Glenn H. Welker 2822 Atlanta Drive Silver Spring, MD 20906
Home: (301) 949-1639 Work: (301) 320-7214 Fax: (301) 320-7518
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TO: Whom It May Concern
SUBJECT: 1993 - International Year of Indigenous Nations
STATEMENT OF INDIGENOUS NATIONS, PEOPLES and ORGANIZATIONS *
Tappan, NY ICC) - The following statement was produced during
the opening of the International Year of the World's Indigenous
Peoples at the United Nations on December 10, 1992. These
statements were agreed to by Indigenous leaders from all parts
of the world as statements of their interests and concerns
"Gucumatz, Condor, Father Sun, Eagle, Anahuac, Mother Earth"
Invoking the spirits of our ancestors and acting in our
tradition of resistance in the defense of Mother Earth,
asserting our fundamental and historical rights.
Asserting all the millions of brothers and sisters who have
sacrificed their lives in defense of our millennial culture. In
the name of the more than 300 million indigenous people who
inhabit the earth, and the efforts over years of work by
indigenous peoples and NGOs, we, the members of the Indigenous
Nation and Organizatons, gathered in New York City, from the 8th
to the 10th of December of 1992.
We Consider:
I. That all indigenous peoples have the right to
self-determination as expounded in the principle of the
Universal Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Accordingly, indigenous peoples have the right to determine all
matters relating to our political, economic, social, spiritual
and cultural affairs. We call for the immediate adoption of the
above declaration.
II. The struggle for our territorial rights is common to all
indigenous nations and peoples, and this right is persistently
denied by governments also dominant societies.
III. Economic development practices of Nation States arc
destroying the natural resources which have been protected
within indigenous territories. As a consequence, the survival of
all species is threatened.
IV. The indigenous peoples' contribution to the social,
intellectual and cultural diversity of the world, particularly
to the ecology and harmony of Mother Earth, must be valued and
supported by Nation States and international agencies.
V. The Human rights of indigenous peoples to our culture,
identity, religions and languages are inalienable. These rights
continue to be sacrificed in the programs, policies and budgets
of the Nation States and international agencies.
VI. While democracy is heralded by dominant societies, what this
means to indigenous peoples is repression, genocide, and misery
in the Americas and in the rest of the world. As an example, the
process by which the dialogue for peace is taking place in
Central and South America, there is no direct participation by
indigenous organizations and nations in spite of the fact that
indigenous peoples are directly affected by the conditions of
the wars.
VII. The survival of indigenous sovereign government continues
in spite of the oppressive actions and programs of the Nations
States and the dominant society.
VIII. Governments continue to desecrate and appropriate
religious and sacred places and objects, depriving indigenous
nations around the world of their basic spiritual ways of life.
Therefore:
The International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples, 1993,
must not be merely celebrations or paternalistic declarations,
but rather, the resolution of the above requires that the United
Nations and its member states take the following actions:
1. Recognize indigenous rights to indigenous territories,
including the recovery and demarcation of such territories.
2. Recognize, honor, and document under international law all
treaties, compacts, accords and other formal agreements
concluded with indigenous peoples of the world. Additionally
the Study on Indigenous Treaties delegated to the Human Rights
Commission must be given priority attention by the United
Nations and its Member States.
3. Recognize and honor indigenous forms of government when such
governments are practiced according to traditional laws and
customs.
4. Promote and strengthen indigenous intellectual and cultural
property rights under International Law and principles.
Additionally, the study on intellectual and cultural property
rights undertaken by the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights should be given priority.
5. Consult with indigenous organizations and nations regarding
the ratification of Covenant 169 of the International Labor
Organization.
6. Provide legal assistance and technical training to the
indigenous organizations and nations.
7. Promote at the national and international levels the reform
of laws and policies such that they recognize the sovereign
rights of the indigenous peoples.
8. Promote and strengthen indigenous education, culture, art,
religion, philosophers, literature and sciences of indigenous
nations.
9. Return historic places and sacred sites and objects to the
indigenous nations to whom they belong.
10. Demonstrate sincere committment to the new partnership with
indigenous peoples by making adequate financial resources
available to implement actions presented herein. Furthermore,
make significant donations to the Voluntary Fund so that future
projects be realized, and assure that the indigenous peoples
have direct input into the management of said fund.
11. That the United Nations Secretary General and its
specialized agencies, commissions and programs convene special
consultations with indigenous peoples of the world at The most
local level practical.
