## 6 Indigenous Rights
Article 11(1) provides that \"Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalise their cultural traditions and customs\" (UNDRIP, art 11(1)), which would include Indigenous astronomy, but while Article 25 serves to protect Indigenous lands, noting that \"Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources\" (UNDRIP, art 25), the spiritual relationship of Indigenous Peoples with the space beyond Earth is not protected. Thus, while Indigenous astronomy, as an element of Indigenous culture, is protected, the interconnection between Indigenous Peoples and the universe is not expressly represented in UNDRIP. Specific and express recognition of these and many more Indigenous Rights in UNDRIP constituted a milestone and \"celebratory moment since thousands of Native peoples worked extensively for thirty years to achieve this recognition\"([PERSON] 2013, p. 9). However, while of the utmost significance for the recognition of rights of Indigenous Peoples, \"legally speaking, United Nations declarations, like almost any other resolution by the General Assembly, are of a mere notoratory nature: they are characterised as'recommations' without legally binding character\" ([PERSON] 2011, p. 130). Therefore, while it is envisaged that due to UNDRIP's \"character as a pronouncement of the major political organ of the United Nations it will continue to be applied in some measure by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Human Rights Council, and other UN institutions in executing their own programmes and in evaluating state conduct on the subject\" ([PERSON] 2013, p. 1003); its non-binding status could be one of the reasons why Indigenous Rights and the protection of Indigenous astronomy has not been considered in international space law instruments. Nevertheless, in terms of legally binding protections for the right to culture, Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights17 could be availed of by Indigenous Peoples as it provides that \"[i]n those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language\" (ICCPR, art 27). Therefore, it is arguable that the non-binding nature of the protections of Indigenous culture provided for in UNDRIP is not relevant as there are legally binding protections for minority culture, in which Indigenous Peoples would be included, at the international level. Yet, these are not being considered in conjunction with Outer Space activities. The Outer Space Treaty, previously mentioned in Section 3, outlines in Article III that \"States Parties to the Treaty shall carry on activities in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, in accordance with international law\" (1967 Outer Space Treaty, art III). However, the rights of Indigenous Peoples with respect to their culture, including Indigenous astronomy, are not being given consideration or are rights that are being marginalised by the majority opinion in favour of increased exploration into and use of Outer Space by humankind. This lack of inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and their rights with respect to the night sky that are being hindered in the wider conversation of relevant parties with regards to Outer Space illustrates a lack of understanding of (i) the fact that the use of'mankind' in the Outer Space Treaty would include all peoples, (ii) the connections that Indigenous Peoples have with the sky, universe and celestial bodies that far pre-date any interaction of humankind with the domain with the use of humanmade technology and finally, (iii) the need to introduce Indigenous voices into the conversation on satellite mega-constellations.