VIDEO: Wixarika Statement at UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2011

 Wixarika Statement at UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

El Frente en Defensa de Wirikuta Tamatsima Wahaa representado por: Las Comunidades Indigenas del Pueblo Wixarika siguientes: San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlán y Tuxpan de los municipios de Mezquitic y Bolaños, Jalisco, Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán, Municipio de Mezquitic, Jalisco, Bancos de San Hipólito municipio de Mezquital, Durango, Unión Wixárika de Centros Ceremoniales de Jalisco, Durango y Nayarit A.C., Asociación Jalisciense de Apoyo a los Grupos Indigenas A.C., Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental, MASACALLI, Frente Amplio Opositor, Autoridades del Ejido de las Margaritas de San Luis Potosí, Pueblo Mágico de Catorce A.C., Organi-K, Nierika A.C., Ameyaltonal A.C., Centro de Investigación Wixárika A.C., La Tierra Respira A.C., Playeras con Causa, Consejo de Visiones, Caravana Arcoiris de la Paz, Native American Church North America, Caravana Estudiantil Ricardo Zavala de la UNAM, Proyecto Esperanza, Cultural Survival, Salva Selva.


Las comunidades indígenas del Pueblo Wixárika a través del Frente en Defensa de Wirikuta Tamatsima Wahaa AGRADECE:

AL FORO PERMANENTE DE LA ONU SOBRE LAS CUESTIONES INDIGENAS.

A MIRNA CUNNINGHAM PRESIDENTA DEL FORO PERMANENTE.

AL PROFESOR JAMES ANAYA RELATOR ESPECIAL SOBRE LOS DERECHOS DE LOS PUEBLOS INDÍGENAS.

Por este conducto las comunidades indígenas del Pueblo Wixárika comparecemos en el Décimo Foro Permanente de la ONU con sentimiento confortador por habernos dado la oportunidad de expresar nuestro sentir como pueblo.

Los Wixaritari aún seguimos conservando nuestros elementos naturales que integran el ecosistema (hábitat) y la madre tierra en su integralidad e individualidad que forman parte de nuestro patrimonio material e inmaterial que nosotros le llamamos las esencia de la vida. Legado que nos dieron nuestros ancestros para que la cuidemos tal como lo hicieron ellos para las futuras generaciones.

Por ello, queremos que nuestras demandas sean tomadas en cuenta, no solo por el Foro Permanente de la ONU, sino también sean documentadas y examinadas por el Relator Especial sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU, James Anaya dentro de su INFORME GENERAL y RECOMENDACIONES PERTINENTES.

De igual forma el Pueblo Wixárika pondera y reconoce que los DERECHOS HUMANOS son universales, fundamentales e inherentes para todo los humanos de este planeta, y por ello TODOS nos merecemos un trato igual y respeto digno sin distingo alguno, no solo porque lo establezcan los instrumentos jurídicos internacionales sino por los principios éticos y morales. Para que de esta forma se garantice nuestra esperanza de supervivencia, dignidad, bienestar y nuestros derechos colectivos como pueblos indígenas del mundo.

Las Comunidades indígenas del Pueblo Wixárika enfrentamos un dolor y una inmensa preocupación por las amenazas y embates que hemos vivido a lo largo de nuestra existencia y que persisten actualmente. Primero, sufrimos una invasión a nuestros territorios originarios por parte de la corona española, en lo que hoy conocemos como México. En una segunda invasión sufrimos la división de nuestros derechos territoriales ancestrales por la creación de las entidades federativas, en la cual nunca fuimos consultados, violentándose nuestros documentos primordiales y actualmente, sufrimos una tercera invasión, a través de las amenzas y el exterminio de nuestros territorios sagrados por parte de las políticas neoliberales que dan preferencia a intereses trasnacionales y corporativos, sin el amparo y protección que por obligación debe otorgar y garantizar el gobierno mexicano. Por el contrario están secuestrando y quieren asesinar a nuestra madre, la tierra y buscan la desaparición forzada de la tradición de todo un Pueblo, el Pueblo Wixárika.

