UNPO Website: Massive Support for the Indigenous People Hunger Strike at UN

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

WE, THE TRADITIONAL TURTLE CLAN OF THE "MALISEET PEOPLE" OF THE WABANAKI
NATION OF EASTERN CANADA AND NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES WISH TO EXPRESS
OUR SINCERE SUPPORT TO THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE DEMONSTRATING
THEIR DISPLEASURE TOWARDS THE ACTIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

AS A STRONG TRADITIONAL PEOPLE, WE ARE ALWAYS UNDER THE ATTACK OF THE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT IN IT'S PROCESS OF ELIMINATION OF OUR PEOPLE.

THE UNITED NATIONS MUST REMEMBER THE NAME THAT THEY CARRY, "UNITED", IF
THIS IS TRUE TO THEIR HEARTS AND VALUES AND BELIEFS IT WOULD BE FAR FROM
THEIR ACTIONS TO CHANGE A DOCUMENT THAT IS TO PROTECT THE INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES OF THE WORLD.

DO NOT START TO "WATER" DOWN FOR THE SIMPLICITY OF OTHERS.

OUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT FOR THE STRONG BELIEFS OF THE BROTHERS AND
SISTERS THAT SEE THE PATH OF DISASTER AND DESTRUCTION WILL FOREVER BE
WITH THEM,
WE COMMEND THEM FOR STANDING STRONG, AND WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL
SUCCEED.

AS FOR THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DIMINISH THE DOCUMENT, THEY
WILL BE THE ONES TO EVENTUALLY SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF THEIR OWN DOING.

AGAIN, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, STAY STRONG AND THE CREATOR WILL

Taino’ti Guaitiao (Greetings Relatives):

On behalf of the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) and El Consejo General de Taino Borincanos, I am writing to express our solidarity with the six heroic individuals undertaking the Hunger Strike at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

As this courageous action is bringing attention to the continued attempts of some States (Governments) to weaken and undermine the ‘Draft Declaration’ that was developed in 1994 by the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations and, adopted by the UN Sub-Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, it is our view that the Hunger Strike is not only commendable but of great spiritual significance.

It has long been established that the ‘Draft Declaration’ represents the minimum standard required for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights throughout the World and we therefore support of the call for the adoption of the current text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Oma’bahari (With Respect),
Roberto Mucaro Borrero,
President, UCTP
U.S. Regional Coordinating Office

Estimados hermanas y hermanos,

En nombre de la Organizacion Tohil Morales de los Niños Mayas de Guatemala
nos solidarizamos con la accion de la huelga de hambre que Ustedes han
iniciado en las Naciones Unidas. Nos unimos con Ustedes para protestar
contra la voluntad de los gobiernos que componen las Naciones Unidas que
hasta ahora solo ha obrado por deshacer el Proyecto de Declaración que fue
elaborado por el "Grupo de Trabajo sobre las Poblaciones Indígenas" y
aprobado en 1994 por la Subcomisión de las Naciones Unidas de Prevención de
la Discriminación y Protección a las Minorías.

Queremos manifestarles nuestro gran admiracion por ese gesto digno y de gran
altura que Ustedes han iniciado nos sentimos muy orgullosos de la accion que
han emprendido. Los instamos a mantener su esfuerzo a pesar de que sabemos
que va en detrimento de la propia integridad fisica de cada una de sus
personas. Confiamos en que nuestra madre Tierra los acompañara y que nuestro
padre Sol les dara luz en su camino de sufrimiento por nuestros pueblos y
hermanos indigenas.

Al mismo tiempo nos sentimos profundamente consternados por el hecho de que
sea necesario llegar al limite de la huelga de hambre por la
incomprehension, la intolerancia, la arbitrariedad, la discriminacion y la
prepotencia de los estados que componen las Naciones Unidas. Repudiamos esa
actitud demostrada año con año en el seno de las Naciones Unidas en contra
de los Pueblos Indigenas.

Jose Morales
Presidente de OTM Niños Mayas de Guatemala

I am writing in suppport of the hunger strike being undertaken by
representatives of Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations Palais
des Nations in Geneva, during the week beginning November 29, 2004
during the 10th session of the Intersessional Working Group on the
United Nations Draft Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples.

Those participating are calling it a "spiritual fast" as well as
a hunger strike. I believe this is because the cause they are
working for is more than a beneficial tactic; the fasters are
peaceful warriors defending the heart and soul of their peoples.
To ignore their spiritual fast would be to scorn their witness to
what is sacred.

I regret that in a democratic institution that any participants
feel it necessary to fast in order to be heard with respect, to have
their concerns taken seriously.

I strongly support the hunger strike for Indigenous Rights and the
adoption of the current text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples at the UN Session this week.

For the Earth and all her Peoples,
Mary Gilbert
Quaker Earthcare Witness

Compañeros y compañeras huelguistas:

Los trabajadores y trabajadoras de Venezuela se solidarizan fervientemente con vuestra acción.

La Unión Nacional de Trabajadores UNT, está en disposición de incorporarse en cualquier campaña de solidaridad internacional para que el justo reclamo que hacen sea atendido.

Saludos.

Por la Coordinacion Nacional de la UNT:

Stalin Perez Borges.

"Almáciga Grupo de Trabajo Intercultural quiere expresar su solidaridad con los representantes indígenas en huelga de hambre en Ginebra. Lamentamos que no se haya producido, en todos estos años, una negociación justa de la Declaración de los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU, que estimamos un instrumento imprescindible para poder establecer unas nuevas relaciones de igualdad entre los pueblos indígenas y los Estados. Apoyamos el pleno reconocimiento de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, derivados de su derecho a la libre determinación como pueblos."

ALMACIGA, Madrid, Spain.

I am requesting that the UN Draft Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be adopted. After 10 years, it's high time. The resistant states must begin now to build a moral record in their dealings with Indigenous Peoples.

Sylvia Lambert

Interior, S.D.

To whom it may concern

Frankfurt, Dec. 2, 2004

We observe with great concern that 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 is weakened and undermined by various nation states.

We are in full support to the request of the World's Indigenous Peoples, to adopt the current text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

We request that the Secretariat of the Intersessional Working Group on the United Nations Draft Declaration for the Rights on Indigenous Peoples immediately inform the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (and the High Commissioner herself) about the hunger strike of the World Indigenous Caucus representatives.

The hunger strike is a clear statement of the World's Indigenous Peoples desperation- as to how the Draft Declaration is being reversed beyond any possibility with which to give at least "minimum standards" of basic human rights to IP's.

Kofi Annan's statement on the 3rd Session of the UN PFII, that one of the highest priorities of the UN is "partnership in action" with IPs must be implemented in the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by acknowledging their fundamental needs and rights to survive as peoples.

We also request that the Secretariat arrange for the hunger strikers to be able to remain in the UN building during the entire week of the session.
Thank you very much for any efforts

Sincerely
Dr. Sabine Speiser

Interculture Management.
(electronic letter)

Chers responsables,
Je tiens par présente saluer votre manifestation greviste en faveur des populations indigènes et defavorisées. Cela constitue pour moi des vrais compatriotes qui militent ensemble avec nous quoi que de loin mais ,nous sommes près selon la philosophie que nous defendons tous.
En plus, par cette occasion ,voulez-vous m'envoyer le lettre de soutien publiée par le site web IITC. Et en outre ,par cette missive je vous envoie en attache la situation socio-humanitaire de la population pygmee de la province du Maniema.
Mes compliments à tous les combattants de notre lutte commune.
Eléazar Kakwala M Bin Kalonda
Président de l'ONGD DYNAMIQUE POUR LA PROMOTION DES PYGMEES ET DES POPULATIONS AUTOCHTONES. DYPROPYPA EN SIGLE.

