Inuit” Maya” Sami” Igorop” Mandinga” Maasai among Millions whose Leaders Find Common Ground at Arctic Meeting in Stand Against Land Grabs

ALTA” NORWAY (12 JUNE 2013)—Representatives of the world’s indigenous nations” meeting in Norway’s northernmost stretch” today signed a historic document that takes United Nations member countries to task for perpetuating the historic marginalization and exploitation of their rights and resources” most recently manifested in the illegal takeover of lands by governments and multinational corporations in a race to meet the escalating global demand for food” fuel” fiber and mineral wealth.

“We have power as indigenous people to protect and preserve the forests” the mountains” the oceans” the waters” and other resources that the world needs to survive”” said Victoria Tauli-Corpuz” who chaired the meeting of some 600 indigenous leaders” which was hosted by the Sami—the indigenous people of Scandinavia—in their de facto capital” known for its prehistoric cave paintings and reindeer herds.

The document” the Alta Declaration” calls on UN member states to stop perpetuating development models that are  trampling indigenous peoples'  rights” livelihoods and health and inflicting environmental damage on natural resources—from forests and peatlands to rivers and glaciers—that are great global significance in the battle against the catastrophic effects of climate change.

“If the world is not going to listen to us. If the world is going to continue to violate our rights or displacing or even killing us” then I don’t think this world is going to have hope”” Tauli-Corpuz said. 

• In Nicaragua” indigenous people living in the country's precious rainforest are facing down non-indigenous squatters who are illegally cutting down their forests for timber. Recently” two squatters died in a shootout with soldiers” who were protecting members of the indigenous Mayangna nation.
• In Cameroon” indigenous people and other groups are fighting tooth and nail to protect their remote forests and lands against palm oil developers. Some 45″000 indigenous people in the southwest recently scored a small victory when the Cameroonian government ordered the US-based developer” Herakles” to halt its $350 million plans for a palm oil plantation. But only days later” the company was allowed to resume operations.
• In Brazil” South America’s largest democracy” planned dams in the Amazon would destroy the lands and livelihoods of indigenous people there. Given the go-ahead this spring” the Belo Monte dam—which will be the third-largest dam in the world when it’s completed—will displace some 12″000 people.   In an effort to convince the government that they don’t need these monstrous structures” some indigenous people are testing the wind farms.
• In Indonesia” the courts recently upheld indigenous peoples’ rights over their forests and lands—but conflicts over how the law is applied could undermine this positive development. In March” a related dispute in North Sumatra led to the death of seven villagers and 15 soldiers.

The declaration commands that states first seek the approval of indigenous people whose lands are targeted for dams” mines and other infrastructure before embarking on these disruptive projects. It also calls on governments to partner with indigenous people to develop sustainable approaches to—or alternatives to—resource extraction.

“We are in a very serious crisis – the environment is very much under stress. I believe strongly that indigenous people are going to be the one who will save Mother Earth from ending in a disastrous situation. We have proven that the remaining ecosystems” the remaining lands and territories” the remaining oceans and waters—those that are still able to provide the basic needs of its populations—are found in our territories”” said Tauli-Corpuz” who heads the Philippines-based Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education (Tebtebba).

Reports presented last month at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York revealed that the extractive industries—those engaged in removing natural resources from the earth—have widespread ill effects on the health and economic wellbeing of indigenous people worldwide. 

The Alta Declaration is designed to drive the agenda of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP)” to take place in New York City September 22-23″ 2014. The special General Assembly session will mark the first high-level meeting to assess progress—or lack therefore—towards the meaningful adoption by member states of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.

Since the signing of this non-binding declaration” indigenous leaders say they’ve seen countries backslide on commitments to uphold their rights. The Alta Declaration calls for the creation of a binding commitment to indigenous rights and the establishment of a UN arm and other arms to uphold these rights.

“The fact that we are able to come together here as indigenous peoples from all over the world is a beacon of hope – not just for us” not just for our future generations” but for Mother Earth”” said Tauli-Corpuz.

About Tebtebba

Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education) is an indigenous peoples’ organization born out of the need for heightened advocacy to have the rights of indigenous peoples respected” protected and fulfilled worldwide. It also advocates and works on the elaboration and operationalization of indigenous peoples’ sustainable” self-determined development. Tebtebba actively engaged in the processes which led to the adoption of international human rights law and other international instruments” policies and agreements. These include the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the establishment of spaces within the United Nations” such as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues” among others. 

For more information” please contact:

Coimbra Sirica” +1 301 943 3287″ [email protected] 

or Susan Tonassi” +1 301 280 5711 or [email protected]

Original Source