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United Nations - General Assembly -

: all regions

: '370.000.000'

: whole world

: Sign the petition for the adoption of the Declaration at the petition page!

: For more than 30 years Indigenous peoples have come to the United Nations to advocate for the recognition of their rights as peoples. It has not yet been aproved by the UN General Assembly. Read the news items of this section.

United Nations - General Assembly Participants of the Global Ceremonies

Participants of the Global Ceremonies
The following indigenous peoples have commited themselves to perform a traditional ceremony at their own sacred grounds, at the 9th of August - the International Day of Indigenous Peoples - to support the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the UN General Assembly. As indigenous peoples you can join as well: mail to info@speaking4earth.net.

Total indigenous peoples: 26

Africa:
1. Various Baka communities - Cameroon
2. Maasai - Kenya

South America:
1. Aymara - Achocalla - Bolivia
2. Aymara - Lake Titicaca – Bolivia
3. Aymara – Patacamya - Bolivia
4. Quechua - Chuquisaca - Bolivia

Central America:
1. Bribris - Costa Rica
2. Cabécares - Costa Rica
3. Teribes - Costa Rica
4. Bruncas - Costa Rica
5. Maya – Guatemala

Asia/Polynesia:
1. Alifuru - Maluku
2. Hawaians – Hawaii
3. Peoples of Indus - Pakistan
4. Rapa Nui - Easter Island
5. PANAGTAGBO, Indigenous Nations in Mindanao - Philippines
6. MPUMATRIC, and the Talaandig tribal community – Philippines
7. Tamal Community – Nepal
8. Vanuatu people – Vanuatu
9. Tonga people – Tonga
10. Papua's (Biak from North Biak, East Biak, Padaio Island, Numfor Island, North Supiori Supiori, East Supiori, West Biak and West Supiori) – Papua
11. Indigenous peoples in India – India
12. Indigenous peoples in Melanesia - Melanesia
13. Ping Pu lowland Indigenous Peoples (Ketagalan, Taokas, Pazeh, Kahabu, Papora, Babuza, Hoanya, Tavorlong, Siraya and Makatao) - Taiwan
14. The Bukidnon and Higaonon tribal communities of Mindanao, Philippines

Europe:
1. Inuit - Greenland
2. Alifuru, in cooperation with Papua's (Indonesia), Mapuches (Chile), Turkana (Kenya), Caribs and Arowaks (Sueinam, and Kalmuks (Russian Federation) - The Netherlands

NEWS: Thursday 19 July 2007

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at great risk

Sign this online petition!
This urgent action is closed, signatures are sent to the UN

New York - For more than 30 years Indigenous peoples have come to the United Nations to advocate for the recognition of their rights as peoples. This has finally resulted in the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN Human Rights Council on 29 June 2006. The principles and provisions of this Declaration enjoy wide support among the states and Indigenous peoples’ organizations that had actively participated in the drafting process. The Declaration would mark an important step toward addressing the deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination that has led to widespread human rights violations against Indigenous peoples worldwide.

In December 2006 the Declaration was considered for its final adoption by the UN General Assembly. However, the General Assembly, upon request of the African Group, then decided to defer consideration of the Declaration to facilitate for further consultations. Meanwhile the African States have put forward a proposal which would significantly change the text of the Declaration and severely undermine the rights of Indigenous peoples. An alternative proposal has been brought forward by Mexico, Norway, and other co-sponsors to enable adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly before the end of their current session. The Declaration is in great danger and this is the time to take action in support of its adoption by signing this online petition.

For more info:
* United Nations
* Amnesty Canada
* History of the Declaration

NEWS: Sunday 22 July 2007

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at great risk

Sign the petition for the adoption of the Declaration at the petition page!

New York - For more than 30 years Indigenous peoples have come to the United Nations to advocate for the recognition of their rights as peoples. This has finally resulted in the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN Human Rights Council on 29 June 2006. The principles and provisions of this Declaration enjoy wide support among the states and Indigenous peoples’ organizations that had actively participated in the drafting process. The Declaration would mark an important step toward addressing the deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination that has led to widespread human rights violations against Indigenous peoples worldwide.

In December 2006 the Declaration was considered for its final adoption by the UN General Assembly. However, the General Assembly, upon request of the African Group, then decided to defer consideration of the Declaration to facilitate for further consultations. Meanwhile the African States have put forward a proposal which would significantly change the text of the Declaration and severely undermine the rights of Indigenous peoples. An alternative proposal has been brought forward by Mexico, Norway, and other co-sponsors to enable adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly before the end of their current session. The Declaration is in great danger and this is the time to take action in support of its adoption by signing this online petition.

For more info:
* NCIV
* United Nations
* Amnesty Canada
* History of the Declaration

NEWS: Monday 23 July 2007

Call for action: Global Ceremonies for Indigenous Rights!

Call for a joint action: .
Global Ceremonies for Indigenous Rights - in Support of the Adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

On 9 August 2007, International Indigenous Peoples' Day.

We, Indigenous Peoples are one with nature. Since time immemorial we have been guardians of our ancestral lands. Our seas and waters is Mother Earth. For hundreds of years we have to endure colonization and exploitation in all its forms and manifestations. We are deprived of our lands and dignity. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples marks an important step toward addressing these widespread human rights violations against Indigenous peoples worldwide. However, the final adoption of this declaration by the UN General Assembly is at great risk!

