Hunger Strike at the UN November 29, 2004
     Indigenous representatives stage UN hunger strike
Press Release
ABC Newsonline
December 1, 2004

CROSSROAD
Monday, December 06, 2004
Message from Adelard Blackman
 

Hello to all Brothers and Sisters

" Incredible Awesome .................... "

That is to all of you, your support and prayers.

I am sending this as one of the Hunger Strikers to give thanks to all of you in your support during the last week, for myself, I am overwhelmed by the hundreds of emails. This much I know today is that us 6 have formed a bond that will last a life time and I thank the Creator for that.

In my discussions here with Elders and support people here in Geneva over the weekend, it is clear that we as Indigenous Peoples have now come to a " Crossroad " and the question now is "What do we do now? "

In the next 3 months before the start of the Human Rights Commission much planning is already in the process by the Indigenous Peoples Caucus and many others. It is important that we keep the momentum going and now that we know you are all out there, we will stay in touch with you as things develop.

For myself I do not want to go into the politics of what is happening here at the U.N. level because I am still new within this process and learning as I go. I just want at this time to acknowledge the Indigenous Peoples Caucus for the tremendous work that they have done over the years under so much pressure. They are Warriors in every sense of the word.

I have been reading most of the emails coming in and this much is certain that we, as Indigenous Peoples, must have the Recognition and Respect as Peoples. It is a long time in coming.

"Just maybe one day, in front of the U.N. where all those flags are flying they will raise a flag for Indigenous Peoples of the World, then the right of Self-Determination will become clear for all. Until then the work continues."

Ma Cee Chou ( thank you so much ) from the bottom of my heart. My prayers are with all of you and your loved ones.

Adelard Blackman Babe Chou Buffalo River Dene Nation
 

WE WANT OUR HUMAN RIGHTS

CLIFFORD WHITE EYES

Teton Sioux Nation Treaty Council
In support of spokesperson and hunger striker
Charmaine White Face
November 30, 2004
United Nations, Geneva

INTERVIEW

As a traditional Lakota people from our territory, this is our belief, you know. We do believe in a higher power with more power than a human being and this is what we believe.  That’s just it.  That’s our belief.  And we’re trying to show the people that we are sincere about this human rights because it has been ignored.  We have been denied the human rights for so long.  This is the time to show it to the world that, you know, we want our freedom too.

ND:

In your nation’s history and memories and traditions, the concept of self-determination the way it is discussed here at the United Nations, do you see that as a very different, a way of expressing how you participate with the natural world, in terms of, like here we talk about resources and lands in a different language? Do you in your tradition, history and political will talk about self-determination in a different way?

CWE:

Well my understanding is what’s in the original text,  that will cover everything. Because what we are looking at is a Charter coming from the United Nations.  As a guideline in our territory we will work in line with that UN Charter. There will be a nation to nation.  That’s my understanding.  And just one further more, is that this Earth Charter, you know, that comes with it. And that’s when we will organize ourselves with that Earth Charter because we’ll be free from the oppressors.  We will be free to do anything and work in line with the United Nations for peace. And this is what we are looking at.

ND:

Do you think that when the states express their concerns and their fears in terms of extending the recognition of rights to all peoples, including Indigenous Peoples,  that they fail to look at the contributions that can be made within national borders? They are not clear on what contributions can be made by Indigenous nations to the whole larger state within the borders of a so-called country, a member state of the United Nations.

CWE:

Well, frankly what happened is they completely deny the human rights, right off the bat, you know.  Why do we spend here, our people spend here twenty years and couldn’t get any recognition. And this is a violation of human rights. And the bigger governments interrupt our human rights, the way Indigenous Peoples wants.  They go along with it. They are playing games with us and this has to end because we are here as a sincere person looking after our people.  We are not here for our own individual gain or anything, but we are looking out for our poor people that have been suffering for a long time.  That’s why we are here.

ND:

I wish you well.  I wish you well. 

CWE:

Thank you.

ND:

Thank you very much.

STATEMENT

To the Indigenous caucus:

With all respect, the Teton (Lakota) Nation cannot agree with any changes to the original text of the Draft Declaration.

