County Partnership Timeline2020-09-27T04:27:15+00:00

Maasai Heritage Museum is one of MCV’s community-led programs that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. MCV was granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in July 2016 for our community-led humanitarian work in Maasai communities. MCV mission aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. They also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.

Article 31, UNDRIP

Indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems and literatures, and to designate and retain their own names for communities, places and persons.

Article 13, UNDRIP

Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired.

Article 26, UNDRIP

Indigenous peoples have the right to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices, including the conservation of their vital medicinal plants, animals and minerals. Indigenous individuals also have the right to access, without any discrimination, to all social and health services.

Article 24, UNDRIP

Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures, as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous decision-making institutions.

Article 18, UNDRIP

Indigenous peoples have the right to manifest, practise, develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies; the right to maintain, protect, and have access in privacy to their religious and cultural sites; the right to the use and control of their ceremonial objects; and the right to the repatriation of their human remains.

Article 12, UNDRIP

Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. No relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible, with the option of return.

Article 10, UNDRIP

Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.

Article 11, UNDRIP

Past UN Meetings:

May 9, 2024

MCV Participates in the 2024 United Nations Civil Society Conference in Kenya

MCV Participated in the Historic 2024 United Nations Civil Society Conference in Kenya Advancing Global Development and Inclusion MCV proudly participated in the historic 2024 United Nations Civil Society Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya. This landmark 69th session, taking place for the first time in Africa and the [...]

April 27, 2023

UNPFII 2023 MCV SIDE SESSION

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights - Zoom Side Session Join the Zoom UN Side Session on Thursday, April 26th, 2023 MCV is honored to host a side session for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 22nd session for the theme “Indigenous Peoples, human [...]

January 14, 2023

MCV + United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights 2023

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights MCV will be hosting an informative side session at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights correlating with this year's theme “Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health, and climate change: a rights-based approach”. MCV will also be [...]

May 3, 2019

The Maasai Defend Traditional Knowledge & Land Rights at the United Nations

MCV was honored to once again participate in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights, April 22 - May 3rd, 2019 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. It was empowering to unite with over a thousand indigenous leaders, organizations, and member states to strengthen Indigenous people’s collective rights. [...]

United Nations Event: Safeguarding Maasai Heritage

Event Sponsors MCV is seeking generous sponsors. Your sponsorship will support Maasai peoples rights and advocacy for land and culture. Sponsorship is one of the best ways to brand your company and promote your commitment to advancing our mission to empower Maasai people. As a sponsor, you’ll receive: [...]

January 30, 2019

Conservation and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples : UN Expert Meeting

MCV attended an international expert group meeting on “Conservation and the rights of indigenous peoples” in January 2019 at the UN Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. As guardians of the land, indigenous people play a crucial role in conservation; however, their custodianship of the environment and their rights to their land and [...]

June 11, 2018

March 15, 2018

July 10, 2017

April 24, 2017

MCV Advocates for Protection for the Maasai Ancestral Land

MCV Joins the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues  My Chosen Vessels (MCV) was honored to participate in the United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues from April 24th to May 5th, 2017 at the UN Headquarters in New York City. More than 1,000 indigenous peoples’ representatives participated in [...]

July 1, 2016

MCV Granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations

MCV Granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations MCV was granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in July 2016 for our humanitarian work in Maasai communities. MCV provides sustainable humanitarian programs in the area of water, education, cultural preservation, solar, and human [...]

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UN Photogallery:

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