Statement of Solidarity from Kosmos Indigena

The indigenous rights organization Kosmos Indigena based in Honolulu,
Hawai`i supports the indigenous delegates participating in the hunger
strike this week. We believe it is high-time to pass the current text of
the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Specifically,
there can be no compromise on Article 3 regarding self-determination, which
is the most basic of human rights. One of the biggest dilemmas indigenous
peoples have had to contend with is how THEY are actually perceived of as
a threat to the nation-state. It is, in fact, the state that has been on
the violent offensive against indigenous nations since the creation of
the modern state system. The emergence of the global indigenous peoples'
movement has been overwhemingly NONVIOLENT, and, thus, the threat of
"violence" or "balkanization" should not be used as precursor to thwart
the striving for indigenous rights under any circumstances.

In solidarity,

Tony Castana
Coordinator
Kosmos Indigena

Honored Indigenous Representatives,

We would like to express our full support and solidarity, with the Indigenous representatives and their organisations who are currently fasting within the UN building in Geneva and around the world.

We urge the UN member states to adopt the current text of the Declaration for Indigenous Peoples Rights, without any changes. The nationstates must now realize that the opression of Indigenous Peoples must come to an END!

The Nationstates have to accept responsibillity once and for all, for past and present wrongs commited towards Indigenous Peoples, and show not only in words but in action, that there is sincere will to right the wrongs.

To Andrea and to All of you wonderful People( Indigenous):

Words are not enough to express the deep respect and love that we feel, for You The People, and all those that have gone before you, in this long struggle.

Our good thoughts, our Prayers and wellwishes are with You All.

In gratitude and solidarity

Sincerely Carina Gustafsson coordinator for The Wild-Oak organisation -Sweden
Kevin Scot-Elliot coordinator for One World Researchgroup - Sweden

Greetings to the Indigenous Peoples of the World:

Upon this Indigenous moment we stand togather for a common cause as a common people. As Indigenous men and Indigenous women of this era called the new millenium, we stand as warriors of peace.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, was put togather over a period of several years. For all those who oppose this declaration, should read Special Rapporteur Martinez Cobo' " The Problem of Discrimination against Indigenous Popluations".

Tona Geneva, Switzerland ekta omnciye tanka ekta yaib ena iyuha wopila tanka iceciciab pelo. Na United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples wowapi ki le, ikcewicasa wowapi he cha. Ehanni ikcewicasa Tony Black Feather ni un he hun, wowapi ki le lila el skun. Wowapi ke le ikcewicasa makasitomniya unb hena iyuha iwastepi kte kta cha sloye.

Translation: (All of you who have gone to Geneva, Switzerland to attend this big meeting I thank you very much. the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, is a declaration of the common peoples. Long time ago when Tony Black Feather was still with us he put alot of time and energy into this declaration. He knew that this declaration would benefit the Indigenous Peoples throughout the world.)

To those on the sacred fast you are in our hearts and prayers.

Peace, Tranquility and Happiness.

Nathan Blindman/Spotted Thunder,
Minneconjou/Oglala Lakota,
Slim Butte Community, SW Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota
02December04

NANAI fully supports the hungerstrike of the indigenous peoples
in the UN building in Geneva.
We agree to it, that 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,
is the minimum standard required for the recognition and protection
of Indigenous Peoples' rights internationally

We wish all the participants a lot of strength.

On behalf of 1500 donors of NANAI
Leo van Kints, president

Dear Brothers and Sisters
Words cannot express my admiration for you in your stand for justice and Indigenous Rights. I support your actions and hope that your efforts are successful in getting the states of the world to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. May the next decade bring us hope, peace, understanding and above all justice. Thank you for your stand.
Freya

Freya HIGGINS-DESBIOLLES

Lecturer in Tourism

University of South Australia

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Our support goes to those of you who are undertaking this urgent mission.
You are the leaders who have worked on this process for more than twenty
years. Our own experience is that coming this far in the UN process has
been extremely difficult, with Indigenous Peoples bearing the costs -
financially, to the communities and families - to press on for all of our
rights.

Please support these leaders and take urgent action today!

Deborah McLaren
Indigenous Tourism Rights International

Estimados Representantes de los Pueblos Indígenas

Envio mi apoyo a la "huelga de hambre por los derechos de los Pueblos Indigenas", y por la adopción del texto actual del Proyecto de Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas a la Sesión de la ONU durante esta semana.
Vaya además un fraternal abrazo para dar fuerzas a sus representantes en estos días y en aquellos de lucha cotidiana.
Respeto, por sobre todas las cosas, al Hombre y su Comunidad!

Saluda a Uds.

Silvia Garay ( Argentina)

Estudiante de la Maestria en Diversidad Cultural de la Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero.

Greetings,

I offer my support for your efforts in The Hunger Strike for Indigenous Rights. Let us hope your efforts strengthen these rights and raise awareness of the desperate plight faced by indigenous people whose only agenda is to live peaceful, traditional lives within their cultures and language.

Prayers for you and for this world.

In peace,

Gina Boltz, Director
Native Village Publications
A National Heritage Foundation

We, 4.5 million Indigenous Ahwazi Arabs of Southwestern Iran, the province of Al-Ahwaz or Khuzestan, are in solidarity with our indigenous brothers and sisters and full heartily support the great and heroic indigenous hunger strikers in the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva,

We demand that the text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the 10th UN Session of the Intercessional Working Group to be sent back to the UN Commission on Human Rights for adoption..

We support the demands of the Indigenous Peoples hunger strikers for establishing the minimum standard required for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights internationally.

Ahwaz Education and Human Rights Foundation

Kia ora koutou,
Greetings to all the Hunger Strikers!

The Dunedin YWCA Angel Fund is an interest free loan fund for women, which was founded in 1997. It is a form of micro credit, intended to support women’s retraining, returnng to the work force or setting up a small business.

Today we heard that you have begun a hunger strike to draw attention to the situation of Indigenous people worldwide and to call the world's attention to the continued attempts by some states, as well as the UN process itself, to weaken and undermine the Draft Declaration developed in the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

I understand that this declaration has already been and adopted by the UN Subcommission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1994.

I think it is important that in light of the NZ Government's long standing and continual efforts to undermine the UN Working Group since this work began, to let you know that they do not represent us all nor do they speak for us all in Aotearoa/NZ.

Since the beginning of colonial settlement, our history has been littered with examples of venal and self serving political decisions that have sought to undermine Maori control and Maori decision making.

This year we have again witnessed another piece of legislation that seeks to extinguish Maori customary control of the Foreshore and Seabed. Instead the Government has made it clear that Maori can only have customary rights id they are bestowed by the Colonial legal system.

Please accept this letter of solidarity from the Dunedin YWCA Angel Fund for you and your 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.

In Solidarity,

Suzanne Menzies-Culling
Suzanne Menzies-Culling
Coordinator,
Dunedin YWCA Angel Fund

Kia ora

Waiha te iti kahurangi; ki te tuohu koe, me maunga teitei.
Seek that which is most precious; if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty
mountain.

We were here before the UN and we will be there when the UN is dust in the
annals of history. Stay strong for our peoples.

kia kaha
Teanau Tuiono, Aotearoa.

Desde la Comunidad Indígena de Amaicha del Valle provincia de Tucumán República Argentina. Los miembros de la misma hacen llegar su solidaridad a los hermanos representantes de los pueblos indígenas que están manifestando su disconformidad ante la intención de algunos estados de desarticular el Proyecto de Declaración de Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos indígenas.

Para nosotros, la intervención de nuestros hermanos, es de mucha significación, puesto que la lucha por recuperar estatus jurídico internacional nos lleva a nosotros a ver el gran esfuerzo que hacen los mismos, lo que nos alienta a seguir buscando nuestra historia y a asumir nuestra indianidad no ya como un atraso (algo que el colonizador machacó y machaca permanentemente en nuestras conciencias) sino nuestra verdadera esencia la que nos posibilitará asumir nuestra lucha para un mejor porvenir de nuestros hijos.

