SGF’s Letter in Support of the UN DRIP
July 15, 2010
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State
S/SR Global Intergovernmental Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW. Suite 1317
Washington, DC 20520
Re: U.S. review of its position on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Dear Madam Secretary,
Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development, the oldest Indigenous Peoples’ non-governmental organization dedicated to the sovereignty of Indigenous Nations and the empowerment of grassroots Native citizens through culturally relevant, community based strategies, submits this letter in regard to the U.S. review of its position on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Our organization has been actively and deeply involved in all aspects of the development of the Declaration since its inception, particularly through the leadership of our board Vice Chair, Tonya Gonnella Frichner, who is also currently the North American Regional Representative to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and our elder boardmember, Chief Oren Lyons, both of the Haudenosaunee, among other Indigenous leaders.
Adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007, the Declaration sets a minimum standard to acknowledge Indigenous Peoples and our rights, including to our full sovereignty as nations, traditional identities, lands and territories, languages, spirituality, and distinct lifeways. The Seventh Generation Fund enthusiastically welcomes that the United States realizes that Indigenous Peoples deserve human rights and that the Declaration is an international instrument warranting a second look in this regard. Now that U.S is now finally taking steps to do so and hopefully, with haste to make real and alive this Declaration in its relations with Indigenous Peoples throughout the world.
With this in mind, Seventh Generation Fund urges the U.S. government to:
• Immediately endorse the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples without any restrictions, modifications, or qualifications.
• Upon endorsement, immediately take steps, with full participation of Indigenous Nations and Indigenous non-governmental organizations, to implement the articles of the Declaration.
In regard specifically to the consultation/review process, Seventh Generation Fund requests that the U.S. government:
• Proceed with full transparency in the review process including creating an accessible archive of all comments and requests by Indigenous nations and organizations, and other interested parties, in relation to this consultation process that is publically available throughout the review process and beyond.
• Take all possible steps to assure prior notification of future consultation meetings regarding the review of the Declaration, with ample time for Indigenous nations and organizations to fully prepare and participate in any comment, discussions, meetings or consultations regarding the Declaration.
Thank you for your kind consideration. I look forward to the day that the U.S. announces its full, unencumbered endorsement of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It will be a first step of honor in what will be a long journey together toward recognizing and securing the human rights of Indigenous Peoples and advancing peace, justice and reconciliation of the lands, cultures, memories and histories of this continent. Please do not hesitate to contact me, or members of our organization’s board of directors about this letter.
All Our Relations,
Tia Oros Peters
Executive Director
Cc: The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500