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Indigenous Peoples Have Right To Self-Determination

Santiago Summit of the Americas

The governments of the Americas must recognize the rights of the continent's original inhabitants to self-determination.

Montreal, 07 December, 2000 - The governments of the Americas must recognize the rights of the continent's original inhabitants to self-determination, Rights & Democracy said today as groups representing the indigenous peoples of the hemisphere gathered in Santiago, Chile, at the Latin American Preparatory Commission of the UN World Conference Against Racism.

"Such a right is set out in the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights, and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ratified by Canada and more than100 countries and is contained in the Draft Declaration on Indigenous Peoples," said Warren Allmand, President of Rights & Democracy.

"We support the indigenous groups' work towards recognition of their true status as peoples and urge governments attending the conference to be mindful of this historical fact as they promise steps to eradicate racism."

Representatives of aboriginal peoples of the Americas, including Canada's Assembly of First Nations, attended this week the regional conference to set the agenda for the UN World Conference Against Racism, which will be held South Africa from August 31 to September 7, 2001, but walked out today to protest against the lack of openness toward indigenous peoples at the meeting.

"This conference repeats patterns of discrimination and racism, that's why we are leaving," spokespeople for the indigenous groups said. Mr. Allmand said he agreed with the move because many groups in society refuse to allow indigenous people to speak out and to be part of the process, because of society's racist attitudes.

Rights & Democracy supports the indigenous delegations' unanimous position in Chile, that countries must examine their constitutions, laws, legal systems and policies to identify and eradicate both explicit and inherent racism or bias towards indigenous peoples. Rights & Democracy urged all countries which have not yet ratified the International Labour Organisation's Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples to do so. The Convention sets out and protects the rights of indigenous peoples, binding governments who have ratified to implement its provisions.

Mr. Allmand also echoed the indigenous groups' call on the UN to adopt the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ? a document which explicitly recognizes the status of aboriginals as peoples and thus their right to self-determination. "Legally, these treaties do not necessarily mean ?state independence'. Their spirit is rather that all peoples on earth are entitled to equitable treatment and respect for their cultures and identities." He said that he will be advocating this position when he attends the World Conference on Racism next year in Durban.