Announcement from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights 

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Professor James Anaya, will carry out an official visit to the United States of America from 23 April to 4 May 2012.

The aim of the Special Rapporteur’s visit to the United States is to examine the human rights situation of the indigenous peoples of the country, that is, American Indians/Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. During the visit, the Special Rapporteur will hold meetings and consultations with federal and state government officials, as well as with indigenous nations and their representatives, in various locations.

Of particular relevance to the visit are the implications of the United States’ endorsement, in December 2010, of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Special Rapporteur will assess the ways in which the standards of the Declaration are currently reflected in U.S. law and policy, both domestically and abroad, and identify needed reforms or areas that need further attention in light of the Declaration.

The results of this assessment will be reflected in a preliminary report that will be submitted to the United States for its comments and consideration. A final version of the report will be circulated publicly and presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The report will include recommendations to the United States, indigenous governing bodies and, possibly, other interested parties on how to address issues of ongoing concern to indigenous peoples.

The Special Rapporteur has tentatively planned to visit locations in the Southwest, Midwest, Alaska, and Washington, D.C. Further information and updates about the agenda of the Special Rapporteur as it becomes available will be made public on the websites of the Special Rapporteur maintained by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/SRIndigenousPeoples/Pages/SRIPeoplesIndex.aspx: and the University of Arizona: www.unsr.jamesanaya.org

Background information on the Special Rapporteur and his mandate from the UN Human Rights Council is available on these web sites.

Athili Sapriina in Washington, D.C. with Columbia University's Human Rights Advocacy Program, November 2011

By Athili Sapriina

The first week of November was special; the HRAP participants went at Washington DC to meet with exciting organizations and individuals. Fourteen human rights advocates along with Stephanie and Sam from the Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) of Columbia University took the three-hour journey by train on October 31. Immediately upon checking into the hotel and we were off to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights that afternoon.

Marselha Gonçalves Margerin is advocacy director at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights (RFK Center) she is a member of The Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG) advisory council. We also met with Anna Triponel of PILPG in NY and she is the director of the NY Office. The RFK Center has interest in indigenous peoples issues, having worked in Mexico in the past. They have worked on the right to education for indigenous peoples in the Americas, as well as a study done on untouchability of Dalits in India.

On November 1, I had three appointments. The first was the Fund for Global Human Rights. We were met by Jerusha Burnham, Grant Administrator/Program Associate. The fund supports oganizations working on indigenous land rights, women’s rights, and the issue of forced labor.  Next we went to the Enough Project, an organization that focuses on Africa and specializes in advocating for policy changes.

Later in the day, we met with Human Rights First, an organization whose office was at Capitol Hill, right next to the Supreme Court. The organization’s niche is encouraging the United States Government to take definitive positions on human rights. Four advocates met with Quinn OKeefe, Director of the Human Rights Defenders Program, which is primarily led by lawyers and works on business and human rights, refugee protection, fighting religious discrimination, etc.

On November 2, I met with Mary Wyckoff, Director of Access to Justice of Global Rights. Here I have been able to find a linkage with Nagas because Ms. Megan of Global Rights was aware that the Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG), a global pro bono law firm, was involved in the Naga issue. She linked me up with Ruben Carranza, Director, Reparative Justice Program at the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and we have plans to meet.

We then went to the Academy for Educational Development, which is now known as FHI360. We met with Anne O’Toole Salina, program director for peace building and conflict mitigation at the Center for Civil Society and Governance and Riley Abbott, program officer of the Capable Partners Program. FHI360 helps organizational developmental capacity through training on grants management. It works closely with USAID on conflict assessments.

The next day, all fourteen advocates went to the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and learned about their programs from Theodore Feifer. We then met with representatives from the Advocacy Project, a fellows program for representatives of grassroots organizations. It works with organizations based in marginalized communities, including India, Nepal, Africa,  Guatemala, etc.

The last meeting was held at the World Bank Inspection Panel, which was formed primarily due to tremendous advocacy work by indigenous peoples around the world. The panel strives to work independent of the World Bank; however, less than 80 cases have been taken up by the panel, which they attribute to lack of awareness of such a mechanism. I met with Peter L. Lallas, executive secretary briefly and spent a larger amount of time with Dilek Barlas, Deputy Executive Secretary of The Inspection Panel.

