March 15, 2005   Honorable Ambassador Makarim Wibisono President, 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights cc: Ambassador Mr. Gordan Markotic, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations Office, Geneva, Vice President, 60th Session, UN Commission on Human Rights Ms. Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Dzidek Kedzia, Representative, Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Geneva Members of the Commission, Warm and Respectful Greetings, We are writing this letter to first of all thank you for making time to meet with a delegation of Indigenous Peoples at the beginning of the 61st session of the UN Commission for Human Rights as a follow up on to the very productive conversations which took place in Geneva with Ambassador Markotic, Mr. Kedzia and other UN Officials the week of November 29 - December 3, 2004 during the 10th session of the Intersessional Working Group on the UN Draft Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The understanding and trust we built, and their willingness to hear and understand our deep concerns about the current process at the Working Group was very much appreciated. We also thank Ambassador Markotic for his report of December 1, 2004, which we understand was circulated to the Regional Coordinators of the Commission. We feel that this report is very fair and balanced. It reflects a considerable depth of understanding regarding the concerns and thoughts that we expressed to him, on behalf of our Peoples, organizations and communities as well as many other Indigenous Peoples concerned with this process and its outcomes. At that time we reiterated our support for the adoption of the current text of the Declaration as passed by the UN Subcommission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1994, which represents the minimum standard required to uphold, defend and protect the rights and dignity of Indigenous Peoples. We called for this text to be considered by this session of the UN Commission on Human Rights with the understanding that in 10 years, no proposal to weaken or amend the text has achieved consensus in the Working Group, which includes both States and Indigenous Peoples. Since that time we have undertaken considerable discussion and assessment of the outcomes of the last session and our discussions with Ambassador Martovic and the other UN officials. We have discussed ways to address the serious problems in the Intersessional Working Group, including the lack of opportunity for broad input by grassroots Indigenous Peoples of the world. Furthermore, the process that has been implemented encourages openly discriminatory proposals for changes by States which weaken the Declaration, but does not allow us to defend the position of the vast majority of Indigenous Peoples of the world calling for adoption of the text approved by the Subcommission. We have also seriously considered the option which Ambassador Martovic explained to us regarding the typical UN procedure when Standard Setting Working Groups have failed to demonstrate significant progress over several years. This involves taking a recess or break in the process for one to three years Based on these considerations, we have concluded that the best response at this time is for us to support the CHR in calling for a pause or recess in this process in order to take effective steps that would make the chances of success much greater. This recess will provide the Commission on Human Rights, beginning at this session, with the opportunity to establish, in full consultation with Indigenous Peoples, a new process which would include effective and viable mechanisms for the voices of the great numbers of Indigenous Peoples from around the world that are affected by these discussions to be heard. We will be glad to offer our suggestions towards this end as a continuation of the discussions on this issue which we began in December. We base our conclusion on the following: 1) We feel strongly that the process which has developed over the last few years in the Intersessional Working Group is not in the best interests of Indigenous Peoples, as it provides a few States with the opportunity to weaken and undermine the Draft Declaration developed in the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations and adopted by the UN Subcommission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1994 with participation by States, UN experts and Indigenous Peoples. 