Tal es el caso de nuestro sitio sagrado denominado WIRIKUTA lugar donde está nuestro corazón, nuestra vida y nuestros ancestros desde la creación del mundo Wixárika, ubicado en los municipios de Villa de Ramos, Charcas, Santo Domingo, Villa de la Paz, Villa de Guadalupe, Matehuala y Real de Catorce del estado de San Luis Potosí, México. Donde peregrinamos año con año para venerarle y ofrendarle a nuestros ancestros, que ahí coexisten desde los tiempos inmemoriales, para que la vida continúe y se renueven las velas de la vida, no solo para nuestros ancestros, sino para nuestro pueblo y la vida de todos los humanos de este planeta.

Lamentamos que recientemente el estado mexicano a través de la Secretaría de Economía ha otorgado 22 concesiones mineras a la compañía canadiense First Majestic Silver Corp. y sus prestanombres Minera Real Bonanza, S.A. de C.V. y Minera Real de Catorce, S.A. de C.V. para la exploración y explotación de minerales principalmente plata. Esto, a pesar de que nuestro sitio sagrado de Wirikuta fue declarada en 1994 Área Natural Protegida por el Gobierno de San Luis Potosí y que en el 2004 ingresó a la lista tentativa de la UNESCO como parte de la Red Mundial de Sitios Sagrados Naturales. Además el mismo estado mexicano a través de los gobiernos estatales de Zacatecas, Jalisco, Durango, Nayarit, y San Luis Potosí, estando presente el Presidente de la República como invitado de honor y el director general de la Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas (CDI) firmó el Pacto de Hauxa Manaká el 28 de Abril del 2008, directamente con la Unión Wixárika de Centros Ceremoniales de Jalisco, Durango y Nayarit A.C., y las autoridades tradicionales y agrarias del Pueblo Wixárika comprometiéndose respetar, proteger, difundir y preservar nuestros sitios sagrados.

De esta forma no cesan de violentarse nuestros DERECHOS HUMANOS, territoriales, ambientales, espirituales, históricos y culturales. Mismos que están garantizados en los instrumentos jurídicos internacionales, como lo es: el Convenio 169 de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), la Declaración Universal de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos, la Convención Americana de los Derechos Humanos y las Leyes Mexicanas en la materia. Esta transgresión resulta aun mas grave toda vez que, además de ser un área ecológica y cultural protegida por decreto gubernamental que cuenta incluso con su plan de manejo, NUNCA FUIMOS CONSULTADOS AL RESPECTO, PARA QUE EN SU CASO OTORGÁRAMOS NUESTRO CONSENTIMIENTO, PREVIO, LIBRE E INFORMADO.

En esta sesión del Foro Permanente de Asuntos Indígenas agradecemos la oportunidad de exponer nuestro caso, pues es un claro ejemplo de cómo el Pueblo Wixárika ha sido ignorado por parte del gobierno mexicano en nuestro derecho a participar en el proceso de toma de decisiones que afectan directamente a nuestro pueblo violentándose de esta manera NUESTROS DERECHOS HUMANOS.

Por lo que atentamente solicitamos a este Foro Permanente, a la UNESCO y a los Parlamentarios de México que consideren las siguientes peticiones como asuntos prioritarios y urgentes dentro del informe definitivo del presente Foro:

La cancelación definitiva de las 22 concesiones mineras que ha otorgado el estado mexicano a la empresa Canadiense First Majestic Silver Corp. y sus filiales en México.

Se eleve el Área Natural Protegida de nuestro sitio sagrado de Wirikuta al nivel Federal.

Se reconozcan legitimamente y de manera definitiva el Area Sagrada de WIRIKUTA y los sitios sagrados de XAPAWIYETA EN LA ISLA DE LOS ALACRANES DE CHAPALA, JALISCO y HARAMARA EN LA ISLA DEL REY DE SAN BLAS, NAYARIT como Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad ante la UNESCO.