12. That the Secretary General of the United Nations create
immediately a specific indigenous program to be administered and
executed with direct participation of indigenous organizations.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES - B'OKOB'
DECLARATION
In B'okob' (Chimaltenango), territory of the
Maya-Kaqchikeles in the martyred and heroic land of Guatemala,
today in a State of Emergency we held the First World Summit of
Indigenous Peoples, from May 24 to 28, with representatives from
the four corners of the universe, responding to the invitation
of our sister Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Nobel Peace Prize and Good
Will Ambassador of the International Year of Indigenous Peoples,
representing the Secretary General of the United Nations.
This first Summit was carried out as one of the satellite
meetings of the World Conference on Human Rights scheduled for
June 14 through 25, 1993 in Vienna, Austria. It created a space
for us to bring together our words, our wisdom, our projects and
our work for life and peace in the world.
In analyzing the current situation, we agreed that we live
in constant danger of death, as demonstrated in various ways:
the increase in the most perverse and irrational of human
activity; the rise of racism; the environmental destruction that
threatens the future of the planet; the obscene opulence
existing next to extreme misery and poverty; the voracious
search for easy money that stops at nothing and tramples the
weakest members of our societies, as we can see in the trade in
children, etc. To summarize: we face world-wide disorder that
is creating an unprecedented global crisis.
As we approach the twenty-first century, we, the
indigenous peoples of the world, are deeply concerned about the
systematic violation of the rights of indigenous peoples, the
increase in violence against indigenous women and children, the
marginalization that we suffer in decision-making, the
increasing discrimination we face, and the various forms of
exploitation carried out by Nation-States and transnational
corporations against our peoples.
Before this disturbing situation, the ancient cultures
which our peoples embody are emerging with a message of hope for
a more equal and just future. We are living examples that such a
future is possible, as we have demonstrated throughout
histories, with our efforts, our values, and our world view. We
hope for a future in which our mother earth becomes healthy
again, in which we enjoy equal relationships, mutual respect,
and solidarity among individuals, peoples, and the different
nations of the world.
Despite the advances of the past years in spreading the
voices and demands of the indigenous peoples, we still suffer
notable inequalities in how our problems are responded to at the
national and international levels. As a result of our efforts,
the United Nations has created several instruments meant to
protect the specific rights of the indigenous peoples. However,
there are many States which have still not ratified these
instruments and others which have responded only in a formal
manner, without incorporating these instruments into their
practices. Despite our efforts the marginalization of the
indigenous peoples continues.
While the declaration of the International Year of
Indigenous Peoples constituted an important step forward, in
practice we have found that one year is not enough to
effectively develop the "new relationships" that we are
proposing.
Taking this situation into consideration, the First Summit
of the Indigenous Peoples resolves:
I) To establish the DECADE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES from 1994
to 2004, and to urge the United Nations to endorse this decade.
2) To reaffirm the rights of Indigenous Peoples to
political, economic, social and cultural development based on
full participation in the decision making process and
self-determination.
3) To urge all governments to ratify all international
instruments that promote respect for indigenous peoples rights.
4 To support the convening of summits of indigenous
peoples at the national level to encourage unity and the
struggles of indigenous peoples.
5) To create the High Commission on Indigenous Peoples
meant to ensure respect for indigenous peoples' rights.
6) To declare December 10th of every year International
Day of the Indigenous Peoples of the World.
We also call on the United Nations to ratify, endorse, and
support this Declaration.
We propose the following goals for the International
Decade of Indigenous Peoples:
1) To sensitize the world's peoples to the reality and the
perspectives of the indigenous peoples through the development
of educational campaigns aimed towards the entire society, as
well as education among indigenous peoples directed towards
affirming their identities and their rights.
2) To demand that the United Nations approve the Universal
Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the
respective ratifications and implementations on the part of the
various States.
3) To demand that the United Nations continue and
strengthen the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples as a
permanent institution working to monitor and ensure the
fulfillment of the rights stated in the declaration.
4) Urge the U.N., government and multilateral agencies to
guarantee and ensure the access and participation of the
indigenous people's delegates to the decision making bodies.
5) To support a world-wide campaign against racism.
6) To encourage the building of strong linkages and
exchange networks among indigenous peoples.
7) To develop more effective communication systems for the
exchange of information among indigenous peoples.
8) To foster the human development of the indigenous
peoples.
9) To create, approve, and subsequently ratify an
international convention for the elimination of
discrimination against indigenous peoples.
This decade is not meant to benefit only indigenous
peoples, but instead represents an effort to find creative
alternatives to the problems faced by all people who are
politically marginalized, economically exploited, and culturally
discriminated against.
Our contributions to the creation of a new model of
society must be accompanied by the support and solidarity of the
entire society, of the Nation-States, and of the different
international organizations so that we can establish new
relations within a pluri-linguistic and multi-cultural
framework.