We disagree with a statement from the Indigenous caucus that might say there is consensus as we are an Indigenous Nation’s representatives who must stay with no changes to the original text.

Teton Sioux Nation Treaty Council
TSNTC

Clifford White Eyes Sr.
Good Plume, G
Charmaine White Face

 

"HUNGER STRIKE BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' REPRESENTATIVES AT THE UNITED NATIONS!"

Today, November 29th, 2004, at 11 am, we, Indigenous Peoples' delegates, declare a hunger strike and spiritual fast inside the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva, during this 3rd week of the 10th session of the Intersessional Working Group on the United Nations Draft Declaration for the Rights on Indigenous Peoples.

We, Indigenous peoples' delegates from different countries, undertake this action, with the support and solidarity of Indigenous Peoples and organizations from around the world, to call the world’s attention to the continued attempts by some states, as well as this UN process itself, to weaken and undermine the Draft Declaration developed in the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations and adopted by the UN Subcommission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1994.

The Sub Commission text has also been endorsed and supported by hundreds of Indigenous Peoples and organizations around the world as the minimum standard required for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights internationally.

We delegates who will undertake the hunger strike, along with the undersigned Indigenous Peoples, organizations, tribal governments, Nations, communities and Networks, call for the Sub Commission text of the Declaration to be sent back to the UN Commission on Human Rights with the message that in 10 years, proposals by States to weaken or amend the text have not gained the consensus of the Working Group participants, which include both states and Indigenous Peoples.

Mr. Luis Chavez, the Chairman Rapporteur of the Working Group should report this reality and not present a “consolidated text” as if it was “close to consensus.” The Commission on Human Rights must establish a process that does not provide a handful of States an opportunity to weaken the human rights of Indigenous Peoples. The process also must take into account the voices of the great numbers of Indigenous Peoples from all parts of the world. 

We will not allow our rights to be negotiated, compromised or diminished in this UN process, which was initiated more than 20 years ago by Indigenous Peoples. The United Nations itself says that human rights are inherent and inalienable, and must be applied to all Peoples without discrimination.

We request that the Secretariat of this session immediately inform the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and the High Commissioner herself of this action.  We also request that the Secretariat arrange for the hunger strikers to be able remain in the UN during the entire week of the session.

Indigenous delegates participating in the hunger strike inside the United Nations include:

Adelard Blackman, Buffalo River Dene Nation, Canada ;

Andrea Carmen, Yaqui Nation, Arizona United States ;

Alexis Tiouka, Kaliña, French Guyana ;

Charmaine White Face, Ogala Tetuwan, Sioux Nation Territory, North America ;

Danny Billie, Traditional Independent Seminole Nation of Florida, United States;

Saul Vicente, Zapoteca, Mexico.

For more information in Geneva contact:

Andrea Carmen (English, Spanish), IITC, 076 546 04 21
(for International calls dial ++ 41 76 546 04 21)

Cyril Schönbächler (French, English), IndiGeneva, 078 716 52 39 or 022 733 28 73
(for International calls dial ++ 41 78 716 52 39 or ++ 41 22 733 28 73)

Anne-Marie Cruz (French, English, Spanish), IndiGeneva, 076 450 83 18
(for International calls dial ++ 41 76 450 83 18)

The following organizations, Nations, Tribal Governments and communities have signed on in support of this action and of the position we present:

Africa

Indigenous Peoples African Coordinating Committee (IPACC)

Argentina

Asociación Mapuche los Toldos

Organizacion de Naciones y Pueblos Indígenas en Argentina

Comisión de Juristas en la República de Argentina

Argentina/Bolivia/Chile/Peru

Parlamento del Pueblo Kullana Aymara

Arctic

Indigenous Peoples and Nations Coalition
Kasgit Council of Elders, Nutmlak (Inherent Traditional Government), Iupik Nation, Alaska
Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government, Alaska

Asia

Alifurus in Maluku (Moluccas)

Bolivia

Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores campesinos de Bolivia (CSUTCB)
Taypi Ceqe (Organización Indígena Aymara)

Canada

Buffalo River Dene Nation
Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations
Ermineskin Cree Nation
Indigenous Organization of Indigenous Resource Development (IOIRD)
Innu Council of Nitassinan
Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs

