During the Ninth Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the United States announced that they would be reviewing their position on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The UNDRIP was adopted by the General Assembly in September 2007. While 144 Member States voted in favor of adopting the historic UNDRIP, the United States was one of 4 Member States who voted against the adoption, alongside Canada, New Zealand and Australia. There were 11 Member States who abstained. Of the 4 countries who voted against the UNDRIP, Canada has declared its reconsideration, while Australia and New Zealand have actually reversed their decision.
Together with other Federal Agencies, the U.S. Department of State will be hosting consultations with federally-recognized tribes and dialogues with NGO’s and other stakeholders. The consultations schedule will be posted on the website located at www.state.gov/tribalconsultation/declaration. Tribal leaders, NGO’s and others are encouraged to contribute to the review via email (declaration@state.gov) or via mail to the Department of State: S/SR Global Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street N.W., Suite 1317, Washington, D.C. 20520. Written comments are requested by July 15, 2010 so that they can be given adequate consideration as part of the review.
By Adrian Eisenhower
I arrived a few nights ago to Johannesburg, South Africa. In the airport I connected with two colleagues, John and Daniel. This was the first time I met either of them. John is a native of the states and has spent a good deal of time in Africa and South America. Daniel is of the Maasia tribe in Kenya and works with the Maasia outreach organization, SIMOO.
For the next month and a half, the three of us will travel from here to Kenya. This passage has been designed and funded by Tribal Link and the route coordinated with the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), a nerve center of over 155 Africa indigenous people’s organizations. IPACC is also connecting us with indigenous communities as we travel north. Our progress will be thoroughly documented and online dispatches will be sent to Tribal Link- videos and stills will be posted here on Tribal Link’s website through out the weeks to come.
At this early juncture, much remains a mystery. My first full day in South Africa was used mostly in preparation. The three of us, guided by GPS, drove around both Jo’burg and the capital city of Pretoria in search of supplies for the field.
The truck, though not the perfect conveyance for our passage, may be adequate. Both John and Daniel are confident that it will arrive us safely to the rural communities where we are bound. I await some evidence before I form an opinion. Later today we will likely head to Botswana and I will soon find out if we, as well as the Colt, are ready for whatever we have ahead.
Adrian Eisenhower is a young photographer and journalist residing in New York. He currently teaches studio art and photography at the Masters School.
Tribal Link’s Indigenous Voices program highlights the stories of indigenous peoples worldwide. Our goal is to outreach these stories to a wider audience. It is important to hear about the needs and concerns of indigenous peoples in order to better support their efforts to preserve their communities and their cultures. Indigenous Voices began with informal interviews with participants in our Project Access program who were funded to attend the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues each Spring at UN Headquarters in New York. We are now broadening the circle to begin to interview indigenous representatives of communities worldwide by traveling directly to their communities. An initial cluster of consultations will be conducted in countries throughout southern & east Africa.