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NEW T-SHIRTS
AVAILABLE WOUNDED KNEE 36th ANNIVERSARY SHIRTS
 Canku Luta, Red Road , P.O.
Box 230, Wounded Knee, SD 57794HUNGER
STRIKE BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' REPRESENTATIVES AT THE UNITED NATIONS!
Today, November 29th, 2004, at 11 am, we, Indigenous Peoples' delegates, declare a hunger
strike and spiritual fast inside the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva, during
this 3rd week of the 10th session of the Intersessional Working Group on the United
Nations Draft Declaration for the Rights on Indigenous Peoples.
We, Indigenous peoples' delegates from different countries, undertake this action, with
the support and solidarity of Indigenous Peoples and organizations from around the world,
to call the world's attention to the continued attempts by some states, as well as this UN
process itself, to weaken and undermine the Draft Declaration developed in the UN Working
Group on Indigenous Populations and adopted by the UN Subcommission for the Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1994.
The Sub Commission text has also been endorsed and supported by hundreds of Indigenous
Peoples and organizations around the world as the minimum standard required for the
recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights internationally.
We delegates who will undertake the hunger strike, along with the undersigned Indigenous
Peoples, organizations, tribal governments, Nations, communities and Networks, call for
the Sub Commission text of the Declaration to be sent back to the UN Commission on Human
Rights with the message that in 10 years, proposals by States to weaken or amend the text
have not gained the consensus of the Working Group participants, which include both states
and Indigenous Peoples.
Mr. Luis Chavez, the Chairman Rapporteur of the Working Group should report this reality
and not present a "consolidated text" as if it was "close to
consensus." The Commission on Human Rights must establish a process that does not
provide a handful of States an opportunity to weaken the human rights of Indigenous
Peoples. The process also must take into account the voices of the great numbers of
Indigenous Peoples from all parts of the world.
We will not allow our rights to be negotiated, compromised or diminished in this UN
process, which was initiated more than 20 years ago by Indigenous Peoples. The United
Nations itself says that human rights are inherent and inalienable, and must be applied to
all Peoples without discrimination.
We request that the Secretariat of this session immediately inform the Office of the High
Commissioner on Human Rights and the High Commissioner herself of this action. We also
request that the Secretariat arrange for the hunger strikers to be able remain in the UN
during the entire week of the session.
Indigenous delegates participating in the hunger strike inside the United Nations include:
Adelard Blackman, Buffalo River Dene Nation, Canada;
Andrea Carmen, Yaqui Nation, Arizona United States;
Alexis Tiouka, Kaliña, French Guyana;
Charmaine White Face, Ogala Tetuwan, Sioux Nation Territory, North America;
Danny Billie, Traditional Independent Seminole Nation of Florida, United States;
Saul Vicente, Zapoteca, Mexico.
Send expressions of solidarity from Indigenous Peoples and supporters for the "hunger
strike for Indigenous Rights" and for the adoption of the current text of the UN
Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the UN Session during this week.
Send faxes to: ++ 41 22 917 00 79 (DoCip, for logistic support)
E-mails to: indigenousolidarity@yahoo.com
To have your support letter posted on the IITC web page, also send it to: iitc@e-w-t.net,
with "to post" in the subject line.
