Sioux Nation Treaty Council - est 1894

PRESS RELEASE

Western Hemisphere Alliance of Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples Issues Declaration

Date: March 18, 2022 

Middle of North America – On March 20, 2022, a joint Declaration by a Western Hemisphere Alliance of Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples that includes the 1894 Sioux Nation Treaty Council, the Western Shoshone Defense Project, the Consejo de Todas las Tierras Mapuche, and Tonatierra will be submitted to the United Nations (UN). On that sacred day, also known as the Spring Equinox, prayers and ceremonies will be conducted in North, Central, and South America by surviving Indigenous Nations and Peoples. 

The Joint Declaration is being issued as the UN Human Rights Council passed Resolution 48/7 on Oct. 8, 2021, which, after seventy-seven (77) years of exclusion, provides an official opening to the UN Decolonization Committee for Indigenous Nations and Peoples for the first time. Significantly, the UN Human Rights Council invites all bodies and organizations of the UN to “actively support and participate” in the work of eradicating colonialism. Indigenous Nations and Peoples have been the most impacted by the negative effects of colonialism.

The Joint Declaration also calls for the 1999 UN Treaty Study by Dr. Miguel Alfonso Martinez to be reaffirmed and the recommendations made therein used as an initial blueprint in their efforts at the UN on Decolonization. 

 The Joint Declaration is included.

For more information from the International Indigenous Working Group, 

in English contact Charmaine White Face at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

or in Spanish contact Tupac Enrique Acosta at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 A Joint Declaration from the following Indigenous Nations and Peoples

to the United Nations Secretary General, High Commissioner for Human Rights, 

Human Rights Council, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 

and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 

1. We declare our strong support for United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council Resolution 48/7 enacted on 8 October 2021 after 77 years of exclusion of Indigenous Nations and Peoples from the United Nations process of Decolonization.

2. We declare our intent to fully participate in the UN Decolonization process for our freedom and independence that is available to all other peoples and nations according to the UN Charter.

3. We declare our strong support for the UN Study on Treaties, Agreements, and Constructive Arrangements concluded by Special Rapporteur Miguel Alfonso Martinez in 1999 (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1999/20).

4. We declare our opposition to the study of “Treaties, agreements, and other constructive arrangements, between indigenous peoples and States, including peace accords and reconciliation initiatives, and their constitutional recognition” being conducted by the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) for the following reasons:

a.) EMRIP has held meetings regarding this study in secret without the knowledge, input or free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples and Nations contrary to the UN Charter, and

b.) Treaties, agreements, and other constructive arrangements between Indigenous Peoples, Nations, and States are not domestic according to E/CN.4/Sub.2/1999/20 page 18 paragraph 110. 

c.) In addition, Treaties, agreements, and other constructive arrangements between Indigenous Peoples, Nations, and States do not fall under the purview of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as is being considered by EMRIP.

5. We, Original Nations and Indigenous Peoples of Mother Earth, also consider the use of the word “populations” in operative paragraph 4 of the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 48/7, to diminish our status as nations and peoples, creates ambiguity, and violates our rights of self-determination as nations and peoples.

6. We, Original Nations and Indigenous Peoples of Mother Earth, assert our right to address all forms and manifestations of colonialism, foreign occupation, including all scourges of racism and racial discrimination, apartheid, crimes against humanity, and genocide on an equal basis to all other peoples and nations in accordance with the United Nations Charter. 

Signed: 

1894 Sioux Nation Treaty Council, Consejo de Todas las Tierras Mapuche, 
TONATIERRA, Western Shoshone Defense Project