The exposure I got in DC to support organizations for human rights work was truly eye opening. I hope to be able to keep contact with the people I met there in the hopes that we can help each other in our common missions.

Athili Anthony Sapriina

Tribal Link is proud to announce the participation of our colleague Athili Anthony Sapriina as the first indigenous person to attend the Human Rights Advocacy Program at Columbia University in New York. The program began on August 29,2011 and will run until December 13, 2011. Tribal Link’s role in this historic event is as a sponsor and mentor while Sapriina attends the program. The success of Athili Anthony Sapriina is part of Tribal Link’s overall mission.

Tribal Link Director Pamela Kraft and Athili, an indigenous journalist from Nagaland (Northeast India),  first met in 2008 at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) at UN Headquarters in New York.  In 2009, Athili participated in Tribal Link’s Project Access, which supports indigenous peoples’ participation in a training program that prepares indigenous participants to engage in the Forum where decisions are being made that affect their rights, cultures, and livelihoods. Throughout the training, Athili demonstrated excellent leadership skills and the capacity to work collectively. During this time, he expressed a deep interest in furthering his education and training as a journalist and advocate for his people — the Naga in Nagaland –  and we encouraged him to pursue that goal. We that saw his talent as a writer and his strong desire to use that talent had great potential to effect change in the world. Athili applied to a number of institutions around the world with a particular interest in the  Human Rights Advocacy Program (HRAP) of the Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) at Columbia University.

HRAP Participants 2011

It’s now 2011, and Athili Sapriina has made history. Not only is he one of 13 advocates chosen from an application pool of over 280 from 64 countries, he will be the first indigenous person to attended the HRAP. The four-month program—with an academic, skill-building, and networking curriculum—is located in New York City —an enormous geographical and social distance from Sapriina’s home of Nagaland in North East India.

He has spent over a decade of his life working at regional, national, and international levels in the media with HIV/AIDS, indigenous peoples’ rights, and peace. He was once recorded saying, “I’ve had so many experiences in my life, but it is meaningless if I cannot document them from the larger society to digest, draw from, and possibly act…” Ms. Kraft has said, “He is a natural journalist. He has words that must be spoken and stories that must be told…stories that can be understood across the globe.” HRAP Press Release (171)

“Indigenous Peoples: A Decade for Action and Dignity”. Poster of the Second International Decade of The World's Indigenous People 2010-2015; copywrite 2001 Carlos Jacanamijoy

Tuesday August 9th is the United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. This year’s commemoration will be held in the Economic and Social Council Chamber of UN Headquarters in New York and will feature a panel discussion “Indigenous designs: Celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own culture”, followed by a screening of the film “Harmony of culture and nature”. Co-sponsors of the commemorative activities are the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Department of Public Information and the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon & NGO Indigenous Committee Chair Roberto Mucaro Borrero, Taino, at the 2010 commemoration

All are invited to attend. For registration, please email aragonm@un.org with your name, affiliation, and contact information.

NOTE: This Thursday August 4th is deadline for registration.

King Tide is an especially high tide, a phenomenon that occurs under certain cosmic conditions: when the sun, moon and earth are aligned, reaching the closest point in our elliptical orbits, creating greater gravitational pull.  This happens every year in February in Tuvalu, where the effects are not only visible, but happening right in one’s backyard.

In an interview today with Tribal Link colleague, Tafue Lusama, chair of Tuvalu’s Climate Action Network, he spoke about last week’s King Tide on the capital island of Funafuti.  “In the past, we’ve had these extra high tides, but it was not destructive, not serious, whereas today, during King Tide, we’ve started to get floods all around the islands.”  The sea water seeps up from the ground, a slow inundation, and within the last 15 years, has been notably damaging to the food supply, causing evacuations from homes, and motivating residents to build their houses at least one meter above ground.  All over Tuvalu’s tiny islands, pulaka plants, the main crop which is grown in compost pits, have been flooded, and may not survive the saltwater intrusion.   Tafue added that there has been an unusual drought over the last few months, and that the recent flooding is not due to any rainfall- only the extraordinarily high tide.  “Our fear is that in Tuvalu’s history,  King Tide has never been combined with any strong rain or storm.  If that ever happens, well, the damage would be much worse.”

