Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

March 24, 2012

Sacred Water: Native Nations Water Rights Symposium photo



Native Nations Water Rights Symposium
PHOTO:At the Native Nations Water Rights Symposium in Tucson hosted by Red Ink magazine. Ofelia Rivas, O'odham Solidarity Movement, Dr. Karletta Chief, Dine' hydrologist, Debra White Plume, Lakota, Owe Aku, arrested at blockade of megatrucks on Pine Ridge, and Simon Ortiz, Acoma Pueblo poet, author and professor at Arizona State University. (Photo Brenda Norrell/Censored News)

"Someday the earth will weep, she will beg for her life, she will cry with tears of blood. You will make a choice, if you will help her or let her die, and when she dies, you too will die." John Hollow Horn, Oglala Lakota
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
(Saturday, March 24, 2012, University of Arizona, Chavez Building downstairs, all day)
The Native Nations Water Rights Symposium is now watching a preview of the film, "Crying Earth Rise Up," about uranium mining on the Lakota Nation. In the film Elisha Yellow Thunder, Lakota, speaks on the uranium mining, and the water she drank when she was pregnant. Her daughter is on dialysis and needs a kidney transplant. Debra and Alex White Plume are among the Lakotas interviewed in the film:
http://www.prairiedustfilms.com/cryingearthriseup/
Debra White Plume of Owe Aku, arrested blocking the megaloads on Pine Ridge, speaks at 12: 45 pm. Debra is among the Lakotas who has filed a federal lawsuit to halt uranium mining in Lakota territory. She was also arrested at the White House in protest of the tarsands and Keystone XL pipeline.
Speaking on Yaqui water rights in Sonora before noon: Thalia M Gomez Torres "The Beauty of Resistance" Yaqui Homeland and Contemporary Water Rights. Gomez described the theft of Yaqui water rights in Sonora, and the highway blockades by Yaqui in protest.
Carrie Nuva Joseph, Hopi, spoke on her dissertation research on uranium contaminants in Indian country.
At the reception last night, Simon Ortiz read his poetry. Ortiz' read powerful memory poetry of his father speaking five languages. He also remembered the uranium mining at Laguna and Acoma Pueblos responsible for grinding to death one of the Native workers.
Dr. Karletta Chief, hydrologist, Dine' from Black Mesa, spoke on climate change and impacts to Southwest Indian Nations, and the Colorado River water rights this morning.
Watch for extensive upcoming coverage on Censored News. http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
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Photos Native Water Rights Symposium Reception



Reception for the Native Nation Water Rights Symposium on Friday night, hosted by Red Ink. The symposium is all day at the University of Arizona, Chavez Building, on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
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March 23, 2012

AIM West delegates approved for UN Permanent Forum

AIM WEST delegates approved for UN Permanent Forum

Press statement
Posted at Censored News

AIM-WEST delegates approved to attend annual United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in New York  May 7-18, 2012.  The UN Permanent Forum’s special theme for this year is “The Doctrine of Discovery:  It’s enduring impact on Indigenous peoples and the right to redress for past conquests (articles 28 and 37 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples). 

AIM-WEST, a non-profit human rights based organization in San Francisco, received notice from the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) that it approved (7) delegate representatives to participate at the annual conference next month.   AIM-WEST anticipates (pending) approval to conduct a side-event, or workshop, during this year’s UN PFII entitled, “Doctrine of Discovery; A Question of Genocide”.  The workshop will review the history of genocide in the Americas and Pacific region, to the present crimes of genocide.  It will explore Indigenous peoples exclusion from the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948) and its relevancy today in light of the recently adopted UN Declaration on the  Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP).  

The AIM-WEST side-event will utilize a study by UN Special Rapporteur Bartolome Clavero Salvador, entitled “International criminal law and the judicial defence of Indigenous peoples’ rights”, submitted to the UNPFII at its tenth session (E/C.19/2011/4), as a catalyst to explore and identify obstacles for recourse in terms of international criminal protection for Indigenous peoples.  A representative from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC)are also expected to attend.  The format for the side-event will include presentations followed by discussion, question and answer.   

In addition, AIM-WEST will host a reception Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at UN Church Building, 2nd Floor, 777 UN Plaza, from 6:15 to 9 pm (across from the UN).  The Invited guests, fellow NGO’s and Government representatives are called to acknowledge the 43 year anniversary of American Indian Movement (AIM), ten year anniversary and achievements of the Permanent Forum, including the DRIP, attention to death penalty and for political prisoners,  and Leonard Peltier “Walk for Human Rights”.  The evening includes a short screening of “Guatemala Vive!” with Q&A, and Silver Cloud Drum, and Song, snacks, and refreshments.       

See AIM-WEST website for details. For more information: 415-577-1492  http://www.aimwest.info/   http://www.aimovement.org/   http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/  
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More Photos: Obama Corrals Protesters in Cushing, Okla.




Photo by Charity Chapman/Censored News. Thank you!

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

CUSHING, Okla. -- Protesters in Cushing, Oklahoma, were corralled with police tape, as President Obama made his coyote turn, and pushed for the Keystone XL pipeline in Cushing on Wednesday. The southern portion of the pipeline would cross the Red River, on the Oklahoma and Texas border which flows into Louisiana, and threaten the earth with the dirty crude oil from the tarsands in Alberta, Canada.
Obama's pro-pipeline talk was by invitation-only at a pipeline yard in Stillwater. Protesters were kept away.
Already, tarsands mining is devastating the homeland of the Cree and other First Nations in Alberta. Native Americans were arrested at the White House in September protesting the pipeline and tarsands.

See more photos: Obama isolates dissent in Cushing, Okla: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/03/photos-obama-isolates-dissent-in.html

CENSORED NEWS


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