- U.S. News
- World News
- Latin America
- Middle East
- First Nations
- From Our Files
- Classic Essays
- Vintage Mencken
- Vintage Mercury
- Social Science
Earth Day: The Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Published by Philip St. Raymond on April 22, 2010
ON THIS Earth Day, the Mercury believes it is appropriate to consider the words of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples — a group which supports Amerindian and aboriginal rights around the world.
And we should look at their wise words in a new light — perhaps a light that the World Council itself has not considered: all peoples — including Palestinians, Europeans, Africans, Indians, and all others — are indigenous peoples, and preserving each unique genetic and cultural heritage must be a sacred duty to all who care about the Earth.
We should consider adding to the Declaration the goal that nation-states must exist only to serve the self-determination of each people — with the goal of abolishing multinational empires. Globalization must not be allowed to reduce us all to the “equal” status of homogenized “workers,” slaves and peons on a global plantation. We are more than that, and our children deserve better.
World Council of Indigenous Peoples
Declaration of Principles
1. All human rights of indigenous people must be respected. No form of discrimination against indigenous people shall be allowed.
2. All indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of this right they can freely determine their political, economic, social, religious and cultural development, in agreement with the principles stated in this declaration.
3. Every nation-state within which indigenous peoples live shall recognize the population, territory and institutions belonging to said peoples.
4. The culture of indigenous peoples are part of mankind’s cultural patrimony.
5. The customs and usages of the indigenous peoples must be respected by the nation-states and recognized as a legitimate source of rights.
6. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine which person(s) or group(s) is (are) included in its population.
7. All indigenous peoples have the right to determine the form, structure and jurisdiction of their own institutions.
8. The institutions of indigenous peoples, like those of a nation-state, must conform to internationally recognized human rights, both individual and collective.
9. Indigenous peoples, and their individual members, have the right to participate in the political life of the nation-state in which they are located.
10. Indigenous peoples have inalienable rights over their traditional lands and resources. All lands and resources which have been usurped, or taken away without the free and knowledgeable consent of Indian peoples, shall be restored to them.
11. The rights of the indigenous peoples to their lands includes the soil, the subsoil, coastal economic zones all within the limits specified by international legislation.
12. All indigenous peoples have the right to freely use their natural wealth and resources in order to satisfy their needs, and, in agreement with principles 10 and 11 above.
13. No action or process shall be implemented which directly and/or indirectly would result in the destruction of land, air, water, glaciers, animal life, environment or natural resources, without the free and well informed consent of the affected indigenous peoples.
14. indigenous peoples will re-assume original rights over their material culture, including archeological zones, artifacts, designs and other artistic expressions.
15. All indigenous peoples have the right to be educated in their own language and to establish their own education institutions. Indian people’s languages shall be respected by nation-states in all dealings between them on the basis of equality and non-discrimination.
16. All treaties reached through agreement between indigenous peoples and representatives of the nation-states will have total validity before national and international law.
17. Indigenous peoples have the right, by virtue of their traditions, to freely travel across international boundaries, to conduct traditional activities and maintain family links.
18. Indigenous peoples and their designated authorities have the right to be consulted and to authorize the implementation of technological and scientific research conducted within their territories and the right to be informed about the results of such activities.
19. The aforementioned principles constitute the minimal rights to which indigenous peoples are entitled and must be complemented by all nation-states.
US News »
April 26, 2013
by Keith Johnson WAS SLAIN Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamarlin Tsarnaev (pictured) coerced, blackmailed or manipulated by Mossad agents posing as FBI agents? Mark Glenn and the crew over at The Ugly Truth have produced a series of radio broadcasts making a compelling argument that he was: TUT Broadcast April 20, 2013 The Victory Hour [...]
January 3, 2013
by T.R. Bennington AS EVER, BUT ESPECIALLY in our present state of civilizational malaise, there is a need for figures with the power to inspire — men who in less confused and cynical times would have been unabashedly described as heroic. One such figure is Corporal John Alan Coey, a young soldier who has perhaps [...]
May 8, 2011
Of Jonathan Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis, and Historical Narratives by A. Helian JONATHAN HAIDT IS ONE OF THE MOST coherent thinkers in the social sciences today. A Professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, he specializes in the study of morality and emotion, and how they vary across cultures. He describes himself as an [...]
Login / Register / RSS
April 26, 2013
by Jim Powell DURING THE FIRST HALF of the twentieth century, H.L. Mencken (pictured) was the most outspoken defender of liberty in America. He spent thousands of dollars challenging restrictions on freedom of the press. He boldly denounced President Woodrow Wilson for whipping up patriotic fervor to enter World War I, which cost his job as [...]
December 11, 2011
by David Chambers WHITTAKER CHAMBERS died 50 years ago at the age of 60. Much in the world has changed since then. What might he think about world affairs today, were he still alive? Before commenting, he would catch up on history with books like Tony Judt‘s Postwar. Another would be Timothy Snyder‘s Bloodlands, which [...]
Arts, Film, Literature »
May 6, 2012
Selected Writings of Pauline Kael; Library of America, 2011 Pauline Kael: Alone in the Dark; Brian Kellow, Viking Adult, 2011 by Ron Capshaw FOR CONSERVATIVES, PAULINE KAEL IS notorious for her much-quoted comment about her astonishment that Nixon won the 1972 election since “everyone I know voted for McGovern.” Despite this prime example of the liberal [...]