Cultural Survival advocates for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and supports Indigenous communities in their self-determining work for cultural and political survival.

Cultural Survival partners with Indigenous communities to defend their lands, languages, and cultures. We assist them in obtaining the knowledge, advocacy tools, and strategic partnerships they need to protect their rights. When their governments don’t respond, we partner with them to bring their cases to international commissions and courts, and we involve the public and policy makers in advocating for their rights. In addition, Cultural Survival offers the most comprehensive source of information on Indigenous Peoples on the planet. Our award-winning magazine, the Cultural Survival Quarterly, has been published for more than 37 years.

All of the work is predicated on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2007, after 25 years of negotiation, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This document, which was created by Indigenous representatives working with government representatives, is the fundamental document spelling out the distinctive rights of Indigenous Peoples. These include the right to live on and use their traditional territories; the right to self-determination; the right to free, prior, and informed consent before any outside project is undertaken on their land; the right to keep their languages, cultural practices, and sacred places; the right to full government services, and, perhaps most significant, the right to be recognized and treated as peoples.  Cultural Survival has partnered with United Nations bodies and other intergovernmental organizations, and with indigenous and human rights organizations around the globe. Cultural Survival holds consultative status with the United Nations.