Though she lives in Southern California Dina is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes where she lives as a freelance writer.  She is a frequent op ed and story contributor to Indian Country Today news magazine, appeared on Huffington Post, Indianz.com and she is an accomplished essayist and American Indian artist.

She is deeply interested not only in how the processes of history has affected today’s American Indian people, but in how those processes play out in American history narratives. Histories are subject to change depending on the particular historical moment, who is telling the history, and for what reason. She says, “American historical narratives of American Indians have been incomplete but fortunately are being filled in by Native people themselves, giving a much more nuanced and accurate understanding of American history.” Dina’s contributions to the FWE promise to enlighten and inform readers.

We welcome Dina as a contributor to the Fourth World Eye and we also welcome Dina as a new Research Associate at the Center for World Indigenous Studies.

Dina Gilio-Whitaker, Indian Country Today, freelance writer

The Russian and Chinese governments have been cited by the United States and several European governments as the sponsors or sources of “cyber attacks,” and the Iranian government has pointed a finger at the United States government for using the Internet to introduce a destructive “worm” into that country’s nuclear development computers it would seem entirely reasonable that an international regulatory structure restrict hostile uses of the internet. “Cyber warfare,” according to the US Department of Defense, is a major 21st century threat to the security of states’ governments heavily dependent on digital, computerized information systems.

There is no doubt that reliance on digital media and computers by “technologized countries” opens them to security threats.

China and Russia have proposed an extremely restrictive plan to control “domestic populations” and their access to information. Their proposal also restricts communications and criminalizes political activism. The proposal includes paragraph 3 that specifically (using vague language) imposes criminal sanctions that will impose greater control over indigenous peoples:

“To cooperate in combating criminal and terrorist activities which use ICTs including networks, and curbing dissemination of information which incites terrorism, secessionism, extremism or undermines other countries’ political, economic and social stability, as well as their spiritual and cultural environment.”

Indigenous nations pursuing self-determination agendas, territorial defense initiatives, cultural protection initiatives and defensive efforts against state terrorism will all be considered “criminal and terrorist.”

A proposal initially aimed at “inter-state” cyber wars is clearly aimed at controlling peoples that have social, economic and political aspirations that do not necessarily parallel those of states’ government authorities. For state authorities this aspect of the Chinese and Russian proposal is very appealing.

Indigenous peoples were among the first in the world to use the Internet.  It was low cost and it linked peoples around the world in a common cause.  It is this latter quality that frightens state authorities.  Indigenous peoples having acquired new capacities for gaining information and sharing ideas as a result of the Internet must take the Chines and Russian proposal as a serious threat. They must add this threat in “cyber space” to the growing list of efforts to restrict and control recognized rights now embedded in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Failure to prevent this new attack on indigenous peoples’ freedom will reverse the human rights progress achieved over the last forty years.

Technorati Tags: Information weapons, cyber war, International Code of Conduct for Information Security, Russia, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, United Nations, 66th Session, Internet, security infrastructure, indigenous peoples, cyber attacks, information and communication technologies, ICT

Richard Gere is My Hero

Duration: 90 mins
Genre: Romantic Comedy/Tibetan with English Subtitle
Script & Direction: T. Wangchuk and T.Dorjee

Lead actors: Sonam Tsering (a lead actor from ‘Phun Anu Thanu’), Tenzin Younden, Dechen Yangzom (a lead actress in ‘Phun Anu Thanu’, Tenzin Choedon

This is a film about four friends in Dharamsala, the exile seat of Tibetans, their dreams and aspirations. Nyima, the lead character of the film is a die hard fan of the Hollywood icon, Richard Gere and wanted to follow his footsteps to do something meaningful for his country, Tibet. The film can safely be classified under romantic comedy. Suitable doses of Exile politics adds new layer to the film.

One of the most important attempts made by the director duo is the film’s richness in characterisation. I cannot stop laughing until my stomach starts hurting when I see some of the funniest characters like Love Guru, Acha BBC, Phuntsok Drunkard and Cho Dargay. I totally agree Tenzin Tsundue, Tibetan writer and activist who maintained that the characters of the film can be compared to those of the best novels available. Every character fits in their respective shoes and more importantly pushes the story forward. Every actor did a great job especially Tenzin Younden who performs the role of the lead character, Nyima or Richard.

The pace of the story is relentless and smooth. It offers every flavour to make a particular film hit. I felt that the conventional rule of Aristotle in the art of story telling is followed but in a very different way due to which the film is unique in its own way. Unlike their earlier film, Phun Anu Thanu, where it offers happy ending, here it is in the other way round where the principal character does not fulfill his dreams and aspirations in the end.

Another prominent achievement of the film is its cinematic camera work. The filmmaker though did not use any of the dolly or crane, yet every shot is well composed where the rule of third is followed effectively. It was shot on a digital camera yet it very much contributes to the over all celluloid look of the film. Considering that the filmmaker used location sound for dialogues, they are good enough and treated well in the post.

To sum up, the film will be remembered for its sheer entertainment value, good direction, excellent artiste performances and nice camera work among the many. Watch this film, you’ll love it. I wish the director duo all the best in their future endeavor. Long live Tibetan films and filmmakers. Richard Gere is My Hero is now available online, www.tibetanfilms.com.

Making Richard Gere Is My Hero Film Trailer

The writer, Tashi Tenzin is a former school teacher at HIMS, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Richard Gere, Sonam Tsering, Tenzin Younden, Dechen Yangzom, Tenzin Choedon, Dharamsala, Tibet,

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The 2010 Federal Throne Speech of the Canadian government hinted at a shift in Canada’s position on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It reads: “We are a country with an Aboriginal heritage. A growing number of states have given qualified recognition to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Our Government will take steps to endorse this aspirational document in a manner fully consistent with Canada’s Constitution and laws.”

