And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: sent by Liam via FN list -----Original Message----- From: Trudy and Rod Bray <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: RecOzNet2 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Friday, April 16, 1999 1:48 PM Subject: [recoznet2] North American Indigenous peoples join forces >DAWN INTERNET NEWS >Indigenous Canadians join forces with US Indians > > By Mark Bourrie > > >OTTAWA: Indigenous leaders in Canada have forged a political link with their >counterparts in the United States in the wake of a United >Nations report that listed Canada's treatment of aboriginals as the country's >most pressing human rights issue. > >On Monday, Phil Fontaine, head of the Assembly of First Nations which represents >more than 300 native communities in Canada, >announced a formal partnership with the National Congress of American Indians >(NCAI), based in the United States. > >Fontaine said the two organizations would press for full self-government and >sovereignty for all native North Americans. > >He said the group also would seek partnerships with aboriginal groups in Mexico. > >The Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Committee said in a report last >week that the Canadian government had failed to >implement recommendations of the 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - >proof that Ottawa was not complying with the >international covenant on civil and political rights. > >The Royal Commission, made up of eminent native leaders, lawyers and academics, >recommended full self-government, control over >resources, and a separate traditional legal system. It also recommended major >improvements to native healthcare. > >The United Nations also called on both the Canadian federal government and the >administration of the province of Ontario to establish an >inquiry into the 1995 police shooting of Dudley George, an Ojibwe man who died >while protesting the seizure of native land on the shore >of Lake Huron. > >George's death has been the focus of native protests in Canada, despite the >conviction of a police officer for manslaughter. > >Indigenous leaders claimed the police attack on the protesters was orchestrated >by senior politicians and government officials and they >hailed the UN report as an important blow for native rights. > >"This is above our expectations. It's a great day for the rights of all >aboriginal people," said Armand McKenzie, lawyer for the Innu >Council of Nitassin, which represents 7,500 people on the coast of Labrador, one >of the most isolated and inaccessible places on Earth. > >There are no roads or railways into the Innu territory, and coastal ship traffic >is limited to about four months a year. The Innu have >fought for years against low-level training flights by NATO fighter pilots. > >"We will no longer be beggars in our own homeland. We have the right to benefit. >This is important because it says the government has >to revoke its practice regarding the extinguishment of aboriginal rights," he >said. > >Other native leaders said the UN report could spur the Canadian government into >implementing reforms. > >"This is a very stern rebuke, it's a drubbing," said Andy Orkin, legal adviser >to the Grand Council of Crees, which is locked in a battle to >keep power companies from damming the rivers in its territory. > >The 12,000 members of the Cree have one of the country's highest levels of >alcoholism and suicide. "This is a pretty important >development, and a pretty sad one. Canada plays international human rights Boy >Scout, but to get a ruling like this in our own backyard >demonstrates considerable hypocrisy." > >Fontaine, whose group has been losing clout with the Canadian government during >the current liberal administration, declared that >Canadian indigenous communities could get the attention of the world by allying >itself with native Americans. > >"What we're doing is in our recognition that there is strength in numbers, there >is strength in organizing ourselves better, there is strength >in elevating our issues so there is international attention given to these >issues," he said. > >"Reports such as the one out of Geneva reinforce what we have been saying about >our situation in Canada, which is no different from >the position in the United States. It's of the utmost importance to us to go >where we need to go. > >"I think one thing that has worked against us is that we've restricted and >confined ourselves domestically when it's clear that international >attention is what drives efforts internationally. It's just time to do this." > >Fontaine said that "bringing our considerable resources together will make >things better for us". > >NCAI president Ron Allen said a partnership between the two groups would also >help indigenous people get more attention from the >United Nations. > >"Beyond those in North America, we have indigenous brothers and sisters around >the world. They are fighting for sovereignty, for >protection of their land bases and their cultural ways of life. As we join >forces, that message becomes a common message that is heard >both in the capitals of Canada and the United States, but also in international >forums such as the United Nations," he said. > >A Canadian government spokesman said some of the UN's criticisms were being >dealt with through new self-government >initiatives.-Dawn/Inter Press Service. > > > >------------------------------------------------------- >RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