Es por eso que desde la distancia NOS SOLIDARIZAMOS con nuestros hermanos y anticipamos que el organismo que hoy intenta trabar el avance de nuestros planteos jurídicos. (Asentados todos ellos como derechos humanos inalienables) es el mismo que no supo frenar de ninguna manera la invasión del pueblo de Irak en donde se cometieron todo tipo de atropellos a la dignidad humana, es el mismo que mira para otro lado cuando la república azerbaijana es atacada vilmente por Rusia, donde también se viola permanentemente los DD HH. En todo caso ante los estados occidentales poderosos del norte es un organismo débil. Ante los estados pobres del mundo es prepotente. Por eso no es de extrañar que ante el planteo de los PI el Naciones Unidas lo tome como un asunto menor.

Por todo ello y en memoria de nuestros Jefes Alonso Calimai, Diego de Utiwaitina, Francisco Chancana; que en el pasado supieron defender nuestro Territorio antes que las naciones estados existieran alzamos nuestra voz en solidaridad con Los delegados indígenas que participan en esta huelga de hambre.

Jallalla hermanos: Adelard Blackman, Buffalo River Dene Nation, Canada - Andrea Carmen, Yaqui Nation, Arizona, Estados Unidos - Alexis Tiouka, Kaliña, Guyana Francesa - Charmaine White Face, Ogala Tetuwan, Sioux Nation Territory, América del Norte - Danny Billie, Traditional Independent Seminole Nation of Florida, Estados Unidos - Saul Vicente, Zapoteca, México.

Por la Comunidad Indígena de Amaicha del Valle:

Mario Quinteros - Rosana Sánchez - Antonio Ríos - Lastenia Aguilar - Lorenzo Lera - Luis Segura - Néstor Segura - Guillermina Guerra - Humberto Andrade - Jesús Silva - Paula Pastrana - Isabel Pastrana

estimados señores de las NNUU - Comisión de alto nivel sobre los PUEBLOS INDIGENAS:

Ante las actuales conclusiones que se vienen dando para los pueblos indígenes y no satisfaciendo éstas a los mismos, OKA AMERICA, se une y apoy la petición de nuestros pueblos de respetar sus propuesta; derecho a la libre determinanción, derecho a la tierra, que ya en anteriores resoluciones se fue concretando.
a la espera de vuestra reconsideracion, EN FAVOR DE LA PAZ, LA NO DISCRIMINACION, LA SOLIDARIDAD Y LA DEMOCRACIA.
Igualmente, apoyamos la huelga de nuestros hermanos y hermanos en huelga que exigen con esta medida respeto a SUS DERECHOS.

Zoila Hernández Aguilar
Presidenta OKA America

Estimados hermanas y hermanos,

En nombre de la Organizacion Tohil Morales de los Niños Mayas de Guatemala
nos solidarizamos con la accion de la huelga de hambre que Ustedes han
iniciado en las Naciones Unidas. Nos unimos con Ustedes para protestar
contra la voluntad de los gobiernos que componen las Naciones Unidas que
hasta ahora solo ha obrado por deshacer el Proyecto de Declaración que fue
elaborado por el "Grupo de Trabajo sobre las Poblaciones Indígenas" y
aprobado en 1994 por la Subcomisión de las Naciones Unidas de Prevención de
la Discriminación y Protección a las Minorías.

Queremos manifestarles nuestro gran admiracion por ese gesto digno y de gran
altura que Ustedes han iniciado nos sentimos muy orgullosos de la accion que
han emprendido. Los instamos a mantener su esfuerzo a pesar de que sabemos
que va en detrimento de la propia integridad fisica de cada una de sus
personas. Confiamos en que nuestra madre Tierra los acompañara y que nuestro
padre Sol les dara luz en su camino de sufrimiento por nuestros pueblos y
hermanos indigenas.

Al mismo tiempo nos sentimos profundamente consternados por el hecho de que
sea necesario llegar al limite de la huelga de hambre por la
incomprehension, la intolerancia, la arbitrariedad, la discriminacion y la
prepotencia de los estados que componen las Naciones Unidas. Repudiamos esa
actitud demostrada año con año en el seno de las Naciones Unidas en contra
los Pueblos Indigenas.

Jose Morales
Presidente de OTM Niños Mayas de Guatemala

Kia ora Brothers and Sisters

I support the indigenous peoples hunger strike

from Aotearoa
Nga Puhi, Te Aupouri, Ngati Awa, Te Hikutu

Geoffrey Karena

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1 de diciembre de 2004 APOYO UNÁNIME A LA MANIFESTACION INDIGENA EN GINEBRA–ONU Los miembros de la Comisión de Juristas Indígenas en la República Argentina expresamos nuestro apoyo a las Organizaciones que se expresan con una HUELGA DE HAMBRE ante los Estados Nacionales. Al igual que en muchos de nuestros países se utiliza en el ámbito de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas, la estrategia de desarticulación con el propósito de dilatar los acuerdos y avances logrados, y en este caso particularmente en el marco del Proyecto de la Declaración de los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU. Destacamos el aporte trascendental que significaría, la aprobación consensuada de este Proyecto, ya que el mismo constituye una norma mínima de garantía, reconocimiento y protección de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas a nivel mundial, referido a los temas como territorio, cultura, participación política al interior de los Estados, entre otros. C.J.I.R.A.

Pronunciamiento Público:

El Comité directivo del “Consejo Indio de Sudamérica” (CISA), a nombre de nuestras bases, se dirige a la comunidad Internacional en los términos siguientes:

1- Que, lamentamos, con suma preocupación la actitud de los gobiernos nacionales presentes en el Palacio de las Naciones Unidas, cual si fuera el nefasto pasado de dominación absoluto a los Pueblos Indígenas en someterlos bajo procedimientos inapropiados de “ciudadanía”, bajo pretexto de protección por medio leyes dictadas en contra de nuestros pueblos, para despojarnos de nuestros territorios incluido nuestra grama de recursos naturales; y sobre todo de pretender separarnos de nuestra relación intrínseca con nuestras tierras como sujetos distintos dentro de lo material y espiritual.

2- Hoy, algunos de esos gobiernos a través de sus delegados, se resisten a apoyar a aprobar “Proyecto de declaración sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas de las Naciones Unidas” adoptado, por consenso, por la Subcomisión de Prevención de Discriminaciones y de Protección de las Naciones Unidas. Proceso en el que participaron no sólo miles de representantes de pueblos, organizaciones y comunidades indígenas de todo el mundo; sino, también participaron agencias especializadas de la ONU y de expertos independientes.

3- Bajo este escenario, se pretende echar abajo el trabajo de la “Subcomisión de Prevención de Discriminaciones y de Protección de las Naciones Unidas”. Ello, es una clara muestra de discriminación del esfuerzo iniciado desde hace más de 20 años, contempladas en el derecho internacional.

4- El CISA, tanto en el pasado y el presente ha insistido aun dentro de nuestra radicalidad (como lo han señalado algunos), que el “Proyecto de declaración sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas de las Naciones Unidas”, se apruebe tal cual fuera adoptado por la “Subcomisión de Prevención de Discriminaciones y de Protección de las Naciones Unidas”.

5- Por considerandos mencionados, nuestros delegados presentes en la sede de las Naciones Unidas – Ginebra, han presentado su preocupación en este sentido, al igual que una de nuestras bases el día de ayer se ha pronunciado en mismo sentido, en expresar su solidaridad y apoyo con los hermanos que se han declarado en huelga de hambre.