Finalmente se garantice de manera efectiva el derecho de los pueblos indígenas a ser CONSULTADO y a PARTICIPAR en las decisiones que nos afecta directamente.

PAMPARIYUTSI

New York, 19 de mayo del 2011

Para mayor información consultar las siguientes páginas:

http://www.frenteendefensadewirikuta.org/

http://www.venadomestizo.blogspot.com/

http://www.projectoesperanza.org/

http://www.nierika.info/


www.wixarika.org

Clyde Bellecourt to Obama at UN: Apologize for misuse of Geronimo's name



 Clyde Bellecourt to Obama at UN: Apologize for misuse of Geronimo's name

"It’s time for North America to get rid of the frontier mentality, and the myth that ‘the only good Indian is a dead Indian.’" Clyde Bellecourt.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Photo copyright Ben Powless: Clyde Bellecourt and Tony Gonzales at UN Permanent Forum 2011.


NEW YORK -- Clyde Bellecourt, founder of the American Indian Movement, said President Obama should apologize to American Indians for the misuse of Geronimo's name during the assault on Osama bin Laden. Speaking to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, Bellecourt described the ongoing struggle to protect Native American resources, especially water, and protect traditional medicines from theft.

"We demand that President Barack Obama as the 'commander and chief' and his war council to recognize and issue a public apology for the continued attack on Indian people, for comparing one of our greatest leaders, Geronimo, to one of the most notorious terrorists known to the world, Osama Bin Laden. It’s time for North America to get rid of the frontier mentality, and the myth that ‘the only good Indian is a dead Indian.’

Bellecourt introduced himself as Nee Gon Nway Wee Dung, founder and national director of the American Indian Movement and executive director Heart of the Earth Inc. Bellecourt is also cofounder of the International Indian Treaty Council.

"My brothers and sisters, the battle to protect the land continues, when seventy five percent of the all energy resources in North America are still on Indian lands. Most importantly, water –our most precious medicine- is still being stolen by governments and greedy corporation," Bellecourt said.

"We must stand together in total solidarity to fight these monstrous acts for the survival of our children. We must continue to think like our grandfathers and grandmothers, chiefs and great leaders before us, who envisioned what it would be like for their children seven generations from now."

Bellecourt described how the United States failed to honor Indian treaties and the attacks on the essence of their ceremonial way of life.
"The American Indian Movement was formed in July 1968 when we felt that absolutely nothing was being done to upgrade the conditions that Indian people were being forced to live under here in the United States. Not one single treaty made between Native nations and the United States was being honored, which guaranteed us and our children’s survival. The right to practice our own spiritual and ceremonial way of life, to speak our languages, to hunt, fish and gather, and practice our traditional forms of government," Bellecourt said.

"In 1974, nine and a half months after the liberation of Wounded Knee, the American Indian Movement leadership was threatened with hundred of years in prison for defending our treaty rights at Wounded Knee in South Dakota."
Bellecourt described the events which led to the formation of the International Indian Treaty Council and conference which followed in Geneva.

"It was determined that we would never survive as a people unless we reached out to the world community, and brought our case before the world court. The genocide against our people did not allow us to pray in our traditional manner, speak our languages, or practice our traditional way of life. And these assault on our cultures continue in one form or another to this very day."

"The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples here today was the result of that conference in Geneva and we reached out to our 370 million Indigenous relatives around the world. As all of you know, it was a thirty year struggle within the UN structure to bring forth The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) of the world that was finally adopted by the General Assembly on September13, 2007."

