25th ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL INDIAN TREATY CONFERENCE
IN LAKOTA NATION TERRITORY
From June 23-26, 1999 over 800 Indigenous delegates from around the world gathered at the 25th Anniversary International Indian Treaty Council Conference, held at the Rosebud Tribes' Educational, Cultural and Spiritual Center at Mato Paha (Bear Butte), a sacred traditional area in the Paha Sapa (Black Hills), South Dakota.
Representatives from Indigenous communities, organizations and Nations from throughout Lakota Nation Territory and the U.S., as well as Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Brazil, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Hawaii and Australia gathered to share grassroots and international information impacting their communities.
The Conference focused on information-sharing as well as building and strengthening strategies for confronting critical issues facing Indigenous Peoples and lands. Youth workshops and programs as well as evening cultural presentations were also on the agenda.
The presence and participation of many spiritual leaders and traditional elders at the conference was noted and appreciated many times during the four days by the IITC organizers. The conference begin a with a traditional sunrise ceremony to light a sacred fire which burned the entire four days. The program ended with another ceremony at the fire to conclude the conference and to send the words spoken and decisions made during at the conference forward during the year to come. An international Pow Wow, celebration and giveaway followed.
As a part of the commemoration of the Battle of the Little Big Horn Victory on June 25th, the descendants of the battle survivors were called up to be honored and all conference participants shook their hands. A forum followed focusing on the return of the Black Hills to the Lakota Nation.
In honor of the host Nation and site, and in response to ongoing international developments, treaty rights and violations were a primary focus at the Conference including a review of final report of the United Nations Treaty Study. According to Conference Coordinating Committee member Stacey Scares Hawk, Oglala, and an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe, "It is important for grassroots and traditional peoples to hear what is going on at the international level, especially how it concerns our treaties. The treaties belong at the international level, how they have been violated and how this can be rectified."
Other members of the Conference Coordinating Committee included the host site managers Fern Bordeaux and Michael Botlz, members of the Hunkpapa Lakota Red Robe Women's Society and Hunkpapa Treaty Council, the Wanblee Wakpeh Oyate, Sinte Gleska University Treaty Law Society, and representatives of the IITC Board and staff.
During the conference Indigenous speakers from many regions made plenary presentations on Treaty rights, Freedom of Religion and Protection of Sacred Sites, International work of Indigenous Peoples, and Environmental Protection and Biological Diversity.
Conference participants also met in 12 Commissions over three days to develop resolutions and action plans on a variety of critical issues facing Indigenous Peoples. Commissions focused on Treaties and land demarcation; political prisoners, including Leonard Peltier; rights of children; environmental protection; cultural rights and safeguarding of traditional knowledge; border issues and the impacts of immigration laws; international developments including the United Nations Draft Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; protection of sacred sites; sustainable development and Indian to Indian trade; youth organizing; and Traditional government and de-colonization.
IITC Board President Bill Means, Oglala, who moderated the Commission on Treaty Rights, noted "for the first time in 20 years every Treaty organization throughout the Lakota Nation Territory was present and took part in discussions together about how to uphold our Treaty Rights as a Nation". Bill attributed this show of unity to the spiritual power of Bear Butte as well as the unshakable shared conviction, upheld by all of the Lakota Treaty People, that the "the Black Hills are not for sale".
Resolutions from the Commissions were presented for discussion and approval by consensus at a General Assembly on the final day of the conference. The 14 resolutions adopted by consensus during the General Assembly will, according to IITC Executive Director Andrea Carmen, Yaqui, "will provide guidance and direction to the IITC as we continue our work in defense of Indigenous Peoples' rights and survival in coming year. The ongoing process of sharing information and creating bonds of solidarity and friendship among Indigenous struggles around the world, which took place during these four days at Bear Butte, is vital to the success of this work".
The final General Assembly session, which opened with words of encouragement by Oglala Lakota traditional elder Marie Randall of the Grey Eagle Society and continued with the presentations of resolutions by each of the Commissions, was broadcast live on KILI Radio. IITC wishes to express its appreciation to KILI for their assistance in making this important session accessible to a wide audience throughout the Lakota Nation. The text of the final resolutions will be available from the IITC later this summer.
The IITC wishes to thank the Lakota Nation, the site caretakers, and the many volunteers who helped out during the conference. The IITC also expresses its sincere thanks to the individual supporters and foundations whose contributions and financial assistance made the conference possible.
The Conference participants agreed that the year 2000 International Indian Treaty Conference will be held in Guatemala, where IITC has a Human Rights Office and several affiliated Indian organizations.
