From: DAVE MOORE
Email: dmoore@mail.netshop.net
Date: 6/12/97
Time: 5:41:49 PM
TREATY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES INTERNATIONAL
July 11, 1997
PREAMBLE
Indian Nations, Tribes, First Nations, Indigenous Nations and Indigenous
Peoples of the Pacific Basin, hereafter referred to as Nations, signatory
to this Treaty in mutual recognition of our inherent sovereign powers,
hereby re-establish political, social and economic relations, and
cooperative control of natural resources essential to the cultural,
spiritual and religious rights of our peoples.
Signatories to this Treaty shall include, but not be limited to, all
interested Nations located in the Pacific Basin.
PRINCIPLES
Recognizing each other as self-governing Nations, we subscribe to the
following principles: A. The Creator has made us part of and spiritually
inseparable from the environment. This truth brings us together. B. We
share a cultural legacy of natural conservation and protection stemming
from our inherent obligation to protect the land, water and natural
resources within our traditional territories. C. The relationship between
the Nations predates colonization and will continue forever. D. No State,
Province or Nation-State is possessed of jurisdiction over any of our
Nations, our peoples, or our traditional territories, except in accordance
with the freely expressed wishes of that Nation. E. We have permanent
control and enjoyment of our territories, waters and the resources
therein. F. We have the sole right to control our culture, including
archeological, historical and sacred sites, artifacts, designs, knowledge,
and works of art. G. We have the right to control our economics including
entering into agreements regarding trade and commerce.
COMMON OBJECTIVES
This Treaty seeks to achieve the following objectives: A. To strengthen
the cooperative and supportive bond between each Nation in order to
promote the rights of our peoples for the well being of all our future
generations. B. To develop an effective and meaningful process to promote
cooperation between the Nations on common issues, concerns, pursuits and
initiatives. C. To enhance communication and the sharing of information
between the Nations.
MUTUAL COVENANTS
We are committed to provide mutual assistance on the following basis:
A. Each Nation shall, to the best of its ability, exchange financial,
economic, legal, political, and technical knowledge regarding common
issues, concerns, pursuits, or initiatives. B. Each Nation shall, to the
best of its ability, do the following: (1)appoint a coordinator to
implement the Treaty; (2)coordinate statements of policy and information
of mutual and general concern to be disseminated to the media;
(3)establish an inter-tribal communication network; (4)coordinate periodic
reviews and strategy planning sessions to provide direct instruction or
advice on additional commitments or follow up actions.
AMENDMENTS TO THIS TREATY
Any ratifying Nation may request an amendment to this Treaty. This Treaty
may be amended at a special conference called for this purpose. Any
amendment shall be subject to ratification by the customary or
constitutional processes of each ratifying Nation. Unanimous consent of
the ratifying Nations is required to amend this Treaty.
RATIFICATION
This Treaty shall come into force when the following Nations formally
ratify the provisions according to their customary or constitutional
processes. Following the coming into force of the Treaty, any other Nation
may ratify this Treaty at their pleasure, with the consent of Nations
already signatory to this Treaty. Each Nation which ratifies this Treaty
may place conditions on its participation. Each ratifying Nation may
attach a Statement of Reservations indicating specific provisions of this
Treaty, which shall apply to it under specific conditions. Each ratifying
Nation may attach explanations or clarifications expressing different
meanings associated with the provision through a Statement of
Understandings. These Reservations of Understandings shall become a part
of this Treaty and receive full respect by other ratifying Nations.
Signed on behalf of the Nations on September 30, 1994, at the Squamish
Nation. And amended on June 11, 1997, at Kona Hawai'i.
MISSION STATEMENT
The vision and mission of the Treaty of Indigenous Peoples International
is to work together to protect the inherent rights of signatory indigenous
peoples related to self-determination, cultural and economic well being,
and environmental protection.
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More information is available at the Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity
Information Network (IBIN) web site (http://www.ibin.org/) in the
Indigenous Fisheries Forum.