6- Bajo este mismo criterio, el CISA, expresa su solidaridad a los compañeros delegados en huelga de hambre en sede de la UNO, Ginebra junto a sus exigencias que son mínimas, al tiempo de brindarles nuestro apoyo absoluto, manifestando que los espíritus de nuestros antepasados los protejan y les den fortalezas y alientos para logro de nuestros objetivos comunes. No sin antes de mencionar que la sustentabilidad de la humanidad, pasa, necesariamente por la “libre determinación de nuestros pueblos”.

7- Asimismo, exigimos a los gobiernos nacionales el respeto a los derechos humanos de los huelguistas. No sin antes, de demandar que el “Proyecto de Declaración” sea aprobado tal cual fuera aprobado por la “Subcomisión de Prevención de Discriminaciones y de Protección de las Naciones Unidas en el año 1994”.

Firmado en la ciudad del Alto La Paz Bolivia, 01 de Diciembre de 2004

DEFENSORIA DE LOS PUEBLOS INDIGENAS DEL ECUADOR EN AMERICA (DEPIEA)
ECUADORIAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES LEGAL SUPPORT OFFICE IN AMERICA

November 29, 2004

Dearest Brothers and Sisters:

The Defensoría de los Pueblos Indígenas del Ecuador en América (DEPIEA), an independent indigenous organization at the “Abya-Yala Continent” The Americas—PROVIDES LEGAL AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY TO THE “HUNGER STRIKE BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ REPRESENTATIVES AT THE UNITED NATIONS!” IN GENEVA— SWITZERLAND.

Elders tell us every day as heavenly voices that we the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and the world must create, protect and defend All Kinds of Rights in Our Pacha Mama Mother Earth. We request legally and humanly to all Nation-States and to the United Nations to comply and honor the International Mandates. In other words, The Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples must be RESPECTED AND ADOPTED immediately without any negligent corrections, changes, amendments or delays.

“We [The Indigenous Peoples of the World] 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.” We will not wait another 80 more years as happened with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. We will not allow another 512 years to the (so called) free and sovereign Nations of the Americas and to other International Institutions to endemically manipulate and prevail on behalf of the Native Peoples. We the “INDIANS” are human beings as YOU are in this Universe. Therefore, we appeal respectfully to the State’s Representatives and UN people to ADOPT promptly—The Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In addition, the United Nations’ obsolete and undemocratic politics and programs must be replanned in order to serve equally and efficiently the world. The imposing and racist beliefs and laws of States as well as from other organizations/federations/movements ought to change now in our civilized societies.

The DEPIEA stands proudly with the Aboriginal Warriors’ “hunger strike and spiritual fast inside the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva”. The Nation-States and other institutions can halt or try to kill us as many times as they desire to, but they will never banish us from this beautiful Mother Earth—except with Mr. Bush’s policies and diabolic wars. We are like The Sun’s Golden Rise traveling infinitely. We are like Waves of the Sea or the Enchanting Rain touching the remorseful hearts. We are like Shining and Enlightened Moon upon the darkness of their paths. We are like an Eternal Melody causing others to happily dance to all kinds of creatures and peoples—The Eagle, The Bear, The Wolf, The Dear, The Quetzal, The Condorl, The Llama, The Amazon, The Mountains, The Trees, The Rivers, The Skies, (…) and alike.

Finally, we remind the world that we shall not disappear as a last night’s dream on the horizon and within the evil intentions’ of some States and UN processes. The Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples must be RESPECTED, ADOPTED AND IMPLEMENTED expeditiously without any dubious hold ups and unlawful processes. Otherwise, the hunger strike and spiritual fast should continue indefinitely at the United Nations. These noble ideas and doings should extend to our communities and countries where YOU live.

Sincerely Yours,

Nicolás Chango
REPRESENTATIVE
DEPIEA
Kichwa-Salasaca of Tawantinsuyu
 

Kia Ora

Formal letter attached, text as below:

2 December, 2004

Tena Koutou Katoa,

Endorsement of Indigenous Peoples¹ Hunger Strike

We are writing in support of the hunger strike actions taken by the
Indigenous Peoples¹ delegates to the Intersessional Working Group on the
United Nations Draft Declaration for the Rights on Indigenous Peoples.

It is crucial that the voices of all Indigenous Peoples be heard through
this draft declaration. By ignoring the codes of consensus decision-making
and not adequately accommodating Indigenous Peoples¹ dissatisfaction with
the Sub Commission text of the Declaration and proposed amendments, the
Chairman¹s report stands to render the Draft Declaration a farce.

We also condemn the reactive, expedient actions of the New Zealand
Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in
tabling proposed amendments to the Declaration during September this year,
without consulting Tangata Whenua. As with the government¹s mishandling of
the Seabed and Foreshore issue, it was yet another example of due process
not being attended to ­ this time under the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi
and human rights principles articulated within the Draft Declaration itself.

In solidarity,
Geraldene Peters
John Minto
Mike Treen

For Global Peace and Justice, Auckland
Aotearoa New Zealand

I am briefly witting to ask that the world's Indigenous rights be honored for the struggle and the unification threw a hunger strike as a non violent way to be recognized and respected with equally. This hunger strike is mainly due to
the undermining of the Draft Declaration developed in the
UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations and adopted by the UN
Sub commission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities in 1994.
there are more and more people every day realizing that or Earths First People needed to be respected and treated as equals rather than sub -human I'm witting a relatively reasonable request that you support there civil rights on this issue. Thank You I write this in the sense of union rather than division Mike Fowler Portland Oregon USA

Manifiesto de los delegados indigenas presentes en Ginebra:
...
Dentro de esta parte del período de sesiones de este grupo de trabajo,
un grupo de hermanas y hermanos indígenas están realizando una huelga de
hambre – ayuno espiritual; a ellos les manifestamos toda nuestra
solidaridad y apoyo.

Diciembre 1, 2004

Estimad@s herman@s,

A nombre de RUANA PRODUCTIONS (La rebeldia cultural), Salasaca-Ecuador, expresamos nuestro completo respaldo y solidaridad a los compañeros que se encuentran en Ginebra, Suiza en el Palacio de las Naciones de la ONU.

Aunque en el momento de la inauguracion de la Tercera Sesion del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indigenas el Secretario General de la ONU, Kofi Annan, señaló que "a pesar de un cambio dramático en la actitud global, los pueblos indígenas todavía sufren de forma desproporcionada la pobreza y las barreras para acceder a la educación básica y los servicios de salud". Podemos darnos cuenta de que sus palabras confirman que es necesario ese cambio de actitud pues los Estados no comprenden que es primordial la adopcion del Proyecto de Declaracion para nuestros pueblos.

Desde la distancia nuestro forma de apoyo es enviando a todas nuestras redes estos comunicados a fin de que la comunidad internacional sepa de este nuevo intento de borrar la existencia de mas de 350 millones de pueblos indigenas en el mundo.

En solidaridad,

RUANA PRODUCTIONS

messieurs,

je soutiens tout le peuple autochtone dans le monde et spécialement ceux
qui ont entamé une grève de la faim et un jeûne spirituel pendant les 2
derniers jours à l'intérieur du palais des Nations à Genève.

je souscris à l'adoption du texte actuel du projet de déclaration des
Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones à la session des
Nations Unies cette semaine.

mon but est de me solidariser avec tous les peuples autochtones dont les
droits ne sont pas respectés dans le monde.

Danielle Tremblay

November 30, 2004

To Whom it May Concern:

This letter is written in strong support of the hunger strike by indigenous peoples’ representatives at the United Nations. This support is given in an individual capacity by myself and my sister, Mary Dann and in the Western Shoshone Defense Project organizational capacity.

