7 September 2009

In London, representatives of Cree first nations and environmentalists protested against the ongoing exploitation of tar oil sands in Canada. ‘Blame Canada, blame Canada – it seems like everything's gone wrong since the tar sands came along," several hundred South Park -inspired protesters sang outside the Canadian Embassy. “Blame Canada, blame Canada, they're not really a green country any more."

Barely a day after the news that China's national petroleum company has invested $1.9-billion in the mammoth Athabasca oil sands, the demonstrators spent a tumultuous hour outside the embassy, handing out flyers calling on Canada to “respect aboriginal and treaty rights" by shutting the entire project down. The giant banners they carried declared: “Tar sands=dirtiest oil on earth" and “Tar sands oil is blood oil."

 The Guardian:  "Cree aboriginal group to join London climate camp protest over tar sands"
 BP’s “Bloody Petroleum” targeted in protest by indigenous activists and Climate Camp (Press release, Oil Sands Truth)

 The Globe and Mail: "Not really a green country anymore"

Climate change changing the seasons for Native Alaskans

17 July 2009

The 18th Riddu Riđđu Festival is held this week in Kaafjord, in Northern Norway. The Riddu Riđđu is an international festival for indigenous peoples from across the globe. This year's special guests: Canada's Nisga People. The festival is featuring an extensive program with around 200 artists and 3,000 visitors representing different indigenous and other peoples from across the globe.

 read more (The Norway Post)

25 June 2009

In a report posted on the APN.ru portal, Siberian analyst Dmitry Verkhoturov describes how RusHydro, which seeks to build a hydroelectric dam that will flood a major portion of the traditional lands of the Evenks, has launched a three-pronged campaign against that projects increasingly numerous opponents

  Read more (eesti.ca)

“We woke up with new hope in our hearts” said the new Prime Minister of Greenland, Kuupik Kleist, in his speech on 21st June, the day self-government became a reality in Greenland. “It is as if we woke up to a country covered in new snow and we make the first foot prints in it…”

In a referendum in November 2008, Greenlanders voted overwhelmingly for self-government. This allows Greenland, among other issues, to take over responsibility for areas such as criminal justice and oil exploration. Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) becomes the official language of Greenland and Greenlanders are recognised under international law as separate people from Danes. The agreement furthermore allows Greenlandic people to decide whether they will seek independence and when it should be done, if ever.

IWGIA wishes Greenland and its new government all the best for the future and the implementation of self-government.

 Siku News
 The Greenland-Danish Self-Government Commission’s Report on Self-Government in Greenland
 Draft Act on Greenland Self-Government
 Greenland Self-Government Referendum 2008
 From remote island to Self-Government - Greenland’s journey towards independence

9 June 2009

Indigenous Peoples and representative organizations are deeply disappointed by the Government of Canada’s response to an important review of Canada’s human rights record being carried out by the United Nations Human Rights Council. As part of the new Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, UN member states made a wide range of recommendations to Canada in February. Canada’s response, which was publicly released on June 5th, is to be delivered in Geneva today. “As a member and early supporter of the UN Human Rights Council, one would have expected that Canada would have made every effort to make sure its own engagement with the Universal Periodic Review process sets a positive example for other states,” says Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Wilton Littlechild, “Instead, Canada has done its best to avoid making any real commitment for improving human rights on the ground.”

 Read more

5 June 2009

At issue is the arming of Canadian Border Service Agency officers with 9 mm handguns, a policy which was to take effect June 1. Residents of the island, which Mohawks call Kahwehnoke, established a protest site last month near the Canadian customs building and planted signs and nation flags along the road appealing to motorists to “Honk for no guns.” In the last hours of May, the gathering swelled to more than 300 as a small group of CBSA agents voluntarily departed the building minutes before midnight, citing safety concerns.

 Read more (indiancountrytoday.com)

3 June 2009

Clash of cultures: The conflict between conservation and indigenous people in wild landscapes. Conservationists have often seen native people as a problem to be solved by eviction. Now both sides are learning mutual respect. These two forces share a goal that is vital to life on earth - a healthy and diverse biosphere. Both are communities of integrity led by some of the most admirable, dedicated people alive. Both care deeply for the planet and together are capable of preserving more biodiversity than any other two groups on it. Yet they have been terribly at odds with one another over the past century or more, violently so at times, mostly because of conflicting views of nature, radically different definitions of "wilderness" and profound misunderstandings of one another's science and culture.