Post by Heather Korb & Kristiane Huber

Tofa Tuvalu! This morning we took our last walk around Funafuti.  We checked in at the airport (which again took a fraction of the time it takes in any other airport we’ve ever been in), and checked our bags.  We ran into Amelia on the street who pointed out Tuvalu’s Philatelic Bureau.  We went in and looked at Tuvalu’s historic stamps and bought some souvenirs.  We went back to the airport where Tafue, Maina and Melton met us to say good bye.  Maina and Tafue gave us long necklaces made of seeds and shells which they explained was the traditional send off in Tuvalu.  Community members come to the airport and wave from the meeting hall when the plane arrives and many stay until it departs.  As the plane taxied on the runway and prepared to take off, more people came out into their yards to wave.  These kind gifts and good byes from friends and strangers alike characterize the friendliness and thoughtfulness of Tuvaluans.

We really enjoyed our time in beautiful Funafuti, and will take many lessons and wonderful memories from our experience.  Tuvalu can teach Americans a lot about relating to other people and to the land. We look forward to working more with TuCAN and seeing the project through.

Post by Heather Korb & Kristiane Huber

This morning all three of us went to the Department of Public Works to meet with Pisi and Ivy from the Integrated Water Resource Management Project to learn about compost toilets being installed around Funafuti.  We met with them at the same time as two French students doing research on climate adaptation and discussed the ten pilot compost toilets installed between September and December.  Their construction and operation has been successful and compost toilets, called “Falevatie”, are in demand around the island.  Instead of using water (which is a limited resource in Tuvalu) to flush toilets, the compost toilets have chambers where human waste along with leaf matter composts to make safe, non-smelly, nutrient-rich compost which can then be used in personal gardens.  We went to one of the households selected for the “Falevatie”, and admired the new, clean, building and toilet.

Later in the afternoon we met with the Director of the Department of Environment, Mataio T. Mataio.  We discussed Tuvalu’s adaptation programs already in place and the government’s priorities for addressing climate change.  Mataio explained that there is a very cooperate relationship between environmental non-governmental organizations, including TuCAN and the government in Tuvalu.  It seems that Tuvalu has the plans in place, and has a fair amount of international funding and support, but needs even more to reach their adaptation and mitigation goals.

Today was a really great day for us- we were able to see the implementation of environmental programs and talk to the people who were organizing them.  Tuvalu is endowed with many very knowledgeable and thoughtful individuals who are passionate about making Tuvalu more climate resilient, more environmental, and a better place for the people who live here.  We are very lucky, and feel inspired, to have met with people who are addressing climate change on the ground.  While we’re a little sad to be leaving Tuvalu, we are looking forward to bringing the lessons we’ve learned home and start designing the eco-center and house.

Post by Heather Korb & Kristiane Huber

Yesterday morning, Maina pulled up to the dock next to the Vaiaku Hotel, and we boarded the boat to visit the outer islets.  Our captain was Reverend Salanoa, who was both a trained sailor and of course a reverend.  It took about an hour and a half to get out to Fualafeke, where we got out to explore.  Maina showed us the distinct signs of climate change which were coastal erosion and dead coconut trees where the sand had become inundated with salt water.  Fualafeke was an iconic tropical island with many bird species and a lush green forest.  We had some brunch there, and sampled some coconut milk directly from coconut which Maina husked and cut open for us.  Then we went to see Tepuka where we drove over areas of fallen palm trees with the boat because the ocean had risen to cover parts of the beach.  The next northern islet, Tepuka Savililivili, had been reduced by rising sea levels from an island with coconut trees like Tepuka, to a small sand bar.

After dinner we went to a public space next to the airport where there was a community event and we were invited in to dance.  We thought the event was really fun, and it was inspiring to see so many different people in the community celebrating together, we also met some great dancers.

