By TESINA JACKSON
Reporter

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – In 2007, the United States was one of four countries that voted against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which recognizes the rights of indigenous groups, like Native Americans, in areas such as culture, property and self-determination. 

However, on Dec. 16 the Obama administration reversed the country’s position regarding the document and became the last of the four holdouts to sign the declaration and recognize indigenous peoples’ right to exist. The other countries that voted against the measure in 2007 but eventually reversed their course were Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Melanie Knight, Cherokee Nation secretary of state, said the United State’s endorsement of the declaration affirms its commitment to indigenous peoples’ right to continued existence as distinct self-governing peoples.

“It has been our position that the indigenous peoples of America, as communities and nations of historical continuity that pre-date the United States, bear numerous inherent and inalienable rights that are closely related to the ultimate human right of Indigenous peoples…,” she said.

Knight said the adoption of the declaration is not legally binding upon the United States, but it “does indicate this administration’s commitment to advancing our issues and supporting our rights to be self-governing.”

“The declaration, along with the President’s Executive Order on Consultation and other directives, provide a framework to the federal bureaucracy to refer to in its dealings with Native peoples and tribal governments,” she added. “I believe that with President Obama communicating these directives, regularly and consistently to his bureaus and agencies, it will result in positive, tangible improvements in our government-to-government relationship.”

The declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues. It emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue development in keeping with their needs and aspirations. 

It also prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them and their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own visions of economic and social development. 

“Without respect for the right of ‘full and effective participation’ of Indian nations in decisions affecting them, other rights can be ignored such as our right to continue to exist as a distinct nation, our right to our own culture and most importantly, our right of self-determination, including our right to self-government and to determine our own citizens,” Knight said. “These are rights we hold dear and defend vehemently. We are pleased to see the United States formally endorse these principles in this forum.”

tesina-jackson@cherokee.org • (918) 453-5000, ext. 6139