Indigenous leaders around the world are celebrating the passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At the same time, Indigenous leaders are examining what the document means for the future. The countries voting against its passage -- Canada, US, Australia and New Zealand -- are under intense fire. These countries have large populations of Indigenous Peoples, and are exploiting Indigenous Peoples resources for coal mining, power plants, uranium mining and the nuclear industry.
By Brenda Norrell
TUCSON -- Indigenous leaders around the world are celebrating the passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
At the same time, Indigenous leaders are examining what the document means for the future. The countries voting against its passage -- Canada, US, Australia and New Zealand -- are under intense fire. These countries have large populations of Indigenous Peoples, and are exploiting Indigenous Peoples resources for coal mining, power plants, uranium mining and the nuclear industry.
While there is outrage in Canada, most people in the US have been silent about the 'No' vote.
In Australia, New Zealand and around the world, Indigenous Peoples are challenging governments to uphold Indigenous rights. They are holding accountable those governments who voted 'No.'
Indigenous leaders say the Declaration recognizes Indigenous Peoples' inherent right to self-determination.
Following are the official statements on the passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
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STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN, GLOBAL INDIGENOUS CAUCUS
By Les Malezer
The adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations marks a momentous and historic occasion for both Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations.One quarter of a century ago the United Nations agreed that the situation of indigenous peoples around the world was so desperate and consistently exploited, that it warranted international attention.
Within a few years of brief examination and assessment, the United Nations decided that a human rights standard on the rights of indigenous peoples was required.
Simultaneously, the indigenous peoples of the world were uniting, because of our increasing capacity to communicate to each other, but also out of necessity to achieve an international voice.
Together we found out that Indigenous Peoples around the world shared a common situation of loss of control of our lands, territories and resources and a history of colonisation.The Declaration, as a deposition, represents a meeting of authorities, i.e. the United Nations and the indigenous peoples.Today's adoption of the Declaration occurs because the United Nations and the Indigenous Peoples have found the common will to achieve this outcome. Read more ...
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/09/les-malezer-indigneous-declaration.html
Indigenous Peoples Caucus Regional Steering Committee
Contact: Rainy Blue Cloud rbluecloud@ifg.org
United Nations General assembly adopts the UNITED NATIONS Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples
NEW YORK -- Today, the United Nations General Assembly, the highest body of the United Nations system, in an historic session adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, after more than 20 years of intensive negotiations between nation-states and Indigenous Peoples. The vote won with an overwhelming majority in favour, 143 with only 4 negative votes cast (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United States) and 11 abstentions (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa, Ukraine).
Indigenous peoples from around the world, many of whom have worked tirelessly for the adoption of the Declaration since its inception, were present to witness its passage at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
As Les Malezer, Chair of the Global Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus states: “The Declaration does not represent solely the viewpoint of the United Nations, nor does it represent solely the viewpoint of the Indigenous Peoples. It is a Declaration which combines our views and interests and which sets the framework for the future. It is a tool for peace and justice, based upon mutual recognition and mutual respect.”
North American Regional Statement:
UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FINALLY ADOPTED AFTER 25 YEARS!
Indigenous Representatives from the North American Region share the following statement with the world community:
We bring you respectful greetings from our Leaders, Elders, men, women and children of all the Indigenous Peoples of North America. It is a great day when Indigenous Peoples can be counted among all the other Peoples on Mother Earth. Today at the United Nations, States have finally recognized what we have always known – We are Peoples, equal in all ways to all other Peoples, with inherent and inalienable rights to our survival, our way of life, lands and self-determination. We, Indigenous Peoples of this land, are part of Creation, in the homelands we inherited from our ancestors. We understand from our original teachings that we are meant to live in harmony with all Creation and with other Peoples, including with those who came to our homelands seeking a better life for themselves and their children. Our Nations entered into sacred Treaties with them. Sadly, these treaties have been violated time and time again. The tragic and brutal story of what happened to us, especially at the hands of the governments, is well known. But today, with the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations General Assembly, we see the opportunity for a new beginning, for another kind of relationship with States in North America and indeed throughout the world.
We celebrate that the fundamental human rights which we have all worked so hard to uphold in this Declaration are still intact in the final text now adopted by the UN General Assembly. Read more ...