This morning Maina picked us up and we all went to church.  The church was overflowing with people and the choir sang beautifully.  After church, Maina brought us to the northern end of the island to see the dumping grounds, the causeway that is completely covered during kind tides, and the buildings.  Our activities over the past couple days have demonstrated that families and homes in Funafuti are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rising sea levels and flooding will threaten the quality of life and culture of the people living here.

Post by Heather Korb & Kristiane Huber

Alofa from Tuvalu!  Yesterday we went to the government office building at look at maps of Funafuti and ended up buying a couple prints.  We rode to the south end of Fongafale which is very different from the part of island where we are staying.  As the island gets narrower, you can see the ocean and lagoon on either side of the road and there are fewer and fewer homes.  Finally the road ended and we walked out to the end of the island.

On a bike ride, Kristiane came across hundreds of people practicing rugby on the airstrip.  While practice for each team (it looked to be two women’s teams and two men’s teams) was serious business, one of the women’s teams stopped their play to sing in the middle while the others continued.  The road was lined with other people from the community watching the practice!

That night, we decided to sample an Indian food restaurant (owned by Fijians) down the road from our hotel.  The restaurant had four tables, one waiter, and two items on the menu, but the papua mango curry was delicious.

Today all three of us met with one of Tuvalu’s architects, a friend of Melton, named Lomi.  The meeting with Lomi gave Tom and Heather a lot of information and ideas about siting for the environmental center, typical building materials used in Tuvalu, how houses are laid out, costs for building homes, energy costs and waste removal.  Near the end of the meeting Tom showed Lomi an article about Tuvalu from an encyclopedia of indigenous architecture.  For a moment Lomi looked a little puzzled, and then laughed and explained that he had drawn the illustration of the traditional Tuvaluan house printed on the page while in university.

After our meeting with Lomi we went to the east part of the island, the other side of the air strip, and admired a large garden organized by the Taiwanese government and a white coral beach facing the open Pacific Ocean.  After lunch we accidentally took a longer nap than planned, and went to the Public Works Department so Tom and Heather could review Tuvalu’s building code.  One of the public works employees, Tia, knew Reverend Tafue and was glad to give us information about building in Tuvalu.  He also told us about a pilot project to install compost toilets around the island, a promising alternative to septic tanks which do not work well in places with high water tables (which Tuvalu has).

We are all really looking forward to a boat trip we will take tomorrow morning with Tafue and Maina to the outer islets of Funafuti.  Tafue wants to show us these other parts of the atoll where some of the adverse effects of climate change are apparent.

Post by Heather Korb & Kristiane Huber

Today was an exciting day in Tuvalu! This morning after breakfast we saw the first political demonstration in Tuvalu’s history right outside the hotel.  We were told that the demonstration called for the leader of one of the other islands to step down from his position.

Tafue’s friend and colleague, Melton came to the hotel to meet with us briefly. Melton is by profession, a geologist who has worked with TuCAN for three or four years.  We discussed different alternative energy options for the island, current challenges Tuvaluans face and prospects for the environmental center.
After our meeting with Melton we went on a walk to the north of our hotel so Tom and Heather could observe more Tuvaluan homes and buildings.
During our walk, Tafue came upon us and pulled off the road in his motorbike and we had a spontaneous roadside chat.  On our walk we discovered tennis courts, soccer fields, pig pens, Tuvalu’s hospital, Funafuti’s primary school, the Red Cross headquarters, the Tuvalu campus of the University of the South Pacific, and the Pacific Ocean.

This evening for dinner we joined almost all of the other foreigners staying on Funafuti for a special buffet at the hotel where we sampled cassava and taro for the first time along with a delicious fish soup, sashimi, fresh seasoned vegetables and rice dishes.  After the buffet, we watched a traditional dance show performed by mostly people who worked at the Vaiaku Lagi Hotel.  It was upbeat and thoroughly entertaining.  Now that we’ve gotten our bearings we’re planning to go on some extended bike rides to see other parts of the island and meet with more stakeholders in the project.

Post by Heather Korb & Kristiane Huber

This was our first glimpse of Tuvalu from the airplane.  Most of the islands we flew over on the trip to Funafuti resembled this low lying, narrow atoll.  On the top right is the Pacific Ocean while the light blue to the lower left is a protected, shallow lagoon where we can see patches of coral reef.  The vulnerability of Tuvaluan populations and ecosystems is clearly demonstrated by images like this one.