For too long, indigenous voices have been ignored, or we have been told that we have to compromise, to be “reasonable”, to come out of the stone ages and assimilate in the civilized world. To us, as indigenous peoples, there is nothing civilized about this modern world where governments lie and steal in the light of day and nobody does anything about it. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Enough is enough. We will not stand down, we will not allow the Truth to remain buried, we will not allow the sacred to continue to be violated. As indigenous peoples, we have an obligation to speak for those that do not have a human voice. Documents such as the Draft Declaration play a very important role in how we fulfill that obligation. We admire and support those representatives participating in the hunger strike. Our prayers are with you. Keep up the good work! We’re all proud of the stand you are taking.

With Deep Appreciation,

Carrie Dann
Executive Director

To Adelard and friends,

We are so proud of the action you are taking for Indigenous Peoples.

Sending you our support and prayers.

Love,

Jimmy, Shirley, Jaclyn, Kayla and Leticia

In the treaty meetings of the last Bush
administration, United Nations representatives were
denied visa entry by such administration to personally
attend the meetings held in prominent Indigenous
locations in the US. I was present at the meetings in
Rapid City and brought elder women to bear witness.
At that time, and many times before and thereafter,
Indigenous peoples here have asked for United Nations
representation to be full and clear and have asked for
an adoption of the United Nations Draft Declaration
for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and proper
seating at the international table. It is eminent
during this continued familail US administration and
the continued lack of diplomacy and recognition of the
nations within this body of land and lands about the
world encompassing tribal peoples. I am in support of
the fast to bring awareness to this and will support
by such myself during this continued time of request
for inclusion as nations.

Allison Hedge Coke

To whom it may concern


We observe with great concern that the Draft Declaration developed in the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations and adopted by the UN Sub Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1994 is weakened and undermined by various Nation States.

We are in full support to the request of the World's Indigenous Peoples, to adopt the original text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The process must take into account the voices of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, therefore Mr. Luis Chavez, the Chairman Rapporteur of the Working Group should not present a “consolidated text” as if it was “close to consensus.”

The hunger strike is a clear statement of the World's Indigenous Peoples desperation- as to how the Draft Declaration is being reversed beyond any possibility with which to give at least "minimum standards" required for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights internationally.

We thank the High Commissioner on Human Rights of the UN, Mrs. Louise Arbourso for arranging the meeting between her representative and the hunger strikers, so that the CHR could be informed of the concerns of the Indigenous Peoples directly.

Kofi Annan's statement on the 3rd Session of the UN PFII, that one of the highest priorities of the UN is "partnership in action" with Indigenous Peoples must be implemented in the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by acknowledging their fundamental needs and
rights to survive as peoples.

We request that the UN system arrange for the hunger strikers to be able to remain in the UN building during the entire week of the session.

Thank you very much for any efforts

Sincerely

Yvonne Bangert, Indigenous Peoples Department, GfbV-Germany

Rebecca Sommer, Representative to the UN, Indigenous Peoples Department, GfbV - USA

PDF (79.2K) with letterhead and signatures etc.

Hello dear friends ,I am in Los Angeles ,Ca. Please give those brave
people
who are fasting to be brave ,we are with them in spirit. I hear they are

fasting. At the U. N. O. I will start up the sweatlodge , we will pray
and
ask the spirits to bless them with unbelievable strength your friend
Buckshot knight

Aloha kakou (greetings all),
I express complete and total support for the people who have taken this
profound action of protest in their hunger strike for Indigenous Rights. And I
express complete and total support 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. This is the text that has the approval of Indigenous Peoples
around the world.

This document should be as strong and emphatic as possible and should not
be watered down or weakened.

I have a horrible feeling that my own country, the United States, is one
of those states which wishes a revised document. That is because this country
has a record of hideous genocide and repression. Please do not give in to any
country's request to weaken this Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples. The international adoption and recognition of these rights is centuries
overdue.

I am not an "indigenous person," but I am a human being standing in full
solidarity with the hunger strikers and the document they support. I urge the
United Nations to pass it, as is, no revisions!
Amy Marsh

Dear Indigenous brothers and Sisters, dear friends,

On behalf of Founadtion for Research and Support of Indigenous Peoples of Crimea we express our solidarity and support of 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


Foundation for Research and Support of Indigenous peoples of Crimea
Nadir Bekir
Niyara Gafarova
Crimea, Ukraine

The Indigenous World Association supports the Hunger Strike of
Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations in Geneva. The Indigenous
World Association is a nongovernmental organization with Consultative
Status in the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Petuuche Gilbert

Solidaridad con los que luchan por los derechos de los pueblos indigenas.

Elena Alvarado,
MSc santé communautaire

Dear friends in hungerstrike,

having witnessed for many years the UN WGIP and the UN Working Group on the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we fully understand and support your step to go into a hungerstrike.

As the UN Decade for Indigenous Peoples is coming to an end, and the ratification of the Declaration has not really developped any further, we stand in solidarity with you and with the indigenous peoples of the world to achieve FULLY the rights outlined in the Draft Declaration.

We want to see a real partnership to develop between indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples on the basis of the FULL recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples outlined in the Draft Declaration.

In case we can support you, we will do so as much as possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact us.

yours

Gunter Wippel
"HUMAN RIGHTS 3000"
Freiburg, Germany

Quisieramos exprimir nuestra firme solidaridad con los delegados
indigenas que estan luchando en Naciones Unidas para la adopcion de la
Declaracion de los Derechos de los Pueblos indigenas. Despues de tantos
años de trabajo, enfin debe adoptarse una declaracion fuerte sin
enmiendas que debilitan el texto original.
Los pueblos indigenas siguen siendo victimas de despojos de tierras, de
toda clase de discriminaciones y de matanzas. Necesitan una proteccion
legal con suma urgencia!

Associacion Cea-CISA, Ginebra-Suiza

Gherush92, Committee against Antisemitism and Racism, Indigenous Organization expresses his own solidarity and support to the hunger strike declared by Indigenous Peoples' delegates, inside the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva for the recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Gherush92 urges on the UN High Commissioner for Human Right, the UN General Secretary, The Italian Prime Minister to make any affort for the final adoption of the current UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Mario Fuà

Gherush92

COBASE, Basic Technical Scientific Organization, Indigenous Organization expresses his unconditional solidarity and support to the hunger strike declared by Indigenous Peoples' delegates for the recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

COBASE urges on the UN High Commissioner for Human Right, the UN General Secretary, The Italian Prime Minister to make any affort for the final adoption of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Massimo Pieri
the president
COBASE

Hi People
Wishing you strength and health on your hunger strike and most of all that your message is heard and will make a difference in the world.

Aroha - from Kathy

On behalf of my Members, I SARINA JAN, (Chairperson, The Indigenous Business Institute Ltd) write this Letter of Support:

“We support the Indigenous Delegates (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) at the United Nations, who are participating in a hunger strike within the sitting of the United Nations.

We support their action in undertaking this hunger strike and call for the UN Commission on Human Rights to stop the UN process and the continued attempts of some states / Countries to weaken and undermine the ‘Draft Declaration’ that was developed in 1994 by the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations and, adopted by the UN Sub-Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

Our Organisation believes this ‘Draft Declaration’ is the minimum standard required for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights throughout the World. We believe that any proposals by any States / Countries to weaken or amend the text of the Draft Declaration is a clear case of discriminatory racism and disrespectful to all Indigenous Peoples of the World.

We agree the Commission on Human Rights must establish a process that does not provide a handful of States or Countries an opportunity to weaken or undermine the human rights of Indigenous Peoples AND that the full consensus and involvement of Indigenous Peoples in the decision making process must be transparent, responsible and culturally respectful in all aspects of development and endorsement.

Our Organisation believes that no one has the right to negotiate, compromise or diminish any aspects of People’s human rights, especially Indigenous Peoples! The United Nations Oracle itself states: ‘that human rights of all Peoples are inherent and inalienable, and must be applied to all Peoples without discrimination’.”

