and efforts that expand and strengthen dialogues with Indigenous peoples of North America.  This statement was complemented by a message from the Head of Indigenous Peoples Unit on North American Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems.

The Newsletter also highlighted the seven introductory meetings hosted by the FAO Liaison Office for North America in collaboration with FAO’s Indigenous Peoples Unit and with United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) North American representative, Geoffrey Roth; which included 124 representatives from 95 entities. These meetings took place over the course of the past two months where indigenous peoples’ organizations and representative bodies, academic institutes, research and government agencies met with FAO.