Indigenous respond to adoption of Declaration of Rights

Indigenous world celebrates passage of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Statements of Indian leaders from around the world
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/09/indigenous-world-celebrates-passage-of.html

US has gall to call Venezuela a dictatorship?
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/09/us-has-gall-to-call-venezuela.html

Latin America Indigenous leaders take serious look:

"The 12-page Declaration states that indigenous peoples have the right 'to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs.' It also says native peoples have the right to maintain their cultures and to not be displaced from their land, and urges states to indemnify them when their land or resources are used or damaged without their consent.
Bolivian President Evo Morales, who is himself an Aymara Indian, said he was pleased with the approval of the Declaration, and added that 'These standards will help ensure that everyone has the same rights and that we will stop being marginalised.'"
Read story:
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39275

Canada's 'slap in the face'
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/09/canadas-slap-in-face.html

Hawaii Star Bulletin: Dream Declaration won't help Indigenous issues
Issues: Non-indigenous fear losing land and US failure to recognize true sovereignty and self-governance
http://starbulletin.com/2007/09/16/editorial/editorial01.html

Australia: UN vote reveals racist, redneck nations aligned with South Africa's Apartheid
Australia's Aboriginal land grab wears sinister face
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/09/australia-un-vote-reveals-racist.html

Maori: New Zealand considers Maori 'sub-human with sub-human ' rights
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=124274
Maori Party ashamed of New Zealand government
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dailynews/4206606a6554.html

Indigenous in Guyana laud support
http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_general_news?id=56528851

Botswana: Government can no longer treat us like second-class citizens
http://www.mmegi.bw/2007/September/Monday17/9.php

Photo: An indigenous woman in Bolivia. Photo: Tom Weller/UNFPA

Navajo uranium miners: US human radiation experiments

Here's a scientific study showing that Navajos were secretly used as human uranium experiments by the US during the Cold war. A large number died.

"Uranium miners were unwilling and unaware victims of human experimentation to evaluate the health effects of radiation."

NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy; Baywood Publishing Company; Issue: Volume 9, Number 2 / 1999; Pages: 163 - 178

Observational Studies as Human Experimentation: The Uranium Mining Experience in the Navajo Nation (1947-66)
Rafael Moure-Eraso

Abstract:
This article evaluates how an observational epidemiologic study of federal agencies in uranium miners became an experiment of opportunity for radiation effects. Navajo miners and communities suffered environmental exposures caused by the practices of uranium mining and milling in the Navajo reservation during the 1947 to 1966 period. A historical review of the state-of-the-art knowledge of the health effects of uranium mining and milling during the years prior to 1947 was conducted. Contemporary prevention and remediation practices also were assessed. An appraisal of the summary of findings of a comprehensive evaluation of radiation human experimentation conducted by the U.S. federal government in 1995-96 (ACHRE) demonstrates that uranium miners, including Navajo miners, were the single group that was put more seriously at risk of harm from radiation exposures, with inadequate disclosure and often with fatal consequences. Uranium miners were unwilling and unaware victims of human experimentation to evaluate the health effects of radiation. The failure of the State and U.S. Governments to issue regulations or demand installation of known mine-dust exposure control measures caused widespread environmental damage in the Navajo Nation.
PHOTO -- BURNED BY THE ORE: Gilbert Badoni, Navajo, with photo of his family when he was young, all family members developed cancer after father worked in the uranium mines. After his father's death, Badoni became outspoken about uranium mining effects. "We were used as guinea pigs," Badoni said. Badoni's home in Cudei, NM, near Shiprock on the Navajo Nation, still has radioactive rocks in his back yard. Photo Brenda Norrell

Indigenous: Struggle for rights is just beginning

Indigenous say United States offers little hope
By Brenda Norrell
Human Rights Editor
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report

Indigenous Peoples around the world are celebrating the United Nations' adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Still, Indigenous are outraged that four of the countries with the largest Indigenous populations voted against it: Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand.
While there is a loud outpouring of outrage coming from Canada, people in the United States have been quiet about the U.S. vote of 'No' to Indigenous rights.
Why the lack of outrage in the US?
Patricia from Canada writes that there is little hope in America.
"There is a lack of outrage in the United States, however what happened was what was going to happen from day one. The US quit supporting or honouring any good-will gestures a long time ago. The people didn’t expect it, therefore they are not disappointed it didn’t happen.
However, there is also a lack of avenues to express it; there is a lack of attention from the settler people, despite 40 years since 'Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee' or 'Touch the Earth' came out; there is a lack of a single voice speaking for The People there.
There is little hope and less expectation of the indigenous having any avenue of respect, any sense of value among the majority of people and any recourse to anything the US has done or will do to them or anyone else.
I believe that while ‘merika' is willing to support a war such as that in Iraq, the people there can hope for very very little. And I believe they know it."
--Please scroll down for the latest from Canada and Venezuela, and the words of victory and celebration from Indigenous warriors from around the world who struggled for decades for passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
--Photo: Tohono O'odham Angie Ramon, whose son Bennett Patricio, Jr., 18, was ran over and killed by the Border Patrol, in the crowd after the Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremony in Nov. 2006. The occupation of Alcatraz ignited a new era of Indian rights in the United States in 1969. Photo from Alcatraz in 1960s.

