| Introduction I Inclusion I Standard Setting I International Actors |
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KEYNOTE
ADDRESS
President of the national Inuit organization,
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), Mary Simon stated, "This vote proves, once
again, that the rights of indigenous peoples around the world cannot rest
entirely on the goodwill of state governments. I can only hope that the
calls and commitments for greater transparency over the next eight months
are serious and meant in good faith." Ms. Simon, who has been intimately
involved in the drafting of the text since 1983, says that Canada will
have a tough road ahead to convince people that it is simply not playing
the politics of those that have traditionally opposed indigenous peoples'
rights - the USA, Australia, and New Zealand.
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| INTERNATIONAL ACTORS |
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Stuart Patterson Tuscarora Nation, Haudenosaunee But our essential message to the world is a basic call to consciousness. The destruction of the Native cultures and people is the same process which has destroyed and is destroying life on this planet. The technologies and social systems which have destroyed the animal and plant life are also destroying the Native people. And that process is Western Civilization. We know that there are many people in the world who can quickly grasp the intent of our message. But experience has taught us that there are few who are willing to seek out a method for moving toward any real change. But, if there is to be a future for all beings on this planet, we must begin to seek the avenues of change. The processes of colonialism and imperialism which have affected the Hau de no sau nee are but a microcosm of the processes affecting the world. The system of reservations employed against our people is a microcosm of the system of exploitation used against the whole world. Since the time of Marco Polo, the West has been refining a process that mystified the peoples of the Earth. [1] |
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Armand MacKenzie Innu Innu Council of Nitassinan "... speaking on behalf of Congress of Aboriginal People, said that it was unfortunate that the United Nations had not yet achieved a consensus to adopt a declaration on the fundamental human rights of indigenous peoples..."[2] Armand MacKenzie's BLOG (French) 
Armand MacKenzie
Interview |
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Tonya Gonnella Frichner Snipe Clan, Onondaga Nation, Haudenosaunee, Iroquois Confederacy President and Founder, American Indian Law Alliance Q: Do you prefer to be called American Indian or Native American? A: I prefer to be called Onondaga. "...governments sidestep the issue that indigenous peoples are people who are subject to human rights just like everybody else in the world. When you are not a "people", then you are referred to as a group. It's a legal issue... pressure governments to move this Declaration along and not to change the very essence of it, which is our right to self-determination." [3] UN Observer Tonya Gonella Frichner named as the North American Representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. |
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Kenneth Deer Mohawk Editor, The Eastern Door "...Basically what these countries are saying is "we stole this land from you and we want to keep it"." [4] "Indigenous representatives are deeply concerned that opening the text would allow governments like the United States, Australia and others to weaken the Declaration even more". [5] 
YouTube Interview With Kenneth Deer Indigenous Portal, 22 May 2009 Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Human Rights Dialogue Between Nations: Roll Call of Nations – Kenneth Deer |
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Noeli Pocaterra Uliana Wayuu Nation Vice-President of the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Chair of the National Commission on Indigenous Issues "... We demand to be heard and to be taken into account, that our rights be included in the constitutions of countries, therefore we call to the General Assembly of the United Nations to reflect on the present consideration, that this will not be left as mere expectations. We need, rather, to take action. These are the wishes and feelings of Indigenous Peoples ..." [6] La Diputada Noeli Pocaterra - Flickr Asemblea Nacional Noelí Pocaterra: Gobierno nacional mejora calidad de vida de los pueblos indígenas
Dialogue
Between Nations: Noeli Pocaterra (Spanish/Wayuu) |
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D. Roy Laifungbam Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE) Manipur Loisanglen, India The Kimberley Declaration: Sacred Sites 1. We urge States, governments and civil society to work in conjunction with Indigenous Peoples to ensure that Indigenous Peoples' sacred, ceremonial and culturally significant sites and areas are preserved, respected and protected from destructive or exploitative development. We will ensure our peoples' access to our sacred, burial, archeological and historical sites, including the unqualified right to restrict access to those sites. [7] |
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LES MALEZER |
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Andrea
Carmen |
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Lucy Mulenkei "Today the voice of Indigenous Women in the Sudan is loud in the search for peace. Women have seen too much human suffering and this has made them address their issues as equal partners from different political, cultural and religious backgrounds. They have been victims for a long time. The leaders of different groups have a knowledge of human rights and women's rights and they have gone a step ahead in creating this awareness in different Indigenous Women's groups at the community level. It should be noted that despite the success of such efforts in the Eastern African Region, there is still a lot of work to be done in most of the other countries of Southern Africa and West Africa where Indigenous Peoples live. Peace building in a region or country where different kinds of conflict occur is crucial and this has been a key focus for most of the Indigenous Women." [11] |
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Darwin Hill |
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Ms.
