Mohawk John Kane to UN Rapporteur: Process is a farce

As the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples begins in New York, some Native people living on the land say they are cancelling plans to attend due to this year's focus on rhetoric -- rather than the life-threatening issues facing Native people, from fracking, uranium mining and coal fired power plants, to deforestation, the militarization of homelands and theft of water rights.
John Kane, Mohawk and radio host of Lets Talk Native Pride, challenges the rhetoric and challenges countries of the world to trade directly with sovereign Indian Nations and honor their passports. Kane responds to the sessions of the United Nations Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples James Anaya held across the US in April and May.
Kane said, "I know most Native people want to throw a 'love-fest' for the 'special' rapporteur. But suggesting ways for the US to make gestures to 'heal our wounds' is neither shocking or bold. Let's see Mr. Anaya say what everyone already knows: that the US is guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity or at very least should face the charges."
By John Kane, Mohawk
Censored News
French translation: http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=744
We are not matriarchal but rather matrilineal. In our ways men and women share evenly but distinctly in the affairs of our people.
Anaya does not recognize the people. He can't see a tree, only a forest. In fact he may not even see the forest but rather the maple or oak or the redwood as a species. What happens to the tree or the individual is not what is important to this guy. For him it is all about the "tribe" and the "tribal leaders."
This is why it is the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, not People. Informed consent from these guys checks the box.
The failure of the world, including the US and including Mr. Anaya to not understand that our sovereignty is a birthright, that we are BORN with the right to our freedom, is what makes this whole process a farce.
We were never an institutionalized people. Our idea of self governance was based on participation. We did not have a chief system but rather a clan system. We never divested ourselves of our birthright to empower a chief, a council, the state or the feds. We allowed people to carry our voices not speak for us. We allowed selected persons to communicate our will, not dictate it to us and others.
Anaya said in a statement, ‎"I heard almost universal calls from indigenous nations and tribes across the country that the Government respect tribal sovereignty."
The "Government" my ass!
It's about time other nations stepped up and asked the question: When did Native people stop being sovereign?
If the rest of the world would stop quaking in their boots every time the US says their "Indian Problem" is a domestic issue, then perhaps there could be progress.
Let one of you dare to trade with us. Let one of you fight to honor our passports. Let one of you establish formal diplomatic relations or provide financing, education or genuine humanitarian aid for our most impoverished communities.
John Kane
jmkane1220@aol.com
Listen online to Lets Talk Native Pride
http://letstalknativepride.blogspot.com/
Also see: Troubling questions for the UN Rapporteur, statement from Ofelia Rivas, O'odham:
Ofelia Rivas, O'odham representing traditional and ceremonial O'odham, responded to the UN Rapporteur's session in Tucson, Ariz., located on traditional O'odham homeland.
"Not only am I unable to pay for the parking space, but I don't have the gas money to bring the elders and the ceremonial people. These are the people that these institutions should be hearing from to truly understand the implications and true significance of this document. It is disheartening to find on the speakers list a non-O'odham with a non-profit organization using our most sacred figure of the O'odham way of life."
At the Tucson session, the traditional ceremonial O'odham were not on the invited speakers list.
Rivas said, "I am on the speakers list only by a 5 day 'extreme effort' by the Amnesty International people."
Read more:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/04/troubling-questions-for-un-rapporteur.html