Join with a ceremony !
The AlifUru Elders in Maluku have taken the initiative to ask Indigenous peoples all over the world to hold special indigenous ceremonies in support of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Through this, we all join our forces of traditional knowledge! We are receiving many positive reactions of Indigenous sisters and brothers from different parts of the world, interested to participate. The Alifuru Elders will do their own ceremony on ancestral grounds in Maluku and other indigenous leaders will do the same on their sacred lands. The event is named Global Ceremonies for Indigenous Rights.

We call for all indigenous peoples to participate with a ceremony on its own sacred, ancestral grounds, on the 9th of August, to support the final adoption of the Declaration.

As part of the Global Ceremony a joint Ceremony with various representatives of Indigenous Peoples will also be performed in The Hague (The City of Peace and Justice) in The Netherlands.

Global campaign
The Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples (NCIV) will promote this global event via the new international platform for indigenous peoples at www.speaking4earth.net. Here an online petition in support of the adoption of the Declaration can be signed.

Participants of the Global Ceremonies
The following indigenous peoples have commited themselves to perform a traditional ceremony at their own sacred grounds, at the 9th of August - the International Day of Indigenous Peoples - to support the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the UN General Assembly. As indigenous peoples you can join as well: mail to info@speaking4earth.net.

Total indigenous peoples: 26

Africa:
1. Various Baka communities - Cameroon
2. Maasai - Kenya

South America:
1. Aymara - Achocalla - Bolivia
2. Aymara - Lake Titicaca – Bolivia
3. Aymara – Patacamya - Bolivia
4. Quechua - Chuquisaca - Bolivia

Central America:
1. Bribris - Costa Rica
2. Cabécares - Costa Rica
3. Teribes - Costa Rica
4. Bruncas - Costa Rica
5. Maya – Guatemala

Asia/Polynesia:
1. Alifuru - Maluku
2. Hawaians – Hawaii
3. Peoples of Indus - Pakistan
4. Rapa Nui - Easter Island
5. PANAGTAGBO, Indigenous Nations in Mindanao - Philippines
6. MPUMATRIC, and the Talaandig tribal community – Philippines
7. Tamal Community – Nepal
8. Vanuatu people – Vanuatu
9. Tonga people – Tonga
10. Papua's (Biak from North Biak, East Biak, Padaio Island, Numfor Island, North Supiori Supiori, East Supiori, West Biak and West Supiori) – Papua
11. Indigenous peoples in India – India
12. Indigenous peoples in Melanesia - Melanesia
13. Ping Pu lowland Indigenous Peoples (Ketagalan, Taokas, Pazeh, Kahabu, Papora, Babuza, Hoanya, Tavorlong, Siraya and Makatao) - Taiwan
14. The Bukidnon and Higaonon tribal communities of Mindanao, Philippines

Europe:
1. Inuit - Greenland
2. Alifuru, in cooperation with Papua's (Indonesia), Mapuches (Chile), Turkana (Kenya), Caribs and Arowaks (Sueinam, and Kalmuks (Russian Federation) - The Netherlands

How to join?
Organize the ceremony and mail your peoples'/nations name to info@speaking4earth.net. We invite you also to make photos/video of the ceremony and send these to info@speaking4earth.net for a compilation of this global event.

We have to do all we can to make this Global Ceremonies work. Don’t miss this opportunity and join.

Mae yeraa mai! Let’s go for it!
Solidarity Greetings,

Leo van der Vlist, Director
Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples (NCIV)
www.nciv.net
&
Pelpina Sahureka
International Representative
Bangsa Adat Alifuru

NEWS: Tuesday 28 August 2007

Indigenous peoples hold ceremonies all over the world to support UN Declaration

Author: Wim Verhallen

World - At August 9th indigenous peoples on many different places in the world did ceremonies to support the acceptance of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the members of the UN.
The declaration specifies the collective rights of indigenous peoples, and has already been approved by the UN Human Rights Council. The acceptance by the General Assembly of Member States has as yet been blocked by a numer of states.
By their worldwide ceremonies on August 9th (the UN day of Indigenous Peoples) the indigenous supported the UN Declaration and showed their solidarity and their determination to convince the UN members to accept their rights.

In the region South-Upi on the Philippine island Mindanao there was a ritual meeting on a indigenous sacred location. The indigenous Téduray en Lambangian of Mindanao are expelled from their land by logging and mining companies. Besides they are suffering for many years by the war between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberty Front, an islamitic guerrilla group. The Philippines do have laws tot protect land rights for the indigenous, but the implementation of these rights is running very slowly. So the acceptation by the UN of the Declaration would be a very welcome support for them.

The Ketagalan of Taiwan hold an offering ceremonial on ancestral ground. Katalagan are an indigenous people living in the valley arond the Taiwanese capital Taipeh. They are not yet recognized by the government as an indigenous people. Taiwan has about 20 indigenous peoples, but only 13 have an official status.

In their fugative rescues in Nepal, Sarchokpa read holy textes and burnt butter lamps. Sarchokpa are an indigenous people from Bhutan, being expelled from their home country because their religion, an old kind of Tibetan Buddhism is prosecuted by the Bhutanese rulers.

In Pakistan the Kihals, a people living on the banks of the Indus, hold a meeting on an island in the river. They said a prayer and sung their songs in honour of the Indus. The Kihals feed themselves with fish and other products of the river. But their life is now jeoperdized by dams and commercial fishing. The Kihals sent a petition to the UN members wherein they asked for a swift acceptance of the Declaration.

In the Indonesian regio of New Guinea the Papua's had meetings on Biak and Yayapura. They also wrote a petition to the representatives of the UN members in New York.

More ceremonial meetings have been hold in Greenland, Guatemala, Surinam, Cota Rica, on Hawai, on Eastern Island, on Vanuata, in India, in The Netherlands and on four different places in Bolivia.