Taking a short walk around the island of Funafuti, we encountered a few well-tended vegetable gardens like this one that gave a sense of hope, reminding us that Tuvaluan culture is rooted in sustainability.

The United States government announced today that they will sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. After voting against the Declaration in 2007 (the General Assembly adopted the Declaration when 145 countries signed on) they are joining Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in reversing their decision since then.

“[A]s you know, in April, we announced that we were reviewing our position on the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” the president said in a speech before tribal leaders Dec. 16 at the Department of the Interior. “And today I can announce that the United States is lending its support to this declaration.

“The aspirations it affirms – including the respect for the institutions and rich cultures of Native peoples – are one we must always seek to fulfill.”

While not legally binding under international law, the U.N. describes the declaration as setting “an important standard for the treatment of indigenous peoples that will undoubtedly be a significant tool towards eliminating human rights violations against the planet’s 370 million indigenous people and assisting them in combating discrimination and marginalization.”

Click here to read President Obama’s full statement.

Today the Government of Canada formally endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. John McNee met with the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Joseph Deiss, to advise him of Canada’s official endorsement of the UNDRIP.

The Government of Canada released this statement of support for the UNDRIP:

Today, Canada joins other countries in supporting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In doing so, Canada reaffirms its commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples at home and abroad.

The Government of Canada would like to acknowledge the Aboriginal men and women who played an important role in the development of this Declaration.

The Declaration is an aspirational document which speaks to the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples, taking into account their specific cultural, social and economic circumstances.

Although the Declaration is a non-legally binding document that does not reflect customary international law nor change Canadian laws, our endorsement gives us the opportunity to reiterate our commitment to continue working in partnership with Aboriginal peoples in creating a better Canada.

Under this government, there has been a shift in Canada’s relationship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, exemplified by the Prime Minister’s historic apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools, the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the apology for relocation of Inuit families to the High Arctic and the honouring of Métis veterans at Juno Beach.

These events charted a new path for this country as a whole, one marked by hope and reconciliation and focused on cherishing the richness and depth of diverse Aboriginal cultures.

Canada continues to make exemplary progress and build on its positive relationship with Aboriginal peoples throughout the country, a relationship based on good faith, partnership and mutual respect.

The Government’s vision is a future in which Aboriginal families and communities are healthy, safe, self-sufficient and prosperous within a Canada where people make their own decisions, manage their own affairs and make strong contributions to the country as a whole.

The Government has shown strong leadership by protecting the rights of Aboriginal people in Canada. The amendment to the Canadian Human Rights Act, the proposed Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act and the proposed legislation concerning matrimonial real property rights on reserve are just a few recent examples.

This government has also taken concrete and viable actions in important areas such as education, skills development, economic development, employment, health care, housing and access to safe drinking water. These are part of a continuing agenda focused on real results with willing and able partners.

At the international level Canada has been a strong voice for the protection of human rights. Canada is party to numerous United Nations human rights conventions which give expression to this commitment.

Canada has a constructive and far-reaching international development program that helps to improve the situation of Indigenous peoples in many parts of the world. Canada’s active involvement abroad, coupled with its productive partnership with Aboriginal Canadians, is having a real impact in advancing indigenous rights and freedoms, at home and abroad.

In 2007, at the time of the vote during the United Nations General Assembly, and since, Canada placed on record its concerns with various provisions of the Declaration, including provisions dealing with lands, territories and resources; free, prior and informed consent when used as a veto; self-government without recognition of the importance of negotiations; intellectual property; military issues; and the need to achieve an appropriate balance between the rights and obligations of Indigenous peoples, States and third parties. These concerns are well known and remain. However, we have since listened to Aboriginal leaders who have urged Canada to endorse the Declaration and we have also learned from the experience of other countries. We are now confident that Canada can interpret the principles expressed in the Declaration in a manner that is consistent with our Constitution and legal framework.