Canada's 'slap in the face'

A Great Day for the World's Aboriginal Peoples, but a not so Special Day for the Government of Canada
KAHNAWAKE, QC

Sept. 13 /CNW Telbec -- Today, in New York, at the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted. Among the 4 States which voted against the Declaration, is Canada.
"After so many years of efforts, the AFNQL applauds the adoption of the Declaration. It is a very important inheritance that we just bequeathed to our Aboriginal youth", stated the Chief of the AFNQL (Assembly of First Nations in Quebec and Labrador), Mr. Ghislain Picard.
However, the attitude of the Canadian Government casts a shadow over this special day: "It's a slap in our face on the part of the Canadian Government. It is irresponsible for a government that lauds itself throughout the world as a protector of human rights to vote against the basic rights of certain members of its country. It is high time for Canada to do a self-examination which will lead the way to an in-depth analysis of its relation with the Aboriginal peoples", stated Mr. Picard.
The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador is the regional organization which represents the Chiefs of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador.
For further information: Alain Garon, Information and Communication Officer, AFNQL, (418) 842-5020, Cell.: (418) 956-5720

Harper government insults Canada's native people at United Nations
OTTAWA, Sept. 14 /CNW Telbec
"The government of Stephen Harper has insulted and shamed both Canada's native people, and non-native people at the United Nations yesterday in New York," said Paul Moist national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Read more ...(CUPE).http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/September2007/14/c8990.html
"UN vote 'stain' on Canada's image"
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/256516
Statements from Indian leaders/Censored Blog
Indigenous world celebrates passage of UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights

US has gall to call Venezuela a dictatorship?

Published: Saturday, September 15, 2007
Bylined to: Kenneth T. Tellis

The United States of America has the gall to call Venezuela a dictatorship?

VHeadline.com guest commentarist Kenneth T. Tellis writes:

http://www.vheadline.com/

A recent vote at the United Nations on aboriginal rights was approved by 143 to 4. The four countries being Australia, Canada, the United States and New Zealand, voted against the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Chief, Phil Fontaine, First Nations National Chief, called it a slap in the face for all indigenous peoples.
Just compare the attitude of Australia, Canada, the United States and New Zealand towards aboriginal peoples in their own lands, and note the difference.
Look at Venezuela, where strides have been made by aboriginal peoples, because of Hugo Chavez Frias’ programs to take them out of their poverty and let them also enjoy what the Venezuela has to offer all its citizens.
Then go to Bolivia, Evo Morales the first indigenous president in its history has made sure that the indigenous peoples of Bolivia are given every opportunity to take part in the benefits of democracy and take part in government, rights that were denied them for centuries, by the Spanish and others.
Just consider that since May 31, 1961, when the Republic of South Africa became a pariah, because of its apartheid laws that restricted the rights of its indigenous peoples. The country that was in the forefront to have sanctions placed on South Africa was Canada, which today has become part of a group of nations that want indigenous peoples to be treated in the same way that South Africa treated its indigenous peoples by its apartheid laws.
There is clearly no difference in their thinking to those of the Afrikaners who brought in apartheid yesterday, is there?
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US, now want the indigenous peoples to be considered chattel.
But just consider the statement made by Canadian Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl: that the declaration “unfortunately” was too broad and could be in conflict with existing Canadian statutes.
Did Canada and the other countries ever consider that the Republic of South Africa also had statutes that might come in conflict with the removal of the apartheid laws?
If so, then why not?
Unless, as should be noted that the above nations part of the colonial hegemony of yesterday.
Today, as odd as it might seem, both Bolivia and Venezuela have indigenous people as Heads of State.
In the case of Venezuela the sifrinos were responsible for the indigenous peoples not having any rights.
Yet in Canada, it is the Canadien/Canadienne who is similar to the sifrinos of Venezuela that do not want the indigenous peoples to have equal rights with themselves. Canada’s Laws have created too many privileges for the Canadiens/Canadiennes by amending the Constitution yet is quite unwilling to do the same for its First Nations (indigenous peoples).
If amending the Constitution for the Canadien did not come into conflict with Canada’s existing laws, why should amending the Constitution to include changes for the Indigenous Peoples make any difference either?
There is something here which is quite glaring. That the First Nations of Canada do not have their rights protected, while the Canadien minority does. It’s all a question of discrimination being passed off as the law of the land, like apartheid.
Now, we can see that it is Venezuela and Bolivia that are democracies, while Australia, Canada, the United States and New Zealand certainly are not.
Then of course the United States has the gall to call Venezuela a dictatorship?
Perhaps, that is the moot point ... there is no contest here, to which nations constitute democracies, and which are lacking it altogether.
Kenneth T. Tellis
kenttellis@rogers.com
http://www.vheadline.com/tellis

Message from the author:
Brenda,
Thank you for publishing my article from VHeadline in Venezuela. I think a lot of us have more in common than we dare to believe. All I can say, is, keep up the pressure and the good work, because time we tell if we will succeed in our struggle.
Regards!
Ken

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Censored Blog, official statements from Indigenous on Declaration:

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/09/indigenous-world-celebrates-passage-of.html