The UNDRIP adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1992, was signed by all member countries except 4: New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States. These countries have the most indigenous peoples in their territories, and certain language (such as “peoples” and “self-determination”) left these States’ governments feeling skiddish about implementing the Declaration. Since then, Australia and New Zealand have changed their position from “no” to “yes,” leaving Canada and the United States in the spotlight as the 2 that won’t sign on.

That’s why the recent throne speech in Canada is so exciting to some: if Canada signs, then the U.S. will not want to be the sole refuser of the Declaration (so the logic goes). However, we shouldn’t jump the gun just yet. The wording of the speech itself is vague at best. It calls the Declaration an “aspirational” document and that it will “take steps” to endorse it. These things, unfortunately, can mean nothing. Endorsing and supporting a declaration is a far cry from implementing those standards in policy decisions.

My colleague Tiffany Waters and I attended the North American Indigenous People’s Caucus to the UN Permanent Forum in Edmonton, Alberta earlier this month at the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. In preparation for the 9th Session of the Permanent Forum next month in New York, participants discussed the policy obstacles in both the U.S. and Canada with regards to the UNDRIP. Members of the Caucus were not wholly impressed with the wording of the Throne speech, but did hope that it would urge the Obama administration to move more quickly in formulating a position on the Declaration.

Tribal nations in Canada have been rallying the federal government to adopt the Declaration. Other than applying that kind of pressure, what really needs attention are the “government-to-government” by which federal and tribal governments communicate with each other. Tribal governments need to initiate the creation of an intergovernmental framework with the federal government which will be the means to negotiation mutually-beneficial policies, instead of consultation policy (which essentially means “we talk, you listen”).

I believe they will provide interesting reading, new insights and information from and about the Fourth World that will ensure you remain up to date, and involved in the key issues of the day.

Welcome to you both.

Tiffany Waters, Renee Davis, Fourth World Eye

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Tibet is located in the heart of Asia on the Roof of the World, is a beautiful Himalayan land of diversity with deep cultural and spiritual roots. Tibet has been called the Water Tower of Asia because many of the rivers that flow through the continent originate in Tibet. Tibetan teachings are based on the highest human values of honesty, compassion, peace and moral integrity. World Care is committed to assisting Tibet in safeguarding the dignity, health and wellbeing of its people and the conservation of its fragile environment. World Care provides aid through partnering with Tibetan and international organizations in Tibet and Tibetan exile communities worldwide. Together, we share a vision of hope with the ability, means and determination to find solutions for responding to the needs of Tibetan people.

World Care conducts programs around the globe through our
International Partner Projects with many world communities that have collaborated with us in providing emergency relief and sustainable community development

The attached document can be downloaded for samples of wonderful images from Tibet and more information about World Care.

world-care-and-tibet.doc

What about the key principles of good reports such as sensitivity and accuracy? Not a lot of these can be discerned in the articles on the newly “discovered” tribe.
Certainly the pictures of and reports about the tribe could be a great chance to highten the awareness of the world to the plight of indigenous tribes. However, there is little to thoroughly inform and educate the civilized world about the true situation of indigenous peoples. Quite the contrary, the common notion of the soon to be extinct indigenous tribes is promoted as, even though very sad, simply inevitable.

In Germany people were sending around pictures of the Amazonian tribe today like trophies of the exotic. The need was expressed that anthropologists should immedialtely research and study the tribe to satisfy the readers’ curiosity. No question was raised about whether the tribe maybe might not want this to happen. The common understanding being one of the tribes as the primitives „we“ cannot put in control of their own lives.
Strangely enough the so-called “primitives” appear so much more healthy and strong than their obese and diseased counterparts in the western world.

What is clear in this is that to uncontacted tribes reports about their existence often equals sure destruction and death, seeing friends and families die at the hands of outsiders, in genocidal massacres or epidemics, as well as long-term annihilation of their cultures through self-destructive coping methods such as substance abuse and suicide.

It is high time we get the real news and true reasons for and interests in specific developmental efforts and what they mean for regional tribes. If we want to go beyond sensationalism we need to fight for the survival of every single indigenous culture ensuring that indigenous territory is protected in accordance with international law.

Technorati-Tags: media, education, uncontacted tribes

Pakistan is a classic example of a state essentially defined by the presence of Fourth World nations where military forces from the United States threaten violent confrontations. The Pashtun in the so-called tribal areas are the target. But a US intervention will cause an explosion of nations that will make Afghanistan and Iraq look small. The Pashtun, Baluchis, Sindhis and Punjabis were patched together to form Pakistan…a mistake to be sure. These peoples required totally different political options than the formation of a single state.

Russia is making a similar mistake by attempting to grab oil reserves in Nigeria’s Igbo, Ogoni and Igawa south threatening to control a major resources and contribute to destabilization in Fourth World nations. Playing a oil money game in an already highly unstable environment promises to contribute to greater violence there by inserting yet another state into the conflict between Nigeria’s government and these nations.

The United States complains about its security as a rational for intervening in Pakistan and the Pashtun territories.  Russia greedily reaches for control over oil to block US, EU, Indian and Chinese oil interests…threatening further destabilization.

Confrontations between state governments and Fourth World nations isn’t new. Virtually every state with nations inside attempt to use centralized state control to manipulate Fourth World peoples…witness Kenya.  What is increasingly new is the intervention of external states in direct confrontations with Fourth World nations.  The United States government is in the lead of such outside interventions in Afghanistan, the Philippines, Colombia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iraq just to name a few. External interventions