 Read more (guardian.co.uk)

1 June 2009

The Coast Salish – U.S. Geological Survey Tribal Journey Water Quality Project was recently recognized with the Department of the Interior’s Partners in Conservation Award for their studies to help restore nearshore marine habitats and ecosystem functions across the Salish Sea. “The Salish Sea ecosystem sustains our indigenous life way as people of the salmon and shoreline,” said Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby. “We say in our lands, when the tide is out, the table is set. Our way of life depends upon a healthy ecosystem that stretches from the mountains to the tidelands. Through the partnerships and project, we have a stronger science and policy capacity to protect the human health of our people, our culture, and aboriginal and treaty rights of our nations.”

 Read more (indiancountrytoday.com)

21 May 2009

Though it’s still far from being signed into law, B.C.’s Recognition and Reconciliation Act is already seeing opposition rise from both non-native and native groups. The latest salvo comes from the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, which earlier this week issued a press release stating its opposition to the act. It’s taking the position that the B.C. government does not have true authority over these issues and that the draft legislation violates the Canadian Constitution. “The proposed Recognition and Reconciliation Act will only create the impression that the rights and title of the indigenous people of British Columbia are being recognized, but we will inevitably be pushed into non-existence by its principles,” said Chief Wayne Christian, spokesman for the SNTC. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, disagrees, saying that the act holds the promise of finally coming to terms with recognizing aboriginal title and beginning the process of reconciling the conflict between that and Crown claims.

 Read more (bclocalnews.com)

April 2009

Issues of sovereignty and sovereign rights in the Arctic have become inextricably linked to issues of self-determination in the Arctic. Inuit and Arctic states must, therefore, work together closely and constructively to chart the future of the Arctic. "A Circumpolar Inuit Declaration on Sovereignty in the Arctic" was adopted by Inuit Circumpolar Council and is an important step in that direction.

  Read the declaration (itk.ca)

Alaska: Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change

22 - 24 April 2009

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - Around 200 indigenous representatives from the whole world were gathered in Anchorage, Alaska, from April 20-24 to discuss the impacts of climate change on their communities, and to agree on a common agenda for the 2009 negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Prior to the Global Summit, regional Summits had taken place in Asia, Africa and Latinamerica, and the reports of these meetings were presented along with reports form other regions during the Summit’s first days. The statements on how the effects of climate change are undermining indigenous livelihoods, cultures, and social systems in all corners of the world, were very powerful. On the Second and Third days Working Groups discussed the substance of engagement with the negotiation process under the UNFCCC. All this resulted in the Anchorage Declaration, which outlines indigenous peoples’ joint position on key issues that are currently negotiated under the Convention, including emission reduction, fossil fuel development, forest conservation under the so-called REDD-initiatives, alternative energy production, food security, etc. The Anchorage Declaration also outlines demands for establishment of formal structures and mechanisms under the Convention to ensure full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in the negotiations.  On the last day, the outcome of the meeting was handed over to UN General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, who promised to bring the messages from the summit to the UN General Assembly.

 Anchorage Declaration (pdf)
 Report from Africa Summit (doc)
 Nakuru declaration from African Summit (doc)
 Read more (juneauempire.com)
 Read more (adn.com)

29 March - 3 April.

The reindeer herders of the World are continuously facing new challenges. The biggest challenge is protection against losing pastures due to the development of roads, infrastructure, military activities, power lines, pipelines, dams, leisure, homes and related activities. A study carried out by Ingunn Ims Vistnes from the NORUT Alta research centre shows that the impact of infrastructure development and human activity creates a lot of stress for reindeer. It changes the behaviour pattern of the reindeer and they stay 3-5 kilometres away from such areas. This means reindeers are very vulnerable to impact on their pastureland.

  Read more (pdf)

1st April 2009

"Canada doesn't take Indigenous peoples' rights seriously and has demonstrated no respect for their reliance on their traditional lands. Canada would not sign the United Nations International Declaration on Indigenous Peoples' Rights and now Canada won't push companies doing business abroad to ensure they don't run roughshod over people and their environments," said Lorraine Rekmans, Aboriginal Affairs Critic, Green Party of Canada.

  Read more from press release (pdf)

Suzanne Jasper, director of First Peoples Human Rights Coalition, says the article repeats quotes from a Canadian MP which are misleading and untrue. She criticizes the article in the following way: "It is extremely disappointing that the same false claims made even before the adoption of the "UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" continue to be repeated publicly [..]".

  Read more (pdf)

12th February 2009

Less than one hour away from the tourist attractions and expensive resorts of Tofino is B.C.'s version of a Third World ghetto, where crumbling homes flank muddy, dirt roads and several generations pack in under one roof because of the shortage of habitable housing. Ahousaht is an extreme example of the housing misery that plagues many First Nations reserves across Canada.

   Read more