WH to Review U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

[Clio the Leo]

In case anyone was curious as to what Barack Black Eagle was up to lately...

Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

In his Presidential Proclamation last fall honoring Native American Heritage Month, President Obama recognized that the "indigenous peoples of North America-the First American-have woven rich and diverse threads into the tapestry of our Nation's heritage." What is true in the Americas is true around the world. There is no true history that does not take into account the story of indigenous populations-their proud traditions, their rich cultures, and their contributions to our shared heritage and identity.

But in the United States and many other parts of the world, indigenous communities continue to feel the heavy hand of history. Our first nations face serious challenges: disproportionate and dire poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, health care gaps, violent crime, and bitter discrimination. Far more must be done-at home and abroad-to tackle these challenges, expand the circle of opportunity, and work with our Native communities to ensure they enjoy the security and dignity that all citizens deserve.

President Obama is deeply committed to strengthening and building on government-to-government relationships among the United States and our tribal governments. Our Administration has moved quickly to launch programs to improve the lives of Native Americans. Shortly after his inauguration, the President appointed my colleague, Kimberly Teehee, as his Native American policy advisor and began extensive outreach to tribal leaders. In November of last year, President Obama invited representatives from each of our 564 Indian tribes in the United States to attend a White House Tribal Nations Conference. Nearly 500 tribal leaders participated-the most widely attended White House tribal meeting with the President, Cabinet Secretaries, senior officials, and members of Congress in U.S. history. The President signed a Memorandum on November 5, 2009, directing every federal agency to develop plans to implement fully the Executive Order on "Consultation and Coordination with Tribal Governments," which mandates that all agencies have an accountable process for meaningful and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory policies that have tribal implications. The level of tribal consultation is now at historic levels-marking a new era in the United States' relationship with tribal governments.

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Consistent with President Obama's call for a new era of U.S. engagement with the world, the United States applauds the Permanent Forum's efforts to raise awareness of issues affecting the world's indigenous peoples and to generate ideas for substantially improving their livelihoods and communities.

Thus today, I am pleased to announce that the United States has decided to review our position regarding the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We recognize that, for many around the world, this Declaration provides a framework for addressing indigenous issues. During President Obama's first year in office, tribal leaders encouraged the United States to reexamine its position on the Declaration-an important recommendation that directly complements our commitment to
work together with the international community on the many challenges that indigenous peoples face. We will be conducting a formal review of the Declaration and the U.S. position on it. And as we move ahead, we look forward to consulting extensively with our valued and experienced colleagues in the federally recognized Indian tribes and interested nongovernmental organizations.

While many steps have been taken in the Administration's first year, we are not satisfied. We seek to continue to work together with our partners in indigenous communities to provide security, prosperity, equality, and opportunity for all. There is no American history without Native American history. There can be no just and decent future for our nation that does not directly tackle the legacy of bitter discrimination and sorrow that the first Americans still live with. And America cannot be fully whole until its first inhabitants enjoy all the blessings of liberty, prosperity, and dignity. Let there be no doubt of our commitment. And we stand ready to be judged by the results.

http://usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/2010/140600.htm

background...

The Declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues. It also "emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions, and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations".<1> It "prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples", and it "promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them and their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own visions of economic and social development".<1><2>

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Prior to the adoption of the Declaration, and throughout the 62nd. session of the General Assembly, a number of countries expressed concern about some key issues, such as self-determination, access to lands, territories and resources and the lack of a clear definition of the term indigenous. These concerns were expressed by a group of African countries, in addition to the final four that voted against the adoption of the declaration. Ultimately, after agreeing on some adjustments to the Draft Declaration, a vast majority of states recognized that these issues could be addressed by each country at the national level.
The four states that voted against – all with historically oppressed and disenfranchised small indigenous populations far outnumbered by settler populations<11>– continued to express serious reservations about the final text of the Declaration as placed before the General Assembly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_on_the_Rights_of_Indigenous_Peoples#Criticism

(her name is Myrtle Strong Enemy btw, I wouldn't mess with her.)