Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
|
| HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE Grassroots Journalism |
By Shannon Rivers / Akimel O'otham-Gila River
Gila River Indian Community Becomes First Tribal Nation to
Embrace U.N. Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous People
Embrace U.N. Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous People
Shannon Rivers
(Photo by Eduardo
Barraza
BARRIOZONA)
(Photo by Eduardo
Barraza
BARRIOZONA)
Friends and Relatives:
On Wednesday the 21st of May in a precedent setting, hallmark move of commitment and solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
worldwide, the Gila River Indian Community Council passed Resolution GR-126-08 which ratifies the United Nations
Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Thus making the Gila River Indian Community the first federally recognized
tribal nation within the United States to embrace, support and ratify the United Nations Declarations on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples.
A culmination of community events executed by various members over the years has led up to this celebratory day; for
example, last year, in 2007, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community passed a similar Resolution, Res. SR-2550-2007
which proclaimed March 12 as Indigenous Peoples day affirmed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples recently adopted by the United Nation Human Rights Council. This could not have happened with out the hard work,
fortitude and dedication by grass roots organizations, local activist, the extraordinary vision of Lt. Governor Jennifer
Allison-Ray of the Gila River Indian Community, President Ms. Diane Enos of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
and both tribal councils.
Moreover, this past March, in 2008, tribal leaders, local and national activist, Arizona tribal education specialists and other
members as well as members of the Arizona State Senate gathered for the day-long "Indigenous Peoples Consultation" in
which Ms. Tonya Gonella Frichner, the newly elected North American Representative of the United
Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, spoke on the importance and impact of the United Nations Declaration has
had throughout all Indigenous communities worldwide, and further demonstrated the necessity for supporting the
fundamental human rights of all Indigenous peoples as defined and encompassed within the United Nations Declarations on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Regionally, certain community members have been diligently working behind the scenes to assist in educating its neighboring
relatives, and by the Gila River Indian Community adopting the United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, it is concurrently affirming its inherent right to self-determination and standing in solidarity with the Pee-Posh, Salt
River, Thono O'otham, Ak-Chin and O'othams relatives located south of the United States-Mexico Border.
The United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples consist of 46 articles and was passed by the United
Nations General Assembly, last year, on September 13th 2007. 143 member-states voted in favor of the declaration and 4
member-states voted against it, the United States being one of those four. Though not legally binding Indigenous peoples
hope that all United Nations member-states will partially or within its entirety endorse every article stated within the United
Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as customary international law.
In conclusion, the Gila River Indian Community is moving forward by adopting and ratifying the United Nations Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, so it is my desire that all 46 articles will become permanent and customary law with the
hope and open invitation that other first nations will follow.
"Thom e nyei"
Special thanks to:
Tupac Enrique - Tonatierra: Rep Albert Tom - Arizona House of Representatives: Lt. Governor Jennifer Allison-Ray-Gila River Indian
Community: President Diane Enos-SRPMIC: Honorable Preamble Chief Oren Lyons & Tonya Gonella Frichner of the Onondaga Nation
To obtain a copy of the UN-Declaration or to learn more about the UNPFII and this years special theme on "Climate Change, bio-diversity
and livelihoods: the stewardship role of Indigenous Peoples and new challenges visit
www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/backgrounder%20climate%20change_FINAL.pdf
On Wednesday the 21st of May in a precedent setting, hallmark move of commitment and solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
worldwide, the Gila River Indian Community Council passed Resolution GR-126-08 which ratifies the United Nations
Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Thus making the Gila River Indian Community the first federally recognized
tribal nation within the United States to embrace, support and ratify the United Nations Declarations on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples.
A culmination of community events executed by various members over the years has led up to this celebratory day; for
example, last year, in 2007, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community passed a similar Resolution, Res. SR-2550-2007
which proclaimed March 12 as Indigenous Peoples day affirmed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples recently adopted by the United Nation Human Rights Council. This could not have happened with out the hard work,
fortitude and dedication by grass roots organizations, local activist, the extraordinary vision of Lt. Governor Jennifer
Allison-Ray of the Gila River Indian Community, President Ms. Diane Enos of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
and both tribal councils.
Moreover, this past March, in 2008, tribal leaders, local and national activist, Arizona tribal education specialists and other
members as well as members of the Arizona State Senate gathered for the day-long "Indigenous Peoples Consultation" in
which Ms. Tonya Gonella Frichner, the newly elected North American Representative of the United
Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, spoke on the importance and impact of the United Nations Declaration has
had throughout all Indigenous communities worldwide, and further demonstrated the necessity for supporting the
fundamental human rights of all Indigenous peoples as defined and encompassed within the United Nations Declarations on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Regionally, certain community members have been diligently working behind the scenes to assist in educating its neighboring
relatives, and by the Gila River Indian Community adopting the United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, it is concurrently affirming its inherent right to self-determination and standing in solidarity with the Pee-Posh, Salt
River, Thono O'otham, Ak-Chin and O'othams relatives located south of the United States-Mexico Border.
The United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples consist of 46 articles and was passed by the United
Nations General Assembly, last year, on September 13th 2007. 143 member-states voted in favor of the declaration and 4
member-states voted against it, the United States being one of those four. Though not legally binding Indigenous peoples
hope that all United Nations member-states will partially or within its entirety endorse every article stated within the United
Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as customary international law.
In conclusion, the Gila River Indian Community is moving forward by adopting and ratifying the United Nations Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, so it is my desire that all 46 articles will become permanent and customary law with the
hope and open invitation that other first nations will follow.
"Thom e nyei"
Special thanks to:
Tupac Enrique - Tonatierra: Rep Albert Tom - Arizona House of Representatives: Lt. Governor Jennifer Allison-Ray-Gila River Indian
Community: President Diane Enos-SRPMIC: Honorable Preamble Chief Oren Lyons & Tonya Gonella Frichner of the Onondaga Nation
To obtain a copy of the UN-Declaration or to learn more about the UNPFII and this years special theme on "Climate Change, bio-diversity
and livelihoods: the stewardship role of Indigenous Peoples and new challenges visit
www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/backgrounder%20climate%20change_FINAL.pdf
