ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION, FEBRUARY 5TH

International Indian Treaty Council

CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

	“WORKING FOR THE RIGHTS AND RECOGNITION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES"

ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION

From the 5th to the 9th of February, 2002, the International Indian Treaty Council will hold its 27th Anniversary Conference in Aotearoa (New Zealand), hosted by the Maori organisations and communities of Kirikiriroa and Tauranga Moana.

The theme of the conference will be "Traditional Culture is Our Right". It will be held in Huria Marae (Maori village) in Tuaranga, about 150 kilometres south of Auckland. Participants are asked to arrive by February 4th. They will be accommodated at Kirikiriroa Marae and will enter the hosting marae together in a traditional ceremony the morning of the 5th. February 6th is Maori day, when the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi will be commemorated with special events and ceremonies for Maori hosts and guests.

The International Indian Treaty Council is an organisation of Indigenous Peoples from North, Central, South America and the Pacific working for the sovereignty and Self Determination of Indigenous Peoples and the recognition of Indigenous rights, treaties, traditional cultures and sacred lands. The IITC was founded in Lakota Nation Territory (South Dakota, USA) in 1974 to be an international voice and representation for traditional Indigenous Peoples. The IITC received Non Governmental Organisation Consultative Status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1977. Since that time it has worked to build Indigenous unity around the world, address human rights violations threatening Indigenous Peoples' survival and achieve international recognition for Indigenous rights.

In previous years the IITC has held international conferences in the US, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama and Guatemala. This will be the first time such a conference will take place in Aotearoa. Participants will need to arrange for their own air transportation, but the conference hosts will arrange transportation from the airport in Auckland to the conference site, and provide meals and lodging for conference participants. Traditional Maori protocol will be observed throughout.

Indigenous Peoples from throughout the Americas, the Pacific and around the world, as well as Maori communities from throughout Aotearoa will participate to share our cultures, develop strategies responding to shared concerns and discuss developments affecting of our lives and survival. In addition to cultural rights and protection, issues such as treaty and land rights, environmental justice, sustainable development and Indigenous trade, impacts of economic globalisation, prisoners rights, Native Peoples' health and well being, women, children and youth rights will be addressed. Cultural programs and presentations will run throughout the four days.

An International Indigenous Youth Conference will be held simultaneously. We are looking forward to a very productive, positive and unifying event. For more information, or to find our how you can help, please contact Hinewirangi Kohu, IITC Maori representative and Board Member for Aotearoa at 31 Blackburn St. Hamilton, NZ, or at hinewirangi@amcom.co.nz.. You may also contact IITC at iitcak@ak.net or iitc@igc.apc.org. For information in Spanish please contact IITC in Guatemala, defemaya@guate.net.

Very Cordially, the International Indian Treaty Council Board Members, Staff and Affiliates