Chile

Consejo de Todas las Tierras

Colombia

Akuaipa Waimakat (Asociación de Derechos Humanos Wayuu de la Guajira)
Organización Zonal Indígena del Putumayo (OZIP)

Ecuador

Instituto Cientifico de Culturas Indigenas (Amawta Runakunapak Yachay)

French Guyana

Fédération des Organisations autochtones de Guyane (FOAG), membre de la COICA

Guatemala

Comite Campesina del Altiplano (CCDA)
CONAVIGUA
Defensoria Maya
Fundacion Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Guatemala)
Oxlajuj Ajpop de los Ajq'ijab' (Conferencia Nacional de Ministros de la Espritualidad Maya de Guatemala)

Kenya

Maimyoito Pastoralist Intgegrated Organization

Mexico

Academia Mexicana de Derechos Humanos
Agencia Internacional de Prensa India (AIPIN)
Alianza de Organizaciones Sociales
Alianza de Pueblos Indígena de la Sierra Oriente del Estado de México
Alianza Indígena Mexicana-Anipa Hidalgo
Anipa Chihuahua
Anipa Guerrero
Anipa Quintana Roo
Anipa Tabasco
Asamblea Nacional Indígena Plural por la Autonomía
Asamblea Nacional por la Autonomia (ANIPA)

Asociacion Nacional de Abogados Democraticos (ANAD)

Axale, S.S.S.

Centro de Derechos Humanos Yaxkin

Centro Nacional de Comunicación Social, A.C.

Centro para el Autodesarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas del Alto Balsas

Centros de Derechos Humanos Digna Ochoa

CEREAL GUADALAJARA

CEREAL MEXICO

Cesem A.C.

Coalicion de Atencion a la Juventud

Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos A.C.

Consejo de la Nación Amuzga

Consejo de la Nacion Nahua

Consejo de la Nacionalidad Otomí

Consejo de Organizaciones Triquis

Consejo de Pueblos Nahuas del Alto Balsas, Guerrero, A.C.

Consejo Indígena Municipal Chocholteco

Consejo Indígena Popular de Oaxaca "Ricardo Flores Magón" (CIPO-RFM – Oaxaca)

Consejo Mazahua Región Almoloya de Juárez

Consejo Tradicional de los Pueblos Indios de Sonora

Cooperativa Flores de la Tierra Amuzga

Coordinadora de Grupos Culturales Indígenas y Populares

Coordinadora Guerrerense de Mujeres Indígenas

Coordinadora Nacional de Mujeres Indígenas

Coordinadora Regional de Organizaciones Indígenas de la Sierra de Zongolica

Educa A.C.

Federación de Indígenas Migrantes de Acapulco

Foro Migraciones

Fraternidad Revolucionaria

Frente Independiente de Pueblos Indios

Frente Indigena Campesino y Popular (FICAPO, A.P.N.)

Fundación Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Mexico)

Incide Social

Jovenes En Alternativa Pacifica

La Coordinadora Nacional de Mujeres Indigenas

Mephaa-Savi Mujeres Indígenas

Nacion Purepecha Zapatista

Ndu Nu Ñu Savi

Noche Sihuame Sanse Tajome

Organización de Artesanos Migrantes "Tonhalli"

Organización Nación Purhepecha

Parlamento Indígena Estatal Campesino y Popular

Red Codapi

Red Indígena de Turismo Alternativo de México

Red Indígena de Turismo de México

Regiones Autónomas Pluriétnicas

Romero" (SICSAL)

Se Ojtli Yankuik, A.C.

Secretariado Internacional Cristiano de Solidaridad con América Latina "Oscar A.

SEPROJUSDAC, AC

Taller Universitario de Derechos Humanos A. C.