In ending, we request that the Secretariat of this Session immediately inform the Office of the High Commissioner and the High Commissioner herself, on Indigenous Peoples Human Rights and the action that our People are taking. 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 as a testimony to their Duty of Care to Indigenous Peoples of the World.

In Indigenous Solidarity …

SARINA JAN
Chairperson

I wholeheartedly support the U.N. hunger strike by the Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Group, in their effort to bring the world's attention to the need to achieve and sustain the human rights and human dignity of all indigenous peoples of the world!!!
Hal Davis
Oregon, USA

To the Hunger Strikers for Indigenous Rights,

We salute your heroic stand to prevent 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 from being weakened and undermined.

In solidarity,

Vikki John
Bougainville Freedom Movement

Greetings! I am sending my expression of solidarity 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.

Sincerely, Jan Carrie Steven

Mapuche International Link expresses its unqualified support for all those involved in the hunger strike.  Members of our organisation have participated in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations for the last 20 years and we share the disappointment that many years of work by indigenous groups is now being sabotaged by the interests of a handful of states. Indigenous communities around the world continue to be dispossessed of their ancestral land and resources and face discrimination and persecution. We strongly object to any attempt to diminish the human rights and fundamental freedom of indigenous peoples and call for the adoption of the original text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Este correo es en apoyo a la "huelga de hambre por los derechos de los Pueblos
Indígenas , y por la adopción del texto actual del Proyecto de Declaración
de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas a la Sesión
de la ONU durante esta semana.

John Tibble

1st December 2004

To whom it may concern:

Re: Indigenous Peoples’ Delegates Hunger Strike

As an indigenous person of Aotearoa New Zealand living and working in an area which has the highest proportion of indigenous peoples in Aotearoa, I wholeheartedly support the hunger striker and spiritual fast by the Indigenous Peoples’ delegates.

Their action to draw attention to the attempts by some states and the 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, must be commended and acted upon.

You have my unwavering support indigenous people’s delegation.
Kia kaha.

Janette Varley
CAYAD Project Co-ordinator.

A ho our sisters and brothers,

We stand in solidarity with those who have courageously began this
hunger strike which draws attention to the shocking behavior of the US
delegation and their allies regarding their attempts to block the
declaration of the rights of Indigenous Peoples from becoming a
historic document. How is it that a minority group can holt the work of
a Majority.

In Peace

Dennis Banks,
Robby Romero
& Stacey Thunder

Native Children's Survival

The Jaara People from the Kulin Nation, from what is now known as central
Victoria, Australia - send our support and solidarity to all Indigenous
Nations and call for an end to human suffering and the continuing
injustices and genocide perpetuated against Indigenous People all over the
world.

Jaara Nation (aka Victoria, Australia)

A Message of solidarity from The Truth Commission into
Genocide in Canada, to the indigenous brothers and
sisters on hunger strike at the United Nations

November 30, 2004
Unceded Coast Salish Territory ("Vancouver, Canada")

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We welcome your hunger strike today and join with you
in spirit and truth to press for the implementation of
an international covenant to uphold the rights of
indigenous peoples across the world.

Our Commission is working with indigenous groups
across Canada to unearth the remains of more than
100,000 aboriginal children who died or were murdered
in church-run "residential schools" in Canada between
1890 and 1984. We ask your support in this campaign.

We hope to join with other indigenous nations to bring
the full truth of the genocide of Canadian native
people to the United Nations. We are asking the
government of Canada and the Catholic, Anglican and
United churches to answer the charges of Genocide
brought against them by aboriginal survivors of these
schools.

Please consult our websites (below) and help share the
evidence of the hidden holocaust of native people in
Canada.

We look forward to further communication with you,

In solidarity,

The Executive,
The Truth Commission into Genocide in Canada
Rev. Kevin D. Annett, Secretary

To all Tribal Council's, Indigenous People's Organizations, Human Rights and supporter Organizations,

The Indigenous Environmental Network expresses our prayers and solidarity with our heroic Indigenous brothers and sisters that are in a hunger strike and spiritual fast at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. We support their demand that the current text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the 10th UN Session of the Intercessional Working Group to be sent back to the UN Commission on Human Rights for adoption. We are witnessing the well-planned actions of nation-states of the world who feel their sovereign equality, territorial integrity and political independence is threatened by our national and international struggle for self-determination as Indigenous Peoples. The spiritual integrity of Indigenous peoples that gathered each year in Geneva, for the past 22 years, bringing with them heart, voice and ceremony from the sacred alters of Mother Earth must not be compromised. It is not unreasonable in insisting that the declaration draft be adopted as is.

Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network

Indigenous Environmental Network

November 30, 2004

Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Pam Miller, Director
505 W. Northern Lights, Suite 205
Anchorage, AK 99503

To Whom It May Concern:

Alaska Community Action on Toxics is in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. We fully and heartily support the Indigenous hunger strikers in the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva.

We demand that the text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the 10th UN Session of the Intercessional Working Group be sent back to the UN Commission on Human Rights for adoption.

We support the demands of the Indigenous Peoples hunger strikers for establishing the minimum standard required for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights internationally.

Sincerely,


Pamela Miller, Director

 On behalf of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in Australia, I give my strongest support to 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. The NACCHO strongly opposes all attempts to weaken the Draft Declaration in any way.

Yours sincerely

Dr Naomi MAYERS
on behalf of the NACCHO

Apoyamos firmemente la huelga de hambre de los representantes de los Pueblos Indigenas en la ONU. Nosotros queremos expresar nuestra solidaridad con las exigencias y las formas de acción al mismo tiempo queremos manifestar la solidaridad de muchas organizaciones noruegas con las exigencias de representantes de los Pueblos indigenas en huelga. La ONU debe de considerar las exigencias de los pueblos indígenas quienes exigen sus legítimos derechos como pueblos.
 

Hernan Rojas

 The staff at The Shundahai Network office would like to express our support of this action.

Given that we are working very hard to maintain deadlines and daily functions in order to keep the organization active, we will not be able to commit to a full week hunger strike. But we would like to offer our solidarity and support with a 24 hour fast beginning Midnight Dec. 1, 2005 and ending Midnight Dec. 2, 2005.

Thank you for all your efforts and commitments to a better world for all,

Elizabeth Payne
Program Manager
Shundahai Network

Although a member of Amnesty International and Peace Movement Aotearoa I am sending my strong support as a private individual; I wish you all the luck in all your endeavours. KIA KAHA, KIA MAIA, KIA MANAWANUI Frank Rowson

Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights,

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.

Indigenous Peoples have been experienced genocide,
loss of their ancestral lands, and marginalization.

This process also must take into account the voices
of the great numbers of Indigenous Peoples from all
parts of the world.

The United Nations Charter states that human rights
are inherent and inalienable, and must be applied to
all Peoples without discrimination.

I 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 and ensure
theadoption of the current text of the UN Draft
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples to the UN Session during this week.

Sincerely,
Redwood Mary ( Mary Rose Kaczorowski)
Member:
UN CSD NGO International Womens’ Caucus
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Social
Justice Committee

Dear Indigenous Fighters:
On behalf of my readers and contributors would bike to express my solidarity
and support 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.
Indian Voices is a strong advocate and supporter of Indigenous Peoples
and organizations from around the world working for the prevention of
discrimination and protection of minorities.
Please keep us informed on any and all activities connected with this event.
Warm regards,
Rose Davis
Publisher
Indian Voices

Dear Sirs/Madams,

This mail is an expression of solidarity to support the hunger strike for Indigenous Rights that started on the 29th of November 2004 in the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva during the third week and 10th session Intersesional Working Group on the United Nations Draft Declaration for the Rights on Indigenous Peoples.

