Phoenix, Arizona
January 9, 2013
At the First Continental Indigenous Encounter that took place in Quito, Ecuador in 1990 it was Rose
Augér, of the Cree Nation who brought the ceremonial message of the Sacred Fire
which illuminated the path of continental indigenous solidarity, vision, and
spirit to that historic event over twenty years ago.
Today once again it is another indigenous woman of the north - Theresa
Spence, Chief of Attawapiskat who has ignited a new phase of an ancient
cause, one that goes back to our ancestral responsibilities as Nations of
Indigenous Peoples, OrigiNations of the Natural World. We are called upon once again to defend
our Nationhood and our Sacred Mother Earth.
Today we stand together in Ceremonial Solidarity as a Continental Indigenous Movement of Abya Yala to remind the government states of the Americas that yes, they may be states of status within the UN system, within the system of the Organization of American States, within the International Monetary System, within each and every one of the States of Colonialism, but it is WE, the ORIGINATIONS of ABYA YALA who remain the NATIONS of Indigenous Peoples of the continent and the Natural World across the entire planet.
Today we stand together in Ceremonial Solidarity as a Continental Indigenous Movement of Abya Yala to remind the government states of the Americas that yes, they may be states of status within the UN system, within the system of the Organization of American States, within the International Monetary System, within each and every one of the States of Colonialism, but it is WE, the ORIGINATIONS of ABYA YALA who remain the NATIONS of Indigenous Peoples of the continent and the Natural World across the entire planet.
As Nations, we have TREATIES with your
states. As states, you have
TREATIES with our NATIONS, and our CONFEDERATIONS OF NATIONS. These mutual TREATY RIGHTS and obligations
must be fulfilled in good faith.
And further, since the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples on September 13, 2007, which confirms that: “Indigenous Peoples are EQUAL to all
other Peoples”, WE MUST DEMAND ONCE AGAIN that
our TREATIES be integrated into the CORPUS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW as TREATIES EQUAL TO ALL OTHER TREATIES. As INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, the venues to
address TREATY ISSUES must be competent to address the international scope of
the issues, one that is competent in jurisdiction - namely an INTERNATIONAL
VENUE.
Yet unless such a venue has as fundamental element the OFFICIAL ARCHIVE of the Treaties in Question, not merely as a set of DOMESTIC AGREEMENTS between government states and Indigenous Populations, but as TREATIES between Nations and States, the process will not produce justice as an outcome. Therefore, it is essential that the need for an official Treaty Archive of Indigenous Treaties within the UN system itself be addressed as a fundamental FIRST STEP to address the common concerns.
Yet unless such a venue has as fundamental element the OFFICIAL ARCHIVE of the Treaties in Question, not merely as a set of DOMESTIC AGREEMENTS between government states and Indigenous Populations, but as TREATIES between Nations and States, the process will not produce justice as an outcome. Therefore, it is essential that the need for an official Treaty Archive of Indigenous Treaties within the UN system itself be addressed as a fundamental FIRST STEP to address the common concerns.
The delegation that travelled to Quito,
Ecuador in 1990 and participated in the First Continental Encounter of
Indigenous Nations, Pueblos, and Organizations included members of the O’otham
and Opata Nations, Aztecas and Chichimecas, and many others from across the
entire hemisphere. Since then to
now we have not been idle. The
Fifth Continental Indigenous Summit of Abya Yala is now in planning, to take
place in Colombia. We join again
now with efforts of the Indigenous Nations from North to South, from coast to
coast in Continental Ceremonial
Solidarity towards the realization of full Self-Determination of our Nations
of Indigenous Peoples of Abya Yala.
Decolonize: NOW!
The Law of Exceptions
NAFTA and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Open Letter to the Ministers of State and Public Constituencies of Canada-US-Mexico
*******
Declaration of Quito 1990
The Law of Exceptions
NAFTA and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Open Letter to the Ministers of State and Public Constituencies of Canada-US-Mexico
*******
Declaration of Quito 1990