Read Bellecourt's entire address to UN at AIM West website:
http://www.aimwest.info/

MEXICO: Human rights caravan to Juarez

Javier Sicilia and North American Organizers Present Caravan Bound for Ciudad Juárez

“In This March We Are Again Embracing Ourselves Amidst This Pain and Recognizing Ourselves Through Love”
By Lucero Mendizábal, Class of 2011, School of Authentic Journalism, May 22, 2011
“The United States has imposed war on us, its legalized weapons are much more terrible than the drugs because they are severe and spreading and are killing us,” said writer and poet Javier Sicilia at a press conference held last week to announce a Civil Caravan that will leave the city of Cuernavaca on June 4 destined for Ciudad Juárez. Read more ...
http://www.narconews.com/Issue67/article4419.html
Also see: Fronte NorteSur: Indigenous Mexico Resists
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/05/may-19-2011-special-report-indigenous.html

Ben Powless Photos: UN Permanent Forum 2011

BEN POWLESS PHOTOS UN PERMANENT FORUM 2011

Photos copyright Ben Powless. Special thanks to Mohawk youth photographer Ben Powless for allowing Censored News to post these photos from the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues now at the UN in New York. In these photos: Top: Mark Anquoe, Kiowa. Photo 2: Jihan Gearon and Tom Goldtooth of the Indigenous Environmental Network. Photo 3: Tony Gonzales of AIM West with Clyde Bellecourt, founder of the American Indian Movement and cofounder of the International Indian Treaty Council. Photo 5: Winona LaDuke and friends. Thank you! (Help identify others in the photos: brendanorrell@gmail.com thank you!)
View all 179 of this series on facebook:  Ben Powless

AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT GRAND GOVERNING COUNCIL
Intervention and remarks to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
http://www.aimwest.org/
Tenth Session, May 20, 2011, United Nations, New York Agenda Item #5
Nee Gon Nway Wee Dung (Clyde H. Bellecourt) Founder and National Director, American Indian Movement, Executive Director, Heart of the Earth Inc.

Boozhoo, greetings my friends and relatives. Nee Gon Nway Wee Dung indizhenicoz. My name is Clyde Bellecourt. It is always an honor to speak to Indigenous leadership and peoples of the world. Allow me to give you a brief history of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) and this Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. I am founder and national director of the American Indian Movement, and one of the co-founders of International Indian Treaty Council. The American Indian Movement was formed in July 1968 when we felt that absolutely nothing was being done to upgrade the conditions that Indian people were being forced to live under here in the United States. Not one single treaty made between Native nations and the United States was being honored, which guaranteed us and our children’s survival. The right to practice our own spiritual and ceremonial way of life, to speak our languages, to hunt, fish and gather, and practice our traditional forms of government.

In 1974, nine and a half months after the liberation of Wounded Knee, the American Indian Movement leadership was threatened with hundred of years in prison for defending our treaty rights at Wounded Knee in South Dakota. In U.S. Federal court, the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 was introduced each and every day by famed attorney Larry Laventhal, as our defense in one of the longest trials in the criminal history of the U.S. government involving Indian peoples. Judge Fred Nichols refused to admit this covenant of international law as our defense. Of course the world now knows that all charges were thrown out. Judge Fred Nichols stated that ‘the rivers of justice have been muddied in my courtroom for the past 9-1/2 months. It is not the Indian people who are guilty here: It is the US government.’ He expressed judicial rage for governmental misconduct, illegal use of military forces and illegal search and seizure. ‘Who do you think you are?’ he demanded of the prosecutor. ‘You cannot use military forces anywhere in the world without presidential or congressional approval.’ He then threw all the charges out.

Following all of these events the American Indian Movement leadership decided that we had to form a treaty council to bring our case before the world communities, or we would never survive as a people, because of the ongoing attempts to annihilate us, the continuous violation of treaties, the destruction of our natural resources, and attacks on our traditional way of life, including the century long savagery of the Federal Indian Boarding Schools. This first meeting took place on the Standing Rock Sioux Nation (reservation) in South Dakota. Traditional leadership and delegates from 96 nations attended this historic gathering.

It was determined that we would never survive as a people unless we reached out to the world community, and brought our case before the world court. The genocide against our people did not allow us to pray in our traditional manner, speak our languages, or practice our traditional way of life. And these assault on our cultures continue in one form or another to this very day.

