Organization of American States
Indigenous Peoples Preparatory Session, Washington D.C.
Indigenous Peoples Preparatory Session for the Sixth Negotiation Session in “Quest for points of Consensus, OAS Working Group to Elaborate the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
The purpose of these high level meetings was to continue with the development of a draft to be presented to the states for negotiation over the language used towards the development of the laws to be implemented as the Organization for the American States Indigenous Rights Declaration… During this week long intensive, the language used pertaining to rights and protection of indigenous people were discussed and how these laws could be used to stop the current state systems used to undermine the collective stability of indigenous people and their culture, causing the deterioration of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms all indigenous people have to live with the right to sustain their viability in there homelands into the future. At these high level talks FIAAH Ambassador Rev. RaDine Amen-ra was present.
The Caucus reviewed the draft position statements for article XXV TRANSFHERES AND RELOCATIONS, article: XXVI- INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN VOLUNTARY ISOLATION article: XXVII- LABOR RIGHTS article XXVIII-: CULTURAL PATROMONY AND INTELECTUAL PROPERITY RIGHTS article: XXIX- THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT, article XXX- ARMED CONFLICT
FIAAH presented the following considerations to be included in the language of the declaration.
Article XXVII- Labor Rights- introduction of the word viability.
Article XXVIII- Cultural Patrimony and Intellectual Property Rights- Inclusion of the word Heritage along with Patrimony rights. (. North American Indians born from American Indian women are identified as Black (Negro) Americans, regardless of their father’s status as American Indian. They are denied patrimony rights in the U.S. In the U.S all ethnic identity rights are determined by the woman not the man therefore heritage rights should be included.
Example: American Indian woman classified as Negro has a child with an American Indian man. The child will be classified as Negro, and will not be considered as an American Indian; therefore forfeit there fathers (patrimony) ethnic identity inheritance and rights.
European woman has a child with an American Indian man. The child will be classified as American Indian; the child will be eligible to be recognized to receive the fathers (patrimony) to ethnic identity, inheritance and rights.
C. Article XXV- Tran spheres and Relocations: Introduced the context of indigenous viability as a form of protection concerning women and children.
D. Article XXIX- the Right to Development; Indigenous people must be released from state taxation.
E. Article XXX – Armed Conflict_ Reconfirmed the statement: Stop recruitment of indigenous young people into armed conflict for any reason, (i.e., prisons, work camps, schools, etc.)
F. Article XXX Review of the U.S. proposal: Submitted and debated removing the clause for the advancement of democracy.
FIAAH was voted to be the Liaison to represent North America for the Inter-American Indigenous Caucus.
Rev. RaDine Amen-ra presented the situation of Indigenous Americans in the U.S. and how they are being undermined towards being eligible to have access to self determination thru changing the ethnic identity of the race of American Indians racially identified as Negro to a immigrant status of African Americans, Consideration should be taken in the draft language context to include people under occupation from being removed from rights of self determination thru States Security laws.
