ADOPTION OF THE UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERCA December 16, 2010 U.S. SUPPORTS U.N. DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Office of the Spokesman December 16, 2010 MEDIA NOTE Announcement of U.S. Support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. President Obama today announced United States support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The announcement, made during the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the U.S. Department of the Interior, underscores the U.S. commitment to strengthening government-to-government relationships with federally recognized tribes and furthering U.S. policy on indigenous issues. (More)   PRESIDENT OBAMA AT WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS CONFERENCE THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary December 16, 2010 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS CONFERENCE Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 9:39 A.M. EST In April, we announced that we were reviewing our position on the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. And today I can announce that the United States is lending its support to this declaration. (Applause) The aspirations it affirms -- including the respect for the institutions and rich cultures of Native peoples -- are one we must always seek to fulfill. And we’re releasing a more detailed statement about U.S. support for the declaration and our ongoing work in Indian Country. But I want to be clear: What matters far more than words -- what matters far more than any resolution or declaration -– are actions to match those words. (More) DECLARACIONES DEL PRESIDENTE EN LA CASA BLANCA DURANTE LA CONFERENCIA DE LAS NACIONES TRIBALES 16 diciembre 2010 “Lo que dije entonces es que como presidente me aseguraría de que ustedes tuvieran una voz en la Casa Blanca (aplausos). Dije que mientras esté en este cargo, nunca más los indígenas en Estados Unidos serán olvidados o ignorados (aplausos). Y en los dos años pasados, mi administración, trabajando mano a mano con ustedes, ha intentado cumplir esa promesa”, dijo el presidente Barack Obama durante la Conferencia de las Naciones Tribales, realizada en Washington el 16 de diciembre. A continuación una traducción del discurso del presidente Obama: “En abril anunciamos que estábamos revisando nuestra posición respecto a la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas. Por lo que hoy puedo anunciar que Estados Unidos da su apoyo a esta declaración. (Aplausos). Las aspiraciones que afirma –incluyendo el respeto por las instituciones y las ricas culturas de los pueblos indígenas– son unas que siempre debemos intentar cumplir. Vamos a publicar una declaración más detallada sobre el apoyo de Estados Unidos a la declaración y nuestra labor en curso en las comunidades indígenas. Pero quiero ser claro: Lo que importa mucho más que las palabras, importa mucho más que cualquier resolución o declaración, son acciones que respalden esas palabras.” Ambassador Susan E. Rice U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations on U.N. Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples USUN PRESS RELEASE December 16, 2010 Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Announcement of U.S. Support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, December 16, 2010. (More) Obama backs U.N. Indigenous Rights Declaration Washington Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:18pm EST Reuters President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was giving a belated U.S. endorsement to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, drawing hearty applause from a gathering of Native Americans… Welcoming the move, Robert Coulter of the Indian Law Resource Center said in a written statement: "The Declaration sets an agenda for the United States and Indian nations to design a reasonable approach to a progressive realization of the duties and responsibilities in it." (More) United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Statement by Tonya Gonella Frichner Vice-Chair UNPFII on the Endorsement of UNDRIP by the United States December 17, 2010 I welcome the announcement of President Obama that the United States formally supports the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is an important milestone that signifies that the international community has reached consensus on the Declaration. Now that we all agree, let’s get to work and move forward and implement the Declaration. (More) UN expert welcomes United States’ endorsement of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 17 December 2010 United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples James Anaya GENEVA (17 December 2010) – “I am elated that President Barack Obama has just announced the United States’ support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a groundbreaking development for Native Americans and all those who seek greater protection for human rights across the globe. The United States now joins the vast majority of the world’s States that have endorsed the Declaration, an affirmation of indigenous equality and self-determination that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. (More) THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA United States decides to review their position regarding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations U.S. Mission to the United States at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues April 20, 2010   Today, I am pleased to announce that the United States has decided to review our position regarding the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We recognize that, for many around the world, this Declaration provides a framework for addressing indigenous issues. During President Obama's first year in office, tribal leaders encouraged the United States to re-examine its position on the Declaration-an important recommendation that directly complements our commitment to work together with the international community on the many challenges that indigenous peoples face. We will be conducting a formal review of the Declaration and the U.S. position on it. And as we move ahead, we look forward to consulting extensively with our valued and experienced colleagues in the federally recognized Indian tribes and interested nongovernmental organizations. (Read Statement)

NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS

October 19-24, 2008

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was established in 1944 and is the oldest and largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments. The NCAI calls upon the United States to sign the Declaration.

Support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Resolution #PHX-08-035

BARACK OBAMA'S MESSAGE FOR FIRST AMERICANS

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