In 1975 the IITC applied to the UN for Non Governmental Organization (NGO) status and in 1977 it was granted. Then in September of that year the IITC immediately hosted an international conference and met in Geneva. This included two hundred and eighty two delegates from throughout the Western hemisphere, many of them from Central and South America that were in political exile. The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples here today was the result of that conference in Geneva and we reached out to our 370 million Indigenous relatives around the world. As all of you know, it was a thirty year struggle within the UN structure to bring forth The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) of the world that was finally adopted by the General Assembly on September13, 2007.

My brothers and sisters, the battle to protect the land continues, when seventy five percent of the all energy resources in North America are still on Indian lands. Most importantly, water –our most precious medicine- is still being stolen by governments and greedy corporation. We must stand together in total solidarity to fight these monstrous acts for the survival of our children. We must continue to think like our grandfathers and grandmothers, chiefs and great leaders before us, who envisioned what it would be like for their children seven generations from now.

To conclude Madame Chairperson, we demand that President Barack Obama as the “commander and chief” and his war council to recognize and issue a public apology for the continued attack on Indian people, for comparing one of our greatest leaders, Geronimo, to one of the most notorious terrorists known to the world, Osama Bin Laden. It’s time for North America to get rid of the frontier mentality, and the myth that ‘the only good Indian is a dead Indian.’

Finally Madam Chairperson, my delegation looks forward to strengthening this great world family relationship that has been created and developed, and that our children seven generations from now will remember us for protecting and promising their rightful legacy of a spiritual and traditional way of life. THE SPIRIT OF GERONIMO WILL LIVE WITH ALL OF US FOREVER.
Nee Gon Nway Wee Dung, Thunder Before the Storm, has spoken
.

Photos: UN Permanent Forum 2011

UN Forum on Indigenous Issues Opens 10th Session

Top photo: Todadaho Sid Hill, Chief of the Onondaga Nation, delivers a traditional welcome at the opening of the tenth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, inside the General Assembly Hall. UN photo Evan Shneider. 16 May 2011
Photo 2: Briefing on Mining, Gas Extraction and Other Industries in Indigenous Territories

Raja Devasish Roy, Chief of the Chakma Administrative Circle (Bangladesh) and Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, speaks at a joint press conference on extractive industries and mega projects - such as gold mining, gas extraction, and large-scale forestry - in indigenous peoples' territories. UN photo Mark Garten. 17 May 2011 United Nations, New York

Photo 3: Press Conference on Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Dalee Sambo Dorough, Inuit legal expert and Professor at the University of Alaska, speaks at a press conference on the human rights of indigenous peoples, as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues continues it tenth session (16-27 May) at UN Headquarters. UN Photo Devra Berkowitz.
18 May 2011 United Nations, New York
Photo 4: Indigenous Forum Chair Briefs on Forum’s 10th Session
Mirna Cunningham, newly-elected Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, briefs on the Forum’s tenth session, taking place at UN Headquarters over the next two weeks. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras. 16 May 2011
Mirna Cunningham
Chair, Center for Autonomy and Development of Indigenous Peoples (CADPI) member, Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues of the United Nations.
Cunningham was the first Miskitu woman to earn the title of surgeon; she is a leader in the peace negotiations in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region of Nicaragua who as fought for the creation of the Statute of Autonomy in the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean; She was the first Miskitu woman governor of the North Atlantic Autonomous Region and coordinator for the Continental Campaign of Indigenous and Black Peoples (1992).
She chairs the Center for Autonomy and Development of Indigenous Peoples and was recently elected to serve on the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues of the United Nations from 2011 to 2013. In September 2009 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Cunningham is the chair of the Indigenous Itinerant University, associated with the Latin American Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples. This Fund works with 15 universities and research centres in nine countries. She is also a member of the Board of the International Global Fund for Women and Advisor to the Alliance of Indigenous Women of Mexico and Central America. She was the founder and first rector of the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast (URACCAN).