I cannot accept any changes to the text adopted by UN Subcommission for the prevention of Discrimination and Protection of minorities in 1994. By accepting the draft declaration with the proposed changes, work for more than 20 years are lost and the rights of the Indigenous peoples are once moore diminished.

I am deeply worried and my concern is great and I fear that all the work for the past 20 years in this matter will be lost. I urge decisionsmakers concerned to accept and support the current text and to respect the universal human rights aspect in this matter.

Vänligt/ Friendly/ Saludos cordiales,

Lil.

Lilian Mikaelsson

The Dakota Treaty Council, we the Dakota Oyate, also known as the Great
Sioux Nation, consisting of our Dakota / Nakota / Lakota peoples of
Canada and USA within the continent of North American, which we know as
Turtle Island, stand in solidarity with our Lakota sister, Charmine
White Face, Oglala, Teton Sioux Nation Treaty Council, as well as all
the other Indigenous Peoples participating in the hunger strike at the
United Nations, Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, 2004. In addition, in support of
Indigenous Peoples throughout the world and for the betterment of
mankind, we declare and assert the adoption of the current text of the
UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Respectfully Submitted:

Leo J. Omani, B.Ed; M.Ed.
Dakota Treaty Council

Vienna, 30th. Nov.

As a human rights activist especially working on Indigenous Rights I
fully support the actions of the indigenous representatives.
It is a shame that the members of the UN have not ratified the original
text of the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples till
now, the end of the first UN Decade for Indigenous Peoples.
Therefore it is only legitimate to use any appropriate, non violent
method to attain the worlds attention for this unjust situation the
Indigenous Peoples have to face.

Gawan Maringer, Working Circle for Indians of North America, Austria

Sami Ayriwa

The Sonoma County Leonard Peltier Support Group stand united in solidarity with 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.

-Adam Villagomez

Mary and Carrie Dann and the Western Shoshone Defense Project support
this action -- Please take note of its urgency - support must be
expressed this week.

Queridos hermanos: estamos en solidaridad con Ustedes. Le he escrito a varias organizaciones con las cuales tengo correspondencia pidiendo solidaridad. Confien en Dios y no dejen sus tradiciones. Nos tienen que respetar la diversidad, DErechos Humanos fundamentales. Adelante y que DIOS LOS AYUDE. Estoy en contacto desde ayer, le he enviado varios mensajes al Docip. Nuestros Pueblos merecen respeto de los gobiernos. Nuestros hermanos sufren y esto no lo cuentan. Valor y Confianza queridos hermanos indìgenas del mundo. Un abrazo fraternal. Estoy pidiendo una invitaciòn para viajar mañana y aù no me llega. Quiero hacerles compañìa por favor ayùdennos. ALBA LUCIA CASTAÑEDA VELEZ Y OMAR GARCIA GARCIA. Queremos estar allà con Ustedes el viernes. Envienme la invitaciòn para tramnitar visado. Gracias. Ustedes pueden hacerlo.

Un abrazo fraternal. Adelante y que Dios los Guìe.

ALBA LUCIA CASTAÑEDA VELEZ - PROMOTORA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS EN COLOMBIA- HOJAS DE HIERBA COLOMBIA.

Dear Indigenous
About the hunger strike, we support from Inuit people-
Inuit circumpolar youth council (ICYC).
Inuit youth International (IYI) from Greenland.

Best Regard
Upaluk poppel

The Ihanktonwan Dakota Oyate (Yankton Sioux) Treaty Steering Committee is in full support of the hunger strike undertaken by Indigenous Peoples at the UN. We also send our full endorsement for the adoption of the current text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We also protest the failure of the United Nations and its member states to significantly advance towards adoption of the Declaration in the 10 years since the Working Group was initiated.

Sincerely,

Delegates of the Ihanktonwan Dakota Oyate (Yankton Sioux) Treaty Steering Committee
Ihanktonwan Territory, USA

To the International Working Group on the UN Draft Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:

We hereby express our support for the Indigenous People's hunger strike for Indigenous Rights. We also urge the adoption of the current text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples without any amendment or weakening of the text.

William and Myrna Fox
Morgantown, WV

The Ihanktonwan Dakota Oyate (Yankton Sioux) Treaty Steering Committee is in full support of the hunger strike undertaken by Indigenous Peoples at the UN. We also send our full endorsement for the adoption of the current text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We also protest the failure of the United Nations and its member states to significantly advance towards adoption of the Declaration in the 10 years since the Working Group was initiated.

Sincerely,

Delegates of the Ihanktonwan Dakota Oyate (Yankton Sioux) Treaty Steering Committee
Ihanktonwan Territory, USA

Expresamos nuestra solidaridad con los delegados de Pueblos Indígenas
en Huelga de Hambre en favor de sus derechos.

Carlos Iaquinandi Castro
en representación de:


*SERPAL, Servicio de Prensa Alternativa ( www.serpal.info )
*Centro Latinoamericano de Reus
*Programa radial latinoamericano "Cuando la tierra se hace canto" ( 99.8 fm)
*Revista "El Chasqui"

Ciudad de Reus, Catalunya, España

Animamos animate ¡¡¡

La vida esta en nuestros manos ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
hoy tenemos que decidir para manaña.
Solo asi la justicia tendremos con ganas.
Animes a defender a esta globalizacion con corrazon de
los indigenas no al gusto de los pocos poderozos
economicos.

Estamos con ustedes desde nuestra tierra kichwa del
Alto Napo de la Amazonia Ecuatorianna.

Corra y corre con la bandera de los indigenas hasta
derotar a los ofensores.

Cesar Wuiman Cerda

Kwe:

In memory and in honor of all those North American Indian leaders
such as Roberta BlackGoat, Leon Shenandoah, Jules Sioui, Thomas Banyanca ,
Dorothy Pearly and the many many more men and women who dedicated
their lives to the pursuit of Peace and Justice for us, the
Indigenous
Peoples of North, South and Central America , and in cognizance of
the continued struggle of many indigenous peoples across the world, we
support the call to the U.N. High Commissioner of Human Rights to
assist the Indigenous Hunger Strikers to remain in the UN during the
entire week of the session and have the opportunity to express their
concerns; and we call for the adoption of the UN Draft Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples this week.


William Commanda, Algonquin Elder and Founder, Circle of All Nations
Keeper of three Sacred Wampum Belts -

 Je vous supporte par le jeûne et la priére,

Vieux Buck, porteur de pipe,
Québec, Canada.

Survival International (France) soutient la 'Grève de la faim pour les
Droits des Autochtones' et le projet de Déclaration des Nations Unies sur
les Droits des Peuples Autochtones. Survival condamne les tentatives de
certains Etats d'affaiblir la portée de cette déclaration au mépris de
l'opinion publique internationale qui soutient massivement les droits des
peuples indigènes.

Survival International (France)

¡ANIMO !

Y A VER, SI DE UNA BUENA VEZ, SE OS RECONOCE VUESTROS DERECHOS

La Junta Directiva

p.o.

Jaime Maisonneuve Sauvinet

Dearest Brothers, Sisters and Tribal Leaders and Chiefs,

i write from Kenya in Africa, and as leader of the Bunyala Tribe here in Kenya, i must say i am in full support of what you have decided to do as Indigenous Peoples delegates, to 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.

There was no use in the first place for the UN to have let us go all the way to come up with this important declaration that it now wants to weaken. That is a clear indication that we the Organizations, Networks, Tribes and Nations that have spent time discussing ways of coming up with long lasting solutions to difficulties the Indigenous Peoples still face to date, are still viewed by the most powerful body on earth the UN as non-existant.

What a pity this is a body this powerful not to have equally powerful sight to help it find the direction it should deem right to take before any movement!

"You represent Us out there and do whatever it takes to have them get back thier lost sight towards us" The struggle must continue if we have to archive what we have all along known to be ours but wrongfully being taken a way by force.