2) The Sub Commission text has been endorsed and supported by hundreds of Indigenous Peoples and organizations around the world as the minimum standard required for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights internationally. No proposals to change the text has been accepted by the consensus of the Working Group, so the Subcommission text still stands as the only and most recent consensus document produced by a UN Body. 3) During the last session of the Working Group, in support of the hunger strike and spiritual fast, overt 700 letters of support from organizations, NGO’s Peoples and communities around the worked were received expressing support for the adoption to the Subcommission text. Some of these organizations represent large coalitions had networks themselves, many with thousands, and in at least one case, millions members. The sad fact is that the current process does not have a mechanisms for incorporating these voices at the table, the voices of those who will be most affected by the outcomes of these discussions. 4) We would once again ask the Commission to adopt this text at this session and to pass it on to the next step in the UN Process. But if this is not feasible or possible, a break or recess in this process according to accepted UN procedure in cases where there is a lack of progress in standard setting bodies would allow time so that the current process can be evaluated, reassessed and restructured by the CHR. This would need to be done with the full consultation with Indigenous Peoples, to insure greater participation and a more equitable process which reflects the views and positions of Indigenous Peoples. 5) During this time, we will commit ourselves to work with our Peoples and communities, as well to continue dialogues with member States and within various UN and regional bodies, upcoming seminars and world conferences. We will work to address, discuss, and hopefully resolve, the current problems and cross cutting issues which remain as stumbling blocks for the adoption of the Declaration. Mr. President, we are certain that you understand that Indigenous Peoples, in the name of our ancestors and our future generations, can never allow our rights to be negotiated, compromised or diminished in a United Nations process. The United Nations itself says that human rights are inherent and inalienable, and must be applied to all Peoples without discrimination. We respectfully thank you for your time and consideration. We, as Indigenous Peoples, organizations, Nations and communities, look forward to working with you to insure that the United Nations continues to uphold the commitment it expressed so beautifully to all the Peoples of this world in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights: “the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”. Respectfully, for all our Relations, The undersigned, 1. Consejo Internacional de Tratados Indios/International Indian Treaty Council 2. Indigenous World Association 3. Movimiento de La Juventud Kuna, Panamá 4. Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, Canada 5. Asamblea Nacional Indígena Plural por la Autonomía (ANIPA), Mexico 6. Consejo Mazahua Región Almoloya de Juarez AC (Mexico, estado de Mexico) 7. Red Indígena de Turismo de Mexico A.C (R.I.T.A.) 8. Asociación Napguana, Panamá 9. Fundación para la Promoción del Conocimiento Indígena, Panamá 10. Fundación Dobbo Yala, Panamá 11. Organización Nis Bundor, Panamá 12. Innu Council of Nitassinan, Canada 13. Fundacion Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Mexico 14. Fundacion Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Guatemala 15. Defensoria Maya, Guatemala 16. Oxlajuj Ajpop de los Ajq’ijab’ (Conferencia Nacional de Ministros de la Espiritualidad Maya de Guatemala) 17. Coordinadora Nacional de Mujeres Indigenas, miembro del Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indigenas, Mexico 18. Defensa Legal Indígena, Guatemala 19. Convergencia Nacional de Organizaciones Indígenas waqib´ kej, Guatemala 20. Asociación de Coordinación de Desarrollo Integral Maya- ASCUDIMAYA, Guatemala 21. Asociación Comunitaria de la Comunicación Bálam juyu´-ACOBA, Guatemala 22. Fundación CHOLSAMAJ , Guatemala 23. Asociación Sotzil, Guatemala 24. Oficina Embajadora de Buena Voluntad de Acuerdos de Paz, Guatemala 25. Wuqub´ No´j, Guatemala 26. Sociedad Maya El Adelanto (1894-2005), Guatemala 27. Fundación CEDIM, Guatemala 28. Asociación Guatemalteca de Alcaldes y Autoridades Indígenas-AGAAI, Guatemala 29. Consejo del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala (COPXIG), Guatemala 30. Comite Campesina del Altiplano, Guatemala 31. Frente por la Democracia y el Desarrollo- Coalición Campesina Indígena del Istmo (FDD-COCEI), Mexico 32. Universitarios Indígenas Quechuas Aymaras Amazonicos de Cusco Perú 33. Buffalo River Dene Nation, Canada 34. Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, United States 35. Nation of Hawaii, Hawaii 36. Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust, Aotearoa/New Zealand 37. Te Rau Aroha, Aotearoa/New Zealand 38. Te Ngati Ranginui, Aotearoa/New Zealand 39. The Eagle and Condor Indigenous Peoples' Alliance, United States 40. Indigenous Environmental Network, United States 41. Coordinadora Indígena de la Cuenca Amazonica/Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazonian Region (COICA), South America (Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Guayana, French Guayana, Ecuador, Venezuela, Surinam, Columbia) 42. Fédération des Organisations autochtones de Guyane (FOAG), membre de la COICA, French Guyana/Federation of Indigenous Organizations of French Guiana, member of COICA 43. Consejo de Todas las Tierras, Chile 44. Pit River Tribe, California, United States 45. Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government, Alaska, United States 46. Ekluta Native Village, Alaska, United States 47. Wanblee Wakpeh Oyate, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, United States 48. White Clay Society (Member of the Blackfeet Confederacy), Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana, United States 49. Cactus Valley/Red Willow Springs Sovereign Community, Navajo Nation Reservation, Arizona, United States 50. Instituto Cientifico de Culturas Indigenas (Amawta Runakunapak Yachay), Ecuador 51. Los Angeles Indigenous Peoples Alliance, United States 52. American Indian Treaty Council Information Center, Minnesota, United States 53. Anipa Quintana Roo, Mexico 54. Anipa Guerrero, Mexico 55. Consejo de la Nación Amuzga, Mexico 56. Centro para el Autodesarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas del Alto Balsas, Mexico 57. Ndu Nu Ñu Savi, Mexico 58. Yoloxochitl SPR, Mexico 59. Federación de Indígenas Migrantes de Acapulco, Mexico 60. Axale, S.S.S., Mexico 61. Se Ojtli Yankuik, A.C., Mexico 62. Coordinadora Guerrerense de Mujeres Indígenas, Mexico 63. Frente Independiente de Pueblos Indios, Mexico 64. Consejo de Organizaciones Triquis, Mexico 65. Consejo Indígena Municipal Chocholteco, Mexico 66. Umbral Axochiatl, Mexico 67. Red Indígena de Turismo Alternativo de México, Mexico 68. Centro de Derechos Humanos Yaxkin, Mexico 69. Fraternidad Revolucionaria, Mexico 70. Consejo de Pueblos Nahuas del Alto Balsas, Guerrero, AC, Mexico 71. Regiones Autónomas Pluriétnicas, Mexico 72. Red Codapi, Mexico 73. Coordinadora Regional de Organizaciones Indígenas de la Sierra de Zongolica, Mexico 74. Consejo Tradicional de los Pueblos Indios de Sonora, Mexico 75. Anipa Chihuahua, Mexico 76. Parlamento Indígena Estatal Campesino y Popular, Mexico 78. Consejo de la Nacion Nahua, Mexico 79. Alianza de Pueblos Indígena de la Sierra Oriente del Estado de México 80. Consejo Mazahua Región Almoloya de Juárez, Mexico 81. Consejo de la Nacionalidad Otomí, Mexico 82. Coordinadora de Grupos Culturales Indígenas y Populares, Mexico 83. Organización de Artesanos Migrantes "Tonhalli", Mexico 84. Alianza Indígena Mexicana-Anipa Hidalgo, Mexico 85. Anipa Tabasco, Mexico 86. Organización Nación Purhepecha, Mexico 87. Mephaa-Savi Mujeres Indígenas, Mexico 88. Cooperativa Flores de la Tierra Amuzga, Mexico 89. Noche Sihuame Sanse Tajome, Mexico 90. Committee on the International Decade of Indigenous Peoples, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States 91. National Native American Prisoner's Rights Advocates Coalition, United States 92. Traditional Independent Seminole Nation of Florida, United States 93. Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Canada 94. Kehewin Cree Nation, Canada 95. Frog Lake Cree Nation, Canada 96. Enoch Cree Nation, Canada 97. Paul Cree Nation, Canada 98. Alexis Nakoda Sioux, Canada 99. Alexander First Nation, Canada 100. Samson Cree Nation, Canada 101. Ermineskin Cree Nation, Canada 102. Louis Bull Tribe, Canada 103. Montana Cree Nation, Canada 104. Onion Lake First Nation, Canada 105. Sunchild First Nation, Canada 106. O’chiese First Nation, Canada 107. Cold Lake First Nation, Canada 108. Whitefish/Goodfish First Nation, Canada 109. Heartlake First Nation, Canada 110. Centro de Estudios Multidisciplinarios Aymara, Bolivia 111. Te Mana Akonga, the National Maori Tertiary Students' Association of Aotearoa/New Zealand 112. Fundación Indoamérica, México 113. Seminario de Análisis de Experiencias Indígenas, A.C., México. 114. Unión Indígena de Guerrero, Mexico 115. Foro Permanente de los Pueblos Indígenas de Guerrero, Mexico 116. Altepetl Nahuas, A.C, Mexico 117. Calpulli Tlalpalcalli, Texas, United States 118. Organizacion Fraternal Negra Hondureña, OFRANEH, Honduras, C.A. 119. Comisionada de DDHH de la Confederación Indígena Tayrona, Pueblo Arhuaco, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia 120. Sacred Sites Protection and Rights of Indigenous Tribes, Vallejo Inter-Tribal Council, United States 121. Bear Clan of Maxan Lake, Wetsuweten Nation, B.C.,Canada 122. Asociacion de la Juventud Indigena, Argentina 123. El Decenio de Pueblo Maya de Guatemala, Guatemala 124. Consejo Indigena de Centro America – CICA – Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica y Panama 125. 500 Años de Resistencia Indigena y Negra, A. C. , Mexico 126. Consejo para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Nahuas del Alto Balsas, Guerrero (CDPNAB), Mexico To sign on to this letter, please e mail a note by April 8, 2005 with your organization/tribe/Indigenous Nation name to: andrea@treatycouncil.org

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