Mililani Trask, Former Member, United Nations Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues, Pacific Basin Region |
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Ronald Barnes Ambassador Ronald Barnes,
Indigenous Peoples and Nations Coalition, Alaska. |
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Arthur Manuel Neskonlith Band, Secwepemc Nation Arthur Manuel is spokesperson for the Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade (INET), former Chief of the Neskonlith Indian Band, Chairman of the Interior Alliance and the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council. Two provocative thoughts from the presentation below: Indigenous Rights as Human Rights Maturity is accepting the Declaration Canada: A Pariah State 
Listen/download
Host(s): Courtney Kirkby Featured Speaker/Guest: Arthur Manuel Dialogue Between Nations:
Audio: English Interview with Chief Arthur Manuel |
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Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson, United
Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues |
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Clément Chartier Métis Métis Nation Cabinet President, Minister of Rights & Self-Government "It is important that we continue to work with Indigenous peoples and the many states who are willing to champion the Declaration" said MNC President Clément Chartier. "It is crucial that we meet the concerns expressed so that Indigenous peoples will be welcomed into the fold of humanity as equally deserving of justice, dignity and human rights." Canada had been a champion of the Declaration until the current minority government, in a stunning reversal of international human rights policy and diplomacy, voted with Russia against the Declaration in the Human Rights Council last June. [18] Fontaine, Simon and Chartier Congratulate Canadian Parliament for their support of the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples |
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Marcial Arias "We came here* seeking a solution for the
problems that agrofuels are already costing our communities," said
Marcial Arias from Kuna Yala (Panama), adding "now we are leaving
frustrated seeing how the governments not only are not addressing our
concerns they are promoting even more of these destructive agrofuels
projects on our land." [19]
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| RESOURCES |
1 A Basic Call to Consciousness The Hau de no sau nee Address to the Western World Geneva, Switzerland, Autumn 1977 Akwesasne Notes, Mohawk Nation, Via Roseveltown, NY 2 Statements on Prevention of Discrimination - Sub-Commission Starts Debate on Prevention of Discrimination, Concludes Review of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Reports Presented on Social Forum, Working Group on Transnational Corporations, Small Arms and Discrimination Against Victims of Leprosy; 5 August 2005 3 LawInterview.com; Interview Archives; Interviewed July 14-15, 2003 via telephone from New York City. 4 Interview, Human Rights Tribune, Geneva; 28 June 2006; "Canada does an About-Face"; Pamela Taylor - InfoSud 5 International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) Eyes of the world are in the new UN Human Rights Council: Canada blind to its purpose, By: Kenneth Deer; June 2006 6 Presentation on the Inauguration of the International Year of Indigenous Peoples December 10, 1992 7 The Kimberley Declaration International Indigenous Peoples Summit on Sustainable Development Khoi-San Territory Kimberley, South Africa, 20-23 August 2002 Published by the Tebtebba Foundation The Kimberley Declaration makes a commitment to continue constructive participation. Additional Resource: DIALOGUE BETWEEN NATIONS: CASE STUDY KANGLA PUNGMAYOL: LAIPHAM OF THE MEITEI - INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF MANIPUR -- Cultural Heritage and Sacred Sites: World Heritage from an Indigenous Perspective, Manhattan, New York City, 15 May 2002 8 Les Malezer, Oral Statement, Third Session of the Human Rights Council December 7, 2006 Twelfth Plenary Meeting 
View the archived web castScroll down to Non-Governmental Organizations Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action [English] 2 minutes Read the Unofficial Transcript Issued on December 13, 2006: First Peoples Human Rights Coalition 9 Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action AN INTERVIEW WITH LES MALEZER by Rosalba Nattero On the occasion of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples, held from the 18th - 22nd of July, 2005, at the United Nations of Geneva. 10 INTERNATIONAL INDIAN TREATY COUNCIL Statement U.N. Observer & International Report 2006-12-02 | A slight setback for the World's Indigenous Peoples on long walk toward liberation 11 Indigenous Women's Rights in Africa (pdf) Lucy Mulenkei Indigenous Information Network (IIN) African Indigenous Women's Organization (AIWO), Kenya Paper submitted at Indigenous Rights in the Commonwealth Project Africa Regional Expert Meeting Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee (IPACC) South Africa Cape Town, South Africa 16th - 18th October 2002 Additional Resource: 
Dialogue Between Nations - Coverage from the UN Permanent Forum
Listen to a dialogue between Lucy Mulenkei, Maasai from Kenya, and Ida Nicolaisen, Independent Expert, Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum. They comment upon the issues of land, tradition and cultures, as well as their concerns confronting pastoralists within the confines of States who like people to be settled, as Ida reminds us. The problematic qualification of "who are Indigenous Peoples" also arises in this dialogue. 12 Commission Starts Debate on Specific Groups and Individuals after Concluding Discussion on Child Rights and Indigenous Issues 11 April 2005. Secretary-General's Representative on Internally Displaced Persons Addresses Commission, Commission on Human Rights. 13 Dialogue Between Nations: Women Members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Statement, Ms. Mililani Trask 14 Beijing Declaration of Indigenous Women NGO Forum, UN Fourth World Conference on Women Huairou, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China 15 Letter of the United Nations Permanent Forum of Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) Chair to the Philippine President on the Political Killings of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines, 03 August 2006 16 Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education) is an indigenous peoples' organization born out of the need for heightened advocacy to have the rights of indigenous peoples recognized, respected and protected worldwide. 17 Dialogue Between Nations: DIALOGUE Rodolfo Stavenhagen - UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous People, with guests: Mililani Trask - Former Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, representing the Pacific Region Basin and Victoria Tauli Corpuz - Chairperson, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Executive Director, Tebtebba Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education 18 Ottawa, ON (November 29, 2006) Métis National Council Statement on the decision of the General Assembly Third Committee on delaying adoption of the United Nations Declaration Under PRESS RELEASES on Métis Nation Web site, click on the word "more" after: NEW Métis National Council Statement on the decision of the General Assembly Third Committee on delaying adoption of the United Nations Declaration to open pop up window with the Press Release. 19 Toward Freedom A Progressive perspective on world events since 1952 Government Experts and Activists Express Strong Concerns About Biofuels Written by Global Justice Ecology Project 02 August 2007 |
