Statement of Indigenous Peoples

STATEMENT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE WORLD

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, 27 JULY 1995 THIRTEENTH SESSION OF THE WORKING GROUP ON INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Indigenous peoples have to inform the non-indigenous States and governments which are situate and existing within the territorial boundaries of Indigenous Nations that . . .

Since the colonial established borders reflect a recognition of oppression and involuntary demarcation towards Indigenous Peoples and their lands and consequently are the cause for much of the harm being inflicted upon Indigenous Peoples, the following principles regarding the recognition of borders and territories are agreed upon:

—In the process of realization and re-instituting our traditional values, Indigenous Peoples recognize each other as Nations and therefore respect the indigenous boundaries—

—The colonial established borders and the states and governments that came to exist are strongly advised to share this recognition—

—Invading on someone’s territory does not mean that the laws and rules that are imposed by the invader automatically apply to the Indigenous Populations of that given region or territory—

— from this day forward Indigenous Peoples of the World proclaim that there will be no further recognition of imposed colonial boundaries and will no longer be subjected to non-indigenous law systems. We, the Indigenous Peoples and their lands will operate under international human rights laws and intend to honor these laws.