San Francisco
Indigenous Peoples Day Films
and EventsBy AIM-WESTCensored Newshttp://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.comPhoto: Hopi Thomas Banyacya, among those who led the struggle for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. UPDATE:
All My Relations! Aho!
Thank you, and da Mayor of San Francisco (protocol!) for attending AIM-WEST's celebration of UN proclamation, August 9th "International Day of the World's Indigenous People". Your presence makes all the difference!
The occasion acknowledged the passing of Annie Oakes, and the impact of Oakes family toward Indigenous movements world-wide.
Leonard Peltier also was mentioned, in prison but not forgotten, urging the President for his immediate release. And, we called loudly for the US to sign and adopt the 2007 resolution by the United Nations General Assembly "Declaration on the Rights of the World's Indigenous People."
AIM High!!
Antonio Gonzales
AIM-WEST Director
Www.aimwest415-577-1492
SAN FRANCISCO -- The public is invited to attend the observance of the “International Day of the World’s Indigenous People” at San Francisco Civic Center, on Monday August 9, 2010 from 11 am to 3 pm. It is organized by the American Indian Movement-WEST, a community based human rights advocacy organization promoting the rights of Indigenous peoples and the United Nations “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007. The occasion will serve to coincide with activities scheduled at the United Nations in New York.
The day’s activities will include a press conference to include solidarity statements from Individuals, organizations and governments. There will be special guest speakers, traditional dancers, drummers and singers, and performers of all Indigenous nations in solidarity to share their culture and spiritual beliefs. Special invited guests will include Indigenous peoples who are faced with critical challenges and opposition by city and government policies that affect their rights to Self-determination on a daily basis.
A special moment of silence and prayer will be made to commemorate the life of ANNIE OAKES, a member of the Kashaya Band of Pomo Nation, who passed to spirit world on August 1, 2010. ANNIE OAKES, now joins her soul mate Richard Oakes, both promoted the fundamental idea that Native Peoples have a right to sovereignty, justice, respect and control over their own destinies. They dedicated their spirit of resistance against colonization, and for the return of their sacred traditional homelands.
The United States, and Canada, the only two countries in the world who have yet to adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are urged to sign and ratify the Declaration currently being reviewed by the U.S. State Department. On 23 December 1994 the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People and later also during the extended Second Decade, in New York, Geneva and other offices of the United Nations. This will be the fourth year AIM-WEST has sponsored the event with the cooperation of San Francisco, where the UN Declaration on Human Rights was signed in 1948.
In keeping with the UN proclamation, and theme for the International Day, “Indigenous Peoples and Film Making” AIM-WEST will show films and photos of regional and local Indigenous people’s struggles to protect their inherent and sovereign rights to land, food and spiritual and cultural practices, including participatory democracy. Join us for an evening of solidarity and commitment to justice, peace and dignity. The evening program include the following information:
Time: 6- 9 pm
Location: Freedom Archives, 522 Valencia Street/16th near BART STATION (http://www.freedomarchives.org/
Donation: $ 5.00 at door, no one turned away! Bring food to share! Snacks and refreshments will be served.
Drummers and singers welcome! Raffle!!
A special showing of the film “Reclaiming their Voice: The Native American Vote in New Mexico” starting at 7 pm. Also a slide show on the Fort Bragg demonstration against the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative held July 21-22, and footage of the recent security provided by AIM-WEST members and others for the Winnemum Wintu ceremonial rights of passage held on the McCloud River in Shasta County. Special guest speakers are invited to present issues and provide the public with information on how we can all help and support Indigenous people’s rights, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is officially commemorated annually on 9 August in recognition of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982. International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
(9 August)
On 23 December 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (resolution 49/214). By its resolution 59/174 of 20 December 2004, in which the Assembly proclaimed the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (2005-2014), it also decided to continue observing the International Day of Indigenous People every year during the Second Decade, in New York, Geneva and other offices of the United Nations. The Assembly asked the Secretary-General to support observance of the Day from within existing resources, and to encourage Governments to observe the Day at the national level.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/Reference_Paper_No_47.doc.htmUNIS/SGSM/207
4 August 2010
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/pressrels/2010/unissgsm207.html"Indigenous Peoples Still Experience Racism, Poor Health and Disproportionate Poverty"
Message on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, 9 August 2010
VIENNA, 9 August (UN Information Service) - The world's indigenous peoples have preserved a vast amount of humanity's cultural history. Indigenous peoples speak a majority of the world's languages, and have inherited and passed on a wealth of knowledge, artistic forms and religious and cultural traditions. On this International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we reaffirm our commitment to their wellbeing.
The landmark United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, lays out a framework for governments to use in strengthening relationships with indigenous peoples and protecting their human rights. Since then, we have seen more governments working to redress social and economic injustices, through legislation and other means, and indigenous peoples' issues have become more prominent on the international agenda than ever before.
But we must do even more. Indigenous peoples still experience racism, poor health and disproportionate poverty. In many societies, their languages, religions and cultural traditions are stigmatised and shunned. The first-ever UN report on the State of the World's Indigenous Peoples in January 2010 set out some alarming statistics. In some countries, indigenous peoples are 600 times more likely to contract tuberculosis than the general population. In others, an indigenous child can expect to die twenty years before his or her non-indigenous compatriots.
The theme of this year's Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is indigenous filmmakers, who give us windows into their communities, cultures and history. Their work connects us to belief systems and philosophies; it captures both the daily life and the spirit of indigenous communities. As we celebrate these contributions, I call on Governments and civil society to fulfil their commitment to advancing the status of indigenous peoples everywhere.
Media centre
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true“No room for complacency, indigenous peoples continue to suffer,” says UN human rights chief
The following statement has been issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay,
to mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August 2010)
GENEVA– “We have cause to celebrate the progress made in turning human rights into a reality for indigenous peoples, but this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is also an occasion to recall that there is no room for complacency. The continuing violations of the rights of indigenous peoples, in all regions of the world, deserve our utmost attention and action.
The gap between the principles of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples* and the reality remains wide, as indigenous peoples continue to suffer discrimination, marginalisation in such fields as health and education, extreme poverty, disregard for their environmental concerns, displacement from their traditional lands and exclusion from effective participation in decision-making processes. It is particularly disconcerting that those who work to correct these wrongs are, all too often, persecuted for their human rights advocacy.
In a number of countries, new tools have been created to give voice to indigenous peoples in decision-making and to stamp out human rights violations. We are also encouraged by the fact that support for the Declaration keeps expanding, including in the countries that originally voted against this remarkable document.
However, we should redouble our efforts to build a true ‘Partnership in action and dignity’ – the theme given by the General Assembly to the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People – as we work together towards full application of the rights affirmed in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples of the world.
We need to bring the rights and dignity of those who are suffering most to the centre of our efforts. This requires changes in practices, but we also need improved laws and institutions, without which advances are not sustainable.
On this International Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to translate the words of the Declaration into effective action. Keeping this promise is our obligation.”
(*) Check the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/512/07/PDF/N0651207.pdf?OpenElementLearn more about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspxOffice of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Media Unit
Xabier Celaya, Information Officer: + 41 22 917 9383 /
xcelaya@ohchr.org