Aboriginal and treaty rights are protected in Canada through a unique framework. These rights are enshrined in our Constitution, including our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and are complemented by practical policies that adapt to our evolving reality. This framework will continue to be the cornerstone of our efforts to promote and protect the rights of Aboriginal Canadians.

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were a defining moment for Canada. The Games instilled a tremendous sense of pride in being Canadian and highlighted to the world the extent to which Aboriginal peoples and their cultures contribute to Canada’s uniqueness as a nation. The unprecedented involvement of the Four Host First Nations and Aboriginal peoples from across the nation set a benchmark for how we can work together to achieve great success.

In endorsing the Declaration, Canada reaffirms its commitment to build on a positive and productive relationship with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to improve the well-being of Aboriginal Canadians, based on our shared history, respect, and a desire to move forward together.

November 12, 2010

The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday September 13, by a majority of 144 states in favour, 4 votes against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and 11 abstentions (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa and Ukraine).

Since its adoption, Australia and New Zealand have reversed their positions and now endorse the Declaration. Colombia and Samoa have also reversed their positions and indicated their support for the Declaration. In March 2010, the Government of Canada announced it would take steps to endorse the UN Declaration and, in April 2010, the United States indicated that it will also review its position regarding the Declaration.

World Peace & Prayer Day is next Monday, June 21^st , the day of the Summer Solstice. Chief Arvol Looking Horse, leader of the Lakota Dakota Nakota Oyate, the great Sioux nation, is calling all nations to prayer of any kind on June 21 in an effort to return the planet to balance, the people to spirit.

World Peace and Prayer Day was founded in 1996 in the Black Hills of South Dakota by Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Sioux Nation. Chief Looking Horse was led by a vision to honor sacred sites and to invite all nations and all faiths to do the same, to heal our relationship with our mother, the Earth. World Peace and Prayer Day is held annually on the summer solstice, a powerful day to pray for peace among all living beings.

In a message to the people of the world, Chief Arvol Looking Horse says, “Our vision is for Peoples of all continents to come together as ONE at their Sacred Sites to pray, meditate, and commune with one another, on this day, thus promoting an energy shift to heal our Mother Earth to achieve a united consciousness toward attaining Peace” (Read Chief Looking Horse’s entire message.)

Chief Arvol Looking Horse will be celebrating World Peace and Prayer Day at Burgundy Brook Farm in Palmer, MA. Read more about the events happening over the course of this weekend on Burgundy Brook Farm. Events are open to the public. For more information visit their website.

Click here to see a list of official gatherings around the world.

Two of the official gatherings are being hosted by Tribal Link colleagues: United Confederation of Taino People in Bronx, NY on Sunday June 20^th & the Wittenberg Center for Alternative Resources in Woodstock, NY on Monday June 21^st. Please click on their names to read about their events or visit Tribal Link’s calendar for more details.

Click here to read an article with Chief Arvol Looking Horse.

The ninth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues opened Monday April 19, 2010 with remarks from Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, which focused on the session’s special theme- “Culture & Identity”.  The Secretary General called on Member States to promote development while respecting indigenous rights and cultures.

“Slowly but surely, people are coming to understand that the well-being and sustainability of indigenous peoples are matters that concern us all.  Diversity is a strength — in cultures and in languages, just as it is in ecosystems,” the Secretary General said. “And we need development that allows indigenous peoples to exercise their right to self-determination through participation in decision-making on an equal basis,” he added.

The Secretary-General said that the loss of irreplaceable cultural practices and means of expression “make us poorer, wherever our roots may lie.”

The Secretary General’s comment was followed later in the day by an announcement by New Zealand’s Minister of Maori Affairs, Pita Sharples, that the Government would be reversing it’s stance on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The UNDRIP was adopted by the General Assembly in September of 2007; New Zealand was one of 4 Member States to vote against the passing of the UNDRIP, along with Australia, Canada, and the United States. Australia has also reversed it’s opposition and now endorses the Declaration.

Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Coordinator of the Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, said the Permanent Forum had convened at a time of “extraordinary progress” and its work had influenced the agendas of other organizations and financial institutions — a “ripple effect” which testified to the Forum’s ability to change awareness levels.

For more information on the session opening, please click here.