TEACHING THE VALUES OF PEACE WILL BE ON VACATION
Indian Country Blog- 'TEACHING THE VALUES OF PEACE' will be on vacation from June 21 to July 18, 2010.
We have been working hard to cover all local and regional stories in Indian Country.
So now it's time to have a little fun!
Wado and A-ho!
Mike Raccoon Eyes Kinney- Editor
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Site for Public Comment on UN Delaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
Site for public comment on UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
WASHINGTON – Following up on the administration’s promise to review its position on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the State Department has created a new Web site to receive public input on the issue.
State Department’s Office of the Spokesman issued a press release June 4 announcing the new Web site outreach. The press release referred to an announcement by U.S. Permanent Representative Susan E. Rice of the federal government’s intention to review its position on the Declaration during the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York in April.
UNDRIP was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly Sept. 13, 2007, in a historic vote by an overwhelming majority of 143 states in favor to four against, with 11 abstentions. Canada, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand – all countries whose sizeable indigenous populations can claim large areas of land – were the only four states that voted no.
Since then, the Canadian Parliament – not the federal government – passed a resolution in April 2008, endorsing the Declaration, the Australian government adopted the Declaration in April 2009, and New Zealand announced its support for the indigenous human rights document on April 19 – the opening day of the Ninth Session of the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Rice, accompanied by a 20-member U.S. delegation, attended the forum the day after New Zealand’s announcement and promised the review in a speech.
“I am pleased to announce that the United States has decided to review our position regarding the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” Rice said.
“We recognize that, for many around the world, this Declaration provides a framework for addressing indigenous issues. During President Obama’s first year in office, tribal leaders encouraged the United States to re-examine its position on the Declaration – an important recommendation that directly complements our commitment to work together with the international community on the many challenges that indigenous peoples face.”
The State Department press release says that as part of the U.S. government’s review, the department, along with other federal agencies, “will be hosting consultations with federally recognized tribes and dialogues with interested NGOs and other stakeholders” as part of the government’s re-examination of the Declaration.
It is not clear if the State Department has completed a formal tribal consultation plan, as required by President Obama’s memorandum to department and agency heads during the first White House Tribal Leaders Summit last November. According to the memorandum, departments and agencies were to complete the formal consultation plans within 90 days.
The State Department will post consultation and meeting schedules online at www.state.gov/s/tribalconsultation/declaration/index.htm.
Tribal leaders, non-governmental organizations and others who may not be able to attend consultation meetings are encouraged to participate in the review by e-mailing comments to Declaration@state.gov, or by submitting comments via mail to the Department of State at: S/SR Global Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street N.W., Suite 1317, Washington, D.C. 20520.
“Written comments are requested by July 15, 2010 to ensure that they can be given due consideration in the review,” the department said.
WASHINGTON – Following up on the administration’s promise to review its position on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the State Department has created a new Web site to receive public input on the issue.
State Department’s Office of the Spokesman issued a press release June 4 announcing the new Web site outreach. The press release referred to an announcement by U.S. Permanent Representative Susan E. Rice of the federal government’s intention to review its position on the Declaration during the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York in April.
UNDRIP was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly Sept. 13, 2007, in a historic vote by an overwhelming majority of 143 states in favor to four against, with 11 abstentions. Canada, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand – all countries whose sizeable indigenous populations can claim large areas of land – were the only four states that voted no.
Since then, the Canadian Parliament – not the federal government – passed a resolution in April 2008, endorsing the Declaration, the Australian government adopted the Declaration in April 2009, and New Zealand announced its support for the indigenous human rights document on April 19 – the opening day of the Ninth Session of the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Rice, accompanied by a 20-member U.S. delegation, attended the forum the day after New Zealand’s announcement and promised the review in a speech.
“I am pleased to announce that the United States has decided to review our position regarding the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” Rice said.
“We recognize that, for many around the world, this Declaration provides a framework for addressing indigenous issues. During President Obama’s first year in office, tribal leaders encouraged the United States to re-examine its position on the Declaration – an important recommendation that directly complements our commitment to work together with the international community on the many challenges that indigenous peoples face.”
The State Department press release says that as part of the U.S. government’s review, the department, along with other federal agencies, “will be hosting consultations with federally recognized tribes and dialogues with interested NGOs and other stakeholders” as part of the government’s re-examination of the Declaration.
It is not clear if the State Department has completed a formal tribal consultation plan, as required by President Obama’s memorandum to department and agency heads during the first White House Tribal Leaders Summit last November. According to the memorandum, departments and agencies were to complete the formal consultation plans within 90 days.
The State Department will post consultation and meeting schedules online at www.state.gov/s/tribalconsultation/declaration/index.htm.
Tribal leaders, non-governmental organizations and others who may not be able to attend consultation meetings are encouraged to participate in the review by e-mailing comments to Declaration@state.gov, or by submitting comments via mail to the Department of State at: S/SR Global Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street N.W., Suite 1317, Washington, D.C. 20520.
“Written comments are requested by July 15, 2010 to ensure that they can be given due consideration in the review,” the department said.
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