United we Stand.

Charles Obare,

Indigenous Buyala Tribe

Depuis le lundi 29 novembre 2004 à 11h, plusieurs
délégués des Peuples Autochtones, ont entamé une grève
de la faim et un jeûne spirituel à l'intérieur du
Palais des Nations à Genève, durant la 3ème semaine de
la 10ème session du Groupe de Travail Intersession sur
le Projet de Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les
Droits des Peuples Autochtones. <br>
ICRA International, organisation de solidarité avec
les Peuples Autochtones soutien ces délégués, et
demande :
- La présentation du projet de Déclaration des droits
des Peuples Autochtones dans son intégralité pour son
adoption par l’assemblée générale de l’ONU,
- Le respect des droits et des souhaits des grévistes
de la faim durant toute la semaine de cette session,
- Le maintien du GTPA

En toute solidarité avec les PA et leurs représentants
Hervé Valentin
Pour ICRA International

We support indigenous peoples in a hunger strike at the United Nations
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.


Citizens' Initiative (Buergerinitiative) Omega, Germany

Letter from Peace Campaign Group supporting the “Hunger Strike by Indigenous
Peoples' Representatives at the United Nations!”

30 November 2004,
New Delhi

Dear indigenous leaders on “hunger strike” at the United Nations in Geneva,

Because of continued colonial policies of some states in indigenous
countries, the Inter-sessional Working Group on the Draft Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been unable to adopt the Draft even after
one decade-long dialogue! Clearly, these states continue to be insensitive
to the problems of indigenous peoples—the problems that have threatened even
the very existence of many indigenous peoples in our planet. Every year,
they come up with the same prejudiced views at the Working Group to block
adoption of the “minimum standard” for protection of indigenous peoples
worldwide and serve their colonial interests in indigenous countries. It has
virtually closed the window of dialogue between indigenous representatives
and state-parties. Under these circumstances, we understand that the
indigenous peoples’ representatives attending the Working Group have been
left no option but the “hunger strike”.

Dear sisters and brothers,

We are far from you while you are on a difficult mission in Geneva. But our
hearts and souls are with you and your action. Please count our full support
to and solidarity with you. We believe your sacrifice will never go in vain.

With indigenous solidarity,


Prajnalankar Bhikkhu

Peace Campaign Group (PCG)

We send greetings and our message of solidarity to the hunger strike for
indigenous peoples rights. We wish that it were not necessary for you to
have to take this action to expose the shameful behaviour of the coloniser
state governments who are trying to dilute the Draft Declaration text to
the point where it becomes essentially meaningless and where it will offer
no protection for indigenous peoples basic human rights. We are a mainly
Pakeha (non-indigenous) national organisation in Aotearoa / New Zealand -
the NZ government is one of those caught in a bizarre nineteenth century
time warp when it comes to the rights of indigenous peoples, and their role
in undermining the Draft Declaration is reprehensible. We have tonight sent
your call for support out to our members and member groups asking them to
add their voices to those supporting you.

Edwina Hughes, for Peace Movement Aotearoa

Hello! My name is Meesa, I am a 19-year-old student at SFU and I am in great
support for the rights of Indidegenous people and admire your diligence and
immense spirit. I am deeply angered by all the injustices that have been
committed against your family's history and to this day. The crimes against
nature, your people and your land are repulsive and condemnable. There are
many people here in BC and around the world that support you. The community
is with you. Keep up your efforts! Meesa

Hello

Please give my heartfelt support to Charmaine White Face in her campaign for the Lakota people.

I met Charmaine this year and she knows that I am in full support of her and her collegues.

Tony Black Feather would be so proud of her, as I am.

Tell her 'Let the Spirit Lead'

Best Wishes

Brenda Aplin- Lakota Aid. UK.

Hello Charmaine

I am so proud of what you are doing for your people. Tony Black Feather would be so proud also . He has a wonderful ally to follow in his footsteps.
I am very honoured to know and met you.

Take care and 'Let the Spirit Lead!!'

Love from
Brenda

Lakota -Aid

MY SUPPORT TO THE INDIGENOUS OF THE WORLD

Por este medio manifiesto mi apoyo absoluto a la "huelga de hambre por los derechos de los Pueblos
Indígenas, y por la adopción del texto actual del Proyecto de Declaración de
las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas a la Sesión de
la ONU durante esta semana.

PROFRA. PATRICIA FERNANDEZ .......AMNISTIA INTERNACIONAL.

KWIA MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FOR THE HUNGER STRIKE BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' REPRESENTATIVES AT THE UNITED NATIONS (PDF 82.2K)

To whom it may concern,

The U’wa Defense Project’s mission is to provide legal, community development, research & advocacy support to the Indigenous U'wa people in Colombia as they work to defend their life, land & cultural autonomy.

Today we express our solidarity with the “hunger strike for Indigenous Rights” and urge you to adopt the current text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the UN Session.

Sincerely,

Ana Maria Murillo

Executive Director

U’wa Defense Project

Vaya toda la energia de nuestros ancestros, newen, y madre tierra, para los hermanos que estan representandonos por nuestra dignidad avasallada, por nuestros derechos negados, por la vigencia de la nueva conquista que nos humilla y amenaza.
Nunca podran terminar con las raices. Jamas borraran las lenguas cercenadas, que de todas formas hablaran en cada trino, en cada cascada, en cada tremolar de alas, por mas que contaminen, vendan y despojen.
Con ustedes, hermanos, los que estamos de pie, aunque ignorados, pero jamas vencidos.
Nuestra mano en vuestro fuerte corazon, segun el saludo charrua. En la unidad esta el todo y el todo esta en la unidad.

Por la Comunidad Charrua del Pueblo del Jaguar
Por la Union de Mujeres del Pueblo Charrua (UMPCHA)
Rosa Albariño
Vocera
Jorge Enrique
Titular
Daniel Dellazuana
Alterno
Consejo y Asamblea

Dear Sirs;
Please support indigenous people's rights.
Do not let language which supports indigenous people's
rights to subsist in age-old ways be bargained away by
industry.
Thank you.
Adeline Kari

Diez años de la Declaración por las Naciones Unidas del Decenio Indígena y todo sigue igual-.
La voluntad existente de debilitar y deshacer el Proyecto de Declaración que fue elaborado por el "Grupo de Trabajo sobre las Poblaciones Indígenas" y aprobado en 1994 por la Subcomisión de las Naciones Unidas de Prevención de la Discriminación y Protección a las Minorías.
¿Que pretenden?
Es hora de entre todos y todas exigir el cumplimiento de los acuerdos y las Declaraciones.
Toda nuestra solidaridad con los compañeros en huelga de hambre

Comitè de Solidaritat amb els Pobles Indígenes d´ Amèrica
Barcelona

As Indigenous people of this only unceded province of Canada, we need a voice. We have suffered from severe human rights abuses. You would think that the United Nations is there for all human beings, irregardless of color. Where in this world are we to go if the United Nations in Geneva, is not really there for us? Even in our own Country of Canada, we have no place to really call our home. There is so many missing/murdered indigenous women in British Columbia alone, that it seems that the United Nations does not care for us, as Indigenous people. My husband and I have been beaten up severly by the authorities for standing up for our indigenous human rights. If the United Nations cannot help us, than where do we go from here. If it was not for our strong faith in the Creator, we would be six feet under ground by now. 

As the Bear Clan of Maxan Lake BC, Canada we support the Indigenous peoples move to stand up for us, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. For without them, we really have nothing, in this world, to protect our very indigenous human rights. We put our full support behind the hunger strikers for Indigenous rights. We also support the adoption of the current text of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the UN session during this week.

Without our voices, we have no rights. Without our supporters we have no voice, at the United Nations. Therefore we fully support the Hunger Strikers.

Helen Michell