Umbral Axochiatl

Yoloxochitl SPR

Morroco

Tamaynut (Amazigh Peoples)

 

Pacific

 

Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Nation of Hawaii (Hawaii)

Sovereign Union of Aboriginal Nations and Peoples in Australia

Te Rau Aroha (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

 

Panama

 

Asociación Nabguana

Comunidad de Ustupu, Kuna Yala

Fundación Dobbo Yala

Fundación para la Promoción del Conocimiento Indígena

Jóvenes Ngobe – Bugle

Movimiento Juventud Kuna

Nis Bundor

Organización de Jóvenes Embera – Wounam de Panamáde

Red de Mujeres sobre la Biodiversidad

 

United States

 

Abya Yala Nexus

Cactus Valley/Red Willow Springs Sovereign Community, Big Mountain, Arizona

Centro Mundo Maya

El Colectivo de Contacto Ancestral

Indigenous Environmental Network

Pit River Tribe, California

Seminole Sovereignty Protection Initiative, Oklahoma

Teton Sioux Nation Treaty Council

Traditional Independent Seminole Nation of Florida

Wanblee Wakpeh Oyate, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota

White Clay Society, Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana

Yoemem Tekia Foundation (Pascua Yaqui Reservation, Arizona)

 

Multi-regional

 

Coordinadora Indígena de la Cuenca Amazonica (COICA)

Indigenous World Association

International Indian Treaty Council

Land is Life
 

"Support for the second day of the hunger strike by Indigenous Peoples in the UN"

Today, Tuesday the 30th of November, the hunger strike initiated yesterday by a group of Indigenous representatives at the Palais des Nations, has received support from over 250 Indigenous organizations and other supporters from around the world, continuing to build international unity in the struggle for the recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

We want to inform the Indigenous organizations of the world that the hunger strike continues despite the efforts of the Russian Federation to have the hunger strikers removed from the conference room and to oppose the offering of a prayer song by a Lakota elder after the hunger stike was declared yesterday.

We continue to ask for expressions of support from Indigenous Peoples, Nations and organizations as well as from human rights organizations and other supporters.  Please also send messages to the governments in your countries about the hunger strikers and insisting that they support the adoption of the current text of the Draft Declaration.

HUNGER STRIKE BY INDIGENOUS’ PEOPLES DELEGATES
IN THE UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA
 

Monday 29th of November

Saúl Vicente read the Declaration to announce a Hunger Strike by 6 Indigenous’ delegates from different organizations in the plenary room, supported by over 120 organization and Peoples from around the world.  States and Indigenous Peoples representatives were very surprised by the action taken by the Indigenous Peoples representatives. They have never seen such an action made by Indigenous Peoples delegates who have been coming to the UN for many years. The action created immediate concern by representatives of the United Nations, and a large outpouring of media and press attention.

The security of the UN met with the hunger strikers and they decided that they could stay inside the plenary room even though the Russian Federation expressed disagreement with the action and they requested the strikers be expulsed.   The Chairman of the Working Group Luis Chavez also did not make an objection to their continued presence in the room and in fact expressed that he recognized their right to take this action.

The High Commissioner on Human Rights of the UN Mrs. Louise Arbour was immediately informed by the Office of the High Commissioner, and she requested that her representative meet with the hunger strikers as she has to travel out of the country that afternoon.  Julian Burger arranged this initial meeting between two representatives of the hunger strikers, Saul Vicente and Andrea Carmen, with her representative Mr. Dzidek Kedzia, RRDB, from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and also with Ulrich Von Blumenthal, Legal Adviser UNOG present. The purpose was to clarify the purpose and objectives of the hunger strike and the concerns of the Indigenous Peoples represented and supporting about this process, as well as their commitment to the adoption of the original text of the Declaration as the minimum standard they could agree to defend and protect their rights.  

The representative of the High Commissioner offered to arrange a meeting for the next day with the Vice president of the Commission on Human Rights, as the President was out of the country, but had been informed and agreed that this meeting should take place, so that the CHR could be informed of the concerns of the Indigenous Peoples directly.       

Many supports’ declarations begin to arrive from many Indigenous’ peoples and no Indigenous organizations from the entire world.

Many interviews were conducted by radio, newspapers and TV, with many reporters coming to the back of the conference room where the hunger strikers had laid out a red and white blanket to sit on.

Tuesday 30th of November

The hunger strike is going on.

Meetings took place between all 6 hunger strikers and the Vice President of the Human Rights Commission Mr. Gordan Markotic.

Many supports’ from around the world letters arrive, and are given to the countries from which they are originated and to the Secretariat.

SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATIVES’ HUNGER STRIKE AND SPIRITUAL FAST AT THE UN WORKING GROUP ON THE DRAFT DECLARATION FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

        
To the Communications Media
To the Indigenous Peoples of the World
Sisters and Brothers
Ladies and Gentlemen

This morning, Thursday December 2, 2004, we, the Indigenous Peoples' delegates who joined together in a hunger strike and spiritual fast inside the United Nations during the 10th session of the Intersessional Working Group on the Draft Declaration on the Rights on Indigenous Peoples, participated in a traditional Lakota ceremony to end our fast. 
        
Through this ceremony we offered our profound thanks for the many positive outcomes of this action, which far exceeded our expectations. We also offered our prayers for the many peoples, organizations and individuals that supported us and provided assistance.
        
This support was vital to the success of our efforts and made this small sacrifice worthwhile.
        
We have decided to end our hunger strike and spiritual fast for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in response to an appeal by the representative of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights and the Vice President of the UN Commission on Human Rights who have met with us, listened to us with open minds and hearts, and responded to our concerns with proposals that offered from our point of view, concrete and positive steps forward.

They requested that we end this action because most of our immediate objectives have been accomplished.  Over the long term, they will continue to work with us to insure that no document different from the Sub-Commission text will be adopted by the Human Rights Commission if it is not produced by a consensus of the Indigenous Peoples.

We offered to present our concerns  in writing to the High Commissioner, to the Chair of the Human Rights Commission and to all the Chairs of the regional caucuses, so the can be fully aware of what took place in the Working Group.      

They offered to set up a meeting between the Office of the Human Rights Commission and us, prior to the Human Rights Commission session in March of 2005.

They agreed, if the Working Group's time is extended, to establish new procedures for participation, ones that would guarantee that the voice of Indigenous Peoples and organizations who cannot be present in Geneva can also be heard.

We, as Indigenous peoples' delegates from different countries, undertook this action, with the support and solidarity of Indigenous Peoples and organizations from around the world, to call the world’s attention to the continued attempts by some states, as well as this UN process itself, to weaken and undermine the Draft Declaration developed in the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations and adopted by the UN Sub Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. The outpouring of messages of support for this position from all parts of the world continues. As of last night we had received several hundred faxes and e-mail messages. We encourage everyone who has made their position known as a result of this action to continue to monitor the situation regarding the UN Draft Declaration, especially the position of the countries in which they live. We ask you to continue to let these governments know that Indigenous Peoples will not allow our rights to be negotiated, compromised or diminished in this UN process, which Indigenous Peoples initiated more than 20 years ago.  We will continue to call for the adoption of the Sub Commission text which has been approved by two UN bodies and has been endorsed and supported by hundreds of Indigenous Peoples and organizations as the minimum standard required for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights internationally.

We want to thank Mr.Dzidek Kedzia, Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ambassador Gordan Markotic, Vice President of the Office of the Commission on Human Rights, for their very positive approach in responding to our concerns. 

We sincerely thank the members of INDIGENEVE for their hard work and generous assistance.

We especially thank the hundreds of Indigenous Peoples, Organizations, friends and supporters who wrote to us with messages of support. We strongly urge that their voices continue to be heard in these discussions, which directly affect their lives and survival.

We especially appreciate and acknowledge our brother, Marcelino Diaz de Jesus, known to many of us, who has been in a hunger strike in his community in Mexico, in solidarity with ours, as have many others around the world.

Brothers and sisters, we are in this great house but it is not our house. We are in a palace where documents are written for Peoples but not for our Indigenous Peoples. They open doors for us to enter but they close their ears and hearts. What can we do? We can do many things, even a hunger strike. But there is one thing we should never do - we should never, never give up our rights.

For our Peoples, our Future Generations, and For All Our Relations,

Adelard Blackman, Buffalo River Dene Nation, Canada ;
Andrea Carmen, Yaqui Nation, Arizona United States ;
Alexis Tiouka, Kaliña, French Guyana ;
Charmaine White Face, Ogala Tetuwan, Sioux Nation Territory, North America ;
Danny Billie, Traditional Independent Seminole Nation of Florida, United States;
Saul Vicente, Zapoteca, Mexico.
 

Letters of support

(International Indian Treaty Council Web site)

Copyright Natalie Drache 1999