On January 19 – 30, 2015, the 21st session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) took place and included the review of Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Guyana by the UN Human Rights Council. Several areas related to Indigenous Peoples were addressed.
Over the past few weeks, Guatemala has witnessed some of the worst violence against journalists in recent times. Election years are the most dangerous times for journalists in Guatemala, regardless of their political leanings. So far in 2015, three journalists have been killed, many have received threats and been assaulted, and over 10 Indigenous community leaders have been jailed.
The Maya people of Toledo are scheduled for a hearing to reaffirm their land rights case at the regional Caribbean Court of Justice in April of 2015, after almost a decade of back and forth in the national courts in Belize. Their claim to the land has been upheld twice in the Supreme Court, once in 2009 and again in 2013. The government of Belize continues to assert that the land title the Maya hold should not be considered Native or Indigenous land title, but merely based
Douglas Limón (Oneida) is an artist in White Bear Lake, Minnesota who is well known for his beadwork, however, he was drawn to cradleboard construction by the birth of his youngest son Gavino. Unfortunately, he found few people who could help him. Eventually, he was able to learn from Judy Pamp while they were attending an arts festival in Saginaw, Michigan. He was able to successfully construct a cradleboard for his son and has since continued to construct cradleboards.
On March 19, 2015, members of Radio Snuq Jolom Konob, alongside ancestral leaders, community elders, and various human rights organizations, took to the streets demanding that the town’s mayor re-open the radio premises in Santa Eulalia, Guatemala. Supporters and radio members gathered in front of the municipal building demanding to speak with the mayor to resolve this issues.
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of those interviewed
By Asia Alsgaard
On February 26th, 2015, three community leaders who oppose the building of a hydroelectric dam in Santa Cruz Barillas, Guatemala, were arrested under what community members insist are false charges.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are headquartered on Massachusett land, in Cambridge, MA, and we thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory.