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/09/north-america-indigenous-celebrate.html
Inuit Circumpolar Council and Saami Council
The Indigenous peoples of the Arctic today celebrate the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples! The Inuit Circumpolar Council and Saami Council welcome this momentous occasion. For the first time, the world community has proclaimed a universally applicable human rights instrument in order to end centuries of marginalisation and discrimination, and to affirm that Indigenous peoples are peoples, equal in dignity and rights with all other peoples. (Photo Jens Dahl) Read more ...
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/09/arctic-inuit-and-saami-celebrate.html
Pacific Regional Caucus Statement on the Adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific region were appraised of the text of the modified United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in early September 2007. They communicated their overwhelming support for its passage from 11 different countries spanning the vast reaches of Oceania, which is the largest geographical region of the world and the home of many diverse cultures who are Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian. Pacific leaders and Indigenous Peoples have been consistent and unwavering in their support for the human rights for the world's Indigenous Peoples since the inception of this effort 21 years ago in Geneva. We recognize and thank the Government of Fiji - the first State in the world to adopt the Sub-Commission draft of the Declaration - for their efforts to bring agreement among all States and for their leadership in this monumental task.
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/09/pacific-caucus-celebrates-indigenous.html
ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CAUCUS ON THE OCCASION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Regional co-coordinator for Asia for the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus The Asian Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus celebrates the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
This as a historic milestone in the struggle of Indigenous Peoples for their human rights and fundamental freedoms. This Declaration affirms our collective rights to self-determination, to our lands, territories and resources, our cultures and intellectual property rights, our right to free, prior and informed consent and our right to determine what development should be in our communities, among others. We celebrate this as a major victory for Indigenous Peoples of the world, in general, and Asia, in particular. Read more ...
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/09/asia-victory-on-declaration-of.html
Africa -- A l’occasion de l’adoption de la déclaration des Nations Unies sur les Droits des Peuples Autochtones par l’Assemblée Générale
13 septembre 2007
Nous coordination des organisations autochtones d’Afrique présentent à NY lors de l’adoption de la déclaration des Nations Unies sur les Droits des Peuples Autochtones, saluons la sage décision de la majorité des Etats membres des nations Unies qui adopte cette déclaration le 13 septembre 2007.
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/09/africa-celebrates-passage-of-indigenous.html
Saami celebrate passage of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Saami Council and the Saami parliaments in Finland, Norway and Sweden celebrate the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The adoption of the Declaration constitutes a historical milestone in the struggle for the recognition of indigenous peoples’ human rights and fundamental freedoms, ending Centuries of marginalisation and discrimination, and confirming that indigenous peoples are peoples, equal in dignity and rights with all other peoples. Read more ...
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/09/saamis-celebrate-adoption-of-un.html
Historic UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted today
NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 13 /CNW Telbec/NEW YORK -- The United Nations has adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at a meeting of the General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York by an overwhelming majority of 143 votes in favor, four opposed and 11 abstentions.The Métis Nation, represented by Métis Nation of Ontario President Tony Belcourt joined leaders of Indigenous Peoples from around the world at this momentous occasion to applaud the Nation States which voted to approve the Declaration and to express its profound disappointment in Canada and the small number of other countries (Australia, New Zealand, USA) which voted in opposition to its adoption.Mr. Belcourt stated: "This is a truly remarkable milestone in the history of the struggle by Indigenous Peoples for the recognition of their rights by the global community of Nation States. It is the result of debate and negotiation between Indigenous peoples and Nation States for more than two decades since it was first drafted in 1985. The Declaration is an aspirational affirmation of our rights consistent with international law and as such provides a framework for the protection Indigenous peoples and the promotion of harmonious relations within the States where they live. We call on Canada to work with the Métis Nation and other Aboriginal peoples to develop policies and actions which are consistent with the provisions of the Declaration despite its opposition to its adoption. Now that we have achieved this great moment in history, it is incumbent on all States, including Canada, to work in a spirit of cooperation with Indigenous peoples within their borders towards the implementation of the provisions of this historic Declaration."For further information: Chelsey Quirk, Communications Assistant, (613) 798-1488, Ext. 104, Cell: (613) 299-6085, chelseyq@metisnation.org; For the text of the Declaration and other statements see the MNO website at: http://www.metisnation.org/
NGOs: Indigenus Declaration affirms self-determinationhttp://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/09/ngos-indigenous-declaration-affirms.html
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