Indigenous brothers and sisters: from the land of the
Mayan chiefs Kahib'Imox and B'elejeb' K'at, drawing on the
strength, heroism, and wisdom of our ancestors, we call on you
to continue to work with us to consolidate our unity. Our
struggle and our energy must go from now on to the creation and
implementation of activities that will ensure the development
and the future of our peoples.
- S'okob' (Chimaltenango) May 7, 1993.
The American people have spoken out for change and progress
and have vested their trust in your words and actions.
Therefore, I find it a moral obligation to bring to your
attention a case of injustice so outrageous that it must be
remedied immediately.
Leonard Peltier has spent nearly seventeen years in federal
prison, illegally convicted of killing two FBI agents at point
blank range. The government has since conceded that it does not
know who fired the killing shots during the June 26th, 1975
firefight on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota
which included 30-40 Indian activists and well over 100 FBI
agents, BIA police, and tribal police known as the Goon Squad.
Senior Circuit Judge Gerald Heaney, a man who wrote to Mr.
George Bush asking for consideration of a sentence reduction for
Leonard Peltier, has stated that the FBI was "equally to blame"
for the events that day. Yet, Mr. Peltier is the only person
serving a prison sentence for the shootout, a sentence that
spans twice his natural life.
Documentation uncovered long after his conviction indicates
that the government knowingly used frabricated evidence to
extradite him from Canada and to influence the jury, coerced
witnesses, committed perjury, and withheld exculpatory evidence.
Today the government argues thal Mr. Peltier should remain in
prison despite admitting that they have no real evidence against
him, claiming thal he was prosecuted for both first degree
murder and aiding and abetting. Anyone familiar with the legal
proceedings and possessing even the most rudimentary reading
skills can see thal this is an outright lie.
Leonard Peltier was a potential leader. He was considered
a threat because he is a good organizer and his love tor his
people and traditions rub off on those around him. From his
prison cell he still guides his people through his wonderful art
work and ideas which he instructs supporters to put into motion.
A health plan is in its beginning stages. He has donated a
painting to establish a scholarship for deserving Native
American law students. He asks for food and clothing to be
delivered to the poorest of the reservations. In fact. he was a
nominee for last year's Nobel Peace Prize. He is supported by
many Congessmen and Senators, world religious leaders. and
Amnesty International. Millions of signatures have been
collecled supporting his release.
I urge you as a concerned citizen and registered voter to
take immediate action in this blalant case of injustice. In the
land of the free and home of the brave, Leonard Peltier's
imprisonment is totally unacceptable.
I am writing to urge your support of legislation to amend
the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. As a strong believer
in the First Amendments protection of religious freedom, I find
it appalling that American Indians are still denied one of the
most fundamental constitutional rights that many American
citizens take for granted.
I understand that American Indian religious sacred sites
have little or no protection under current laws, and that sacred
sites can be developed or destroyed in the name of progress,
regardless of the sanctity American Indians feel for these
sites. I wonder how other Americans would feel if someone
proposed bulldozing the Lincoln Memorial or the Washington
Monument. While these are not sacred sites in a religious sense
the importance of these sites to the American people cannot be
disputed.
For example, it is my understanding that American Indians
are not allowed to practice their beliefs within our prison
system, or are subject to stringent requirements, whereas other
prisoners can practice their various faiths with little or no
restrictions. By supporting these amendments to the 1978
American Indian Religious Freedom Act, I believe this and other
issues concerning American Indian religious Freedom can be
strengthened and brought up to an equal level with all other
religious beliefs, as guaranteed by the United States
Constitution.
I understand that the Native American Church uses peyote in
their worship services, much like Christians use wine, and that
States discriminate against American Indians for this practice
and consider the use of peyote illegal. I still believe that
American Indians have the right to practice their religions
according to their customs, much as the Judeo-Christians'
religion practice according to their customs. This is just one
of the many issues American Indians face when it comes to their
freedom of religion.
Because most Native American religions and ceremonies hold
certain plants and animals sacred, I understand that the use of
eagle feathers should be permitted by Native practitioners in
accordance with the 1978 American Indian Religious Freedom Act.
The draft amendments would permit the religious use of eagles
except where the Secretary of the Dept. of the Interior
determines that a species "is endangered or threatened and is
negatively affected by religious takings."
Finally, please do not confuse this legislation (also known
as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act) with other legislation
introduced last session by former Cong. Solarz to restore the
"compelling interest" requirement that the state must actually
have a reason to interfere with religion. The remedy offered in
the previous Solarz bill is not sufficient to ensure religious
freedom for American Indians. SEPARATE LEGISLATION IS NEEDED.
I am looking forward to your support on this important issue.
* Ref: - "INDIAN COUNTRY NEWS"