For more information in Geneva contact:
Andrea Carmen (English, Spanish), IITC, 076 546 04 21
(for International calls dial ++ 41 76 546 04 21)
Cyril Schönbächler (French, English), IndiGeneva, 078 716 52 39 or 022 733 28 73
(for
International calls dial ++ 41 78 716 52 39 or ++ 41 22 733 28 73)
Anne-Marie Cruz (French, English, Spanish), IndiGeneva, 076 450 83 18
(for International calls dial ++ 41 76 450 83 18)
The following organizations, Nations, Tribal Governments and communities have signed on in
support of this action and of the position we present:
Africa
Indigenous Peoples African Coordinating Committee (IPACC)
Argentina
Asociación Mapuche los Toldos
Organizacion de Naciones y Pueblos Indígenas en Argentina
Comisión de Juristas en la República de Argentina
Argentina/Bolivia/Chile/Peru
Parlamento del Pueblo Kullana Aymara
Arctic
Indigenous Peoples and Nations Coalition
Kasgit Council of Elders, Nutmlak (Inherent Traditional Government), Iupik Nation, Alaska
Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government, Alaska
Asia
Alifurus in Maluku (Moluccas)
Bolivia
Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores campesinos de Bolivia (CSUTCB)
Taypi Ceqe (Organización Indígena Aymara)
Canada
Buffalo River Dene Nation
Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations
Ermineskin Cree Nation
Indigenous Organization of Indigenous Resource Development (IOIRD)
Innu Council of Nitassinan
Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
Chile
Consejo de Todas las Tierras
Colombia
Akuaipa Waimakat (Asociación de Derechos Humanos Wayuu de la Guajira)
Organización Zonal Indígena del Putumayo (OZIP)
Ecuador
Instituto Cientifico de Culturas Indigenas (Amawta Runakunapak Yachay)
French Guyana
Fédération des Organisations autochtones de Guyane (FOAG), membre de la COICA
Guatemala
Comite Campesina del Altiplano (CCDA)
CONAVIGUA
Defensoria Maya
Fundacion Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Guatemala)
Oxlajuj Ajpop de los Ajq'ijab' (Conferencia Nacional de Ministros de la Espritualidad Maya
de Guatemala)
Kenya
Maimyoito Pastoralist Intgegrated Organization
Mexico
Academia Mexicana de Derechos Humanos
Agencia Internacional de Prensa India (AIPIN)
Alianza de Organizaciones Sociales
Alianza de Pueblos Indígena de la Sierra Oriente del Estado de México
Alianza Indígena Mexicana-Anipa Hidalgo
Anipa Chihuahua
Anipa Guerrero
Anipa Quintana Roo
Anipa Tabasco
Asamblea Nacional Indígena Plural por la Autonomía
Asamblea Nacional por la Autonomia (ANIPA)
Asociacion Nacional de Abogados Democraticos (ANAD)
Axale, S.S.S.
Centro de Derechos Humanos Yaxkin
Centro Nacional de Comunicación Social, A.C.
Centro para el Autodesarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas del Alto Balsas
Centros de Derechos Humanos Digna Ochoa
CEREAL GUADALAJARA
CEREAL MEXICO
Cesem A.C.
Coalicion de Atencion a la Juventud
Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos A.C.
Consejo de la Nación Amuzga
Consejo de la Nacion Nahua
Consejo de la Nacionalidad Otomí
Consejo de Organizaciones Triquis
Consejo de Pueblos Nahuas del Alto Balsas, Guerrero, A.C.
Consejo Indígena Municipal Chocholteco
Consejo Indígena Popular de Oaxaca "Ricardo Flores Magón" (CIPO-RFM - Oaxaca)
Consejo Mazahua Región Almoloya de Juárez
Consejo Tradicional de los Pueblos Indios de Sonora
Cooperativa Flores de la Tierra Amuzga
Coordinadora de Grupos Culturales Indígenas y Populares
Coordinadora Guerrerense de Mujeres Indígenas
Coordinadora Nacional de Mujeres Indígenas
Coordinadora Regional de Organizaciones Indígenas de la Sierra de Zongolica
Educa A.C.
Federación de Indígenas Migrantes de Acapulco
Foro Migraciones
Fraternidad Revolucionaria
Frente Independiente de Pueblos Indios
Frente Indigena Campesino y Popular (FICAPO, A.P.N.)
Fundación Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Mexico)
Incide Social
Jovenes En Alternativa Pacifica
La Coordinadora Nacional de Mujeres Indigenas
Mephaa-Savi Mujeres Indígenas
Nacion Purepecha Zapatista
Ndu Nu Ñu Savi
Noche Sihuame Sanse Tajome
Organización de Artesanos Migrantes "Tonhalli"
Organización Nación Purhepecha
Parlamento Indígena Estatal Campesino y Popular
Red Codapi
Red Indígena de Turismo Alternativo de México
Red Indígena de Turismo de México
Regiones Autónomas Pluriétnicas
Se Ojtli Yankuik, A.C.
Secretariado Internacional Cristiano de Solidaridad con América Latina
"Oscar A. Romero" (SICSAL)
SEPROJUSDAC, AC
Taller Universitario de Derechos Humanos A. C.
