JOINT STATEMENT OF THE INDIGENOUS YOUTH AT THE WGIP Agenda Item 4 6/25/2000

International Indian Treaty Council

CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

	“WORKING FOR THE RIGHTS AND RECOGNITION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES"

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE INDIGENOUS YOUTH AT THE WGIP
Agenda Item 4

July 25, 2000

Taking into account that this Working Group on Indigenous Populations, July 24-28, 2000, has as its principle theme, “Indigenous Youth and Children”, and

Understanding that we would like to show our respect and thanksgiving to all the efforts and achievements of our elders which have brought us here.

We, as Indigenous Youth are now determined to continue this work for future generations.

We endorse the recommendations put forth by the Workshop on Indigenous Youth and Children, and the Indigenous Caucus of this Working Group, in particular the recommendation calling for full partcipation of Indigenous Youth at all levels.

We recognize that there are individuals that have maintained their commitment and support for Indigenous Peoples, such as The Chairperson, The Secretary Julian Burger, and many others within the UN. Furhermore, we recognize UN agencies and bodies that have created mechanisms for the inclusion and participation of Indigenous Youth such as the UN Indigenous Fellowship Program,

We also wish to take the opportunity to pay special recognition for the elders and leadership that has brought us this far on our journey for the struggles of Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge their strength, wisdom and expertise that continues to guide us towards the future. We would not be here in this forum without their courage to stand for their rights.

However, inspite of the many achievements for Indigenous Peoples, it is clear from the interventions made that there is still a long way to go for Indigenous Youth. We maintain that our relationship to the land is fundamental for our health, well-being and survival. We still suffer from racism and discrimination, systematic and internal oppression,extreme poverty, suicide, sexual exploitation, loss of culture, language and identity. We are witnessing the depression of our colleagues, the disintergration of our rights, the passing away of our elders and in this context it is difficult to cultivate hope.

We recongnize the common issues that effect us as Indigenous Peoples globally and ackowledge the work of existing Indigenous Youth in developing youth led movements, organizations, communications and working alliances in this spirit of solidariy.

Therefore we, as Indigenous Youth participants of the 18th Session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, have joined our voices in to state these recommendations:

1. To broaden the criteria for the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples and other funding agencies to take into account Indigenous youth participation. We recommend this be done in addition to and not at the expense of other participants. We further recommend that the Nation-states support the Voluntary Fund in this way.

2. We urge UN agencies, governments, and NGO's to ensure the support for Indigenous Youth participation through financial and technical assistance for the UN activities held at the regional and international levels.

3. We call for the support of existing Indigenous Youth-led Networks and Organizations such as World Indigenous Youth Confrence.

4. We call upon the Nation-States that have not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child to do so without futher delay and strongly urge the applciation and monitoring by governments and agencies, in particular under Articles 17, 24, 30, and support for the Braga Youth Action Plan.

5. We call upon the adoption of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in its current text without further delay.

6. We call upon the implementation of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues with the full partcipation of Indigenous Peoples at all levels of development and implementation.