Indigenous Rights just Declared!
October 27th, 2007 by insighter
Growing up in South America, you learn to understand that the “discovery of America” was not only commendable but also our ’salvation’. We were saved and civilized - God only know what kind of savages we would still be. The school system put heavy enphasis on celebrating Columbus day. However, as I got older and I came to understand history and could see the left over result - racism, I decided that Columbus day & even Thankgiving would be days to celebrate the survival of the indigenous people in the Americas.
About 500 years after the European attack on the Americas - UN members passed the “Declaration of Indigenous Rights” on September 13, 2007 (!2007?! We’re just this year agreeing that indigenous people have rights?! OMG!) recognizing the rights of just a few 350 million indigenous people. If you’re interested in reading this 11 page document go here:
”This declaration contains many of the important human rights that we have fought for nearly 30 years to establish - the right of self-determination for indigenous peoples; rights to our lands, territories and resources; the right to exist as distinct peoples and cultures; recognition of our treaties; and many other rights,” said Robert Tim Coulter, executive director of the Indian Law Resource Center.
It is still to be seen what this document means in terms of action in the near future. Its has been a rejuvenating success for those who have been fighting for these rights and I hope it’s not just a ghost success. I hope this declaratio walks the walk.
Of all UN members only four countries did not support this declaration. The countries against the Declaration of Indigenous Rights: The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Do you see any similarities among those countries? I guess it makes me wonder what would be so threatening about recognizing indigenous rights. We’d have to start analyzing previous and current actions seriously, correcting previous ones & stopping current ones and maybe we’d even have to respect indigenous people and their resources. Ugg, how annoying, huh? So high maintenance.
Check out these youtube videos on the subject:
In Peru: Amazon Indigenous People Protest Oil Company
In Ecuador: Dream People
In Venezuela & Latin America: Latin American Economic Revolution
In Brazil: Amazon in the hands of a few
In Australia: Australia opposes UN Indigenous Rights Declaration
In Aotearoa (New Zealand): Indigenous Solidarity
In US & Canada: First Nation Rights