Umbral Axochiatl
Yoloxochitl SPR
Morroco
Tamaynut (Amazigh Peoples)
Pacific
Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust (Aotearoa/New Zealand)
Nation of Hawaii (Hawaii)
Sovereign Union of Aboriginal Nations and Peoples in Australia
Te Rau Aroha (Aotearoa/New Zealand)
Panama
Asociación Nabguana
Comunidad de Ustupu, Kuna Yala
Fundación Dobbo Yala
Fundación para la Promoción del Conocimiento Indígena
Jóvenes Ngobe - Bugle
Movimiento Juventud Kuna
Nis Bundor
Organización de Jóvenes Embera - Wounam de Panamáde
Red de Mujeres sobre la Biodiversidad
United States
Abya Yala Nexus
Cactus Valley/Red Willow Springs Sovereign Community, Big Mountain, Arizona
Centro Mundo Maya
El Colectivo de Contacto Ancestral
Indigenous Environmental Network
Pit River Tribe, California
Seminole Sovereignty Protection Initiative, Oklahoma
Teton Sioux Nation Treaty Council
Traditional Independent Seminole Nation of Florida
Wanblee Wakpeh Oyate, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota
White Clay Society, Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana
Yoemem Tekia Foundation (Pascua Yaqui Reservation, Arizona)
Multi-regional
Coordinadora Indígena de la Cuenca Amazonica (COICA)
Indigenous World Association
International Indian Treaty Council
Land is Life
Donations Needed
We are seeking monetary donations for the following items. Or if you
are able to donate any of these items, please contact us:
Tents
Camping Gear
Large Yardages of Heavy Canvas for Tipi Making
Generators
Portable Road Grader
Cooking Equipment for Large Groups
Commercial Cooking Utensils
Wood Cook Stoves
Propane and Coleman Fuel Camping Cook Stoves
Farm Equipment and Implements
Logging Supplies
Fencing and Fencing Supplies
Chainsaws and Portable Saws
Construction Tools
Building Materials
Food
Medicine
man seeks unity, peace among all people
By:
Laurie Pearson, Staff Writer, January 29, 2003
Elk
Valley Times
 In an
attempt to reawaken the spirituality and unity of the Native American Indians, Kenneth
Cane, a Lakota Medicine Man from the Pine Ridge (Oglala) Reservation in South Dakota,
journeyed for more than two days to join in traditional ceremonies with area people.
"We are trying to gather all of the spiritual people. We have found an essential
location here to uplift the spirituality ... We would like to invite all walks of
life," said Cane the evening before last Saturday's ceremony.
"I feel proud with the people here that are strong with spirituality," he said.
In a more solemn tone, he speaks of the Cherokee Indians' dim past in this area and the
atrocities the Indian people have suffered through the centuries.
"We come here to create a better understanding - to recognize each other as nations
in songs, Sun dances and other ceremonies that create adoption and togetherness as an
Indian people," Cane explained.
He spoke of an upcoming concert and gathering at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in which
Indians, non-Indians and their children are invited to participate in a prayer circle and
powwow on Feb. 27.
"In Wounded Knee, we would like to bring in people who are a part of any struggle
together and to those people who want to be very independent," Cane said warmly.
Having lived the majority of his life in the Black Hills, his life is steeped in rich
traditions and knowledge passed down through the centuries by his ancestors.
"I come from a medicine circle," he said.
His great-grandfathers were medicine men, who passed down the history, ceremonies,
medicines and songs to the younger generations.
His famous great-grandfather Crazy Horse, Thosunka Witko, an Oglala Sioux, played a
prominent role in history in trying to protect the culture of his people and their land.
Cane says the American Indian has come a long way. He expressed an expectation for
complete sovereignty of the Lakota Nation in the future.
Cane is the chairman of Canku Luta, a national 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. In the
language of the Lakota people, Canku Luta means Red Road - The Good Road of Life.
"Canku Luta is a grassroots movement consisting of American Indians and non-Indians
committed to the preservation of American Indian customs and culture, promotes the social
welfare of American Indians through education and direct services when necessary and
appropriate," according to the organization's mission statement.
The services include providing food, materials for home repairs and opportunities for
self-employment among grassroots American Indian Peoples.
Through Red Road, people are educated about the practice of ceremonies and medicine of the
Laws of Nature, which are ancient, traditional, spiritual ways.
This includes language, religion, livelihood and nationhood as taught by traditional
headsmen and elders of all spiritual levels.
©Elk
Valley Times 2003
Cankú
Lúta, in the language of the Lakota people, means Red Road. The Red Road is the Good Road
of Life, the path that we aspire to walk with our children and their children, and ALL OUR
RELATIONS. |
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