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5.1

RECOGNIZING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' HUMAN RIGHTS

The world’s indigenous peoples have a serious human rights problem: The nations of the world refuse to recognize that indigenous peoples have human rights.

ll countries are ready to recognize that individual indigenous persons have rights. Those rights are the same as the rights of all human beings, and are now well secured by international human rights law and by the laws of many countries. The problems arise when indigenous peoples claim rights as “peoples.” As indigenous advocates frequently point out, the whole debate is over the letter “s.”

A Brief History of the Declaration

1923 – Haudenosaunee Chief Deskaheh travels to the League of Nations to defend the rights of his people to live under their own laws, on their own land and under their own faith. He was not allowed to speak, but his vision nourishes the generations that follow.

1982 – The United Nations Economic and Social Council’s Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights establishes a Working Group on Indigenous Populations to report on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples.

Reasons Why the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as Adopted by the Human Rights Council, Should be Adopted by th

1. The Declaration is based on core international principles and values. The Declaration is based on core international principles and values that embrace tolerance, peace, and respect for the dignity of all cultures and peoples. In particular, the Declaration is described as a "standard of achievement to be pursued in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect."

2. The human rights of all must be respected. Human rights are generally relative in nature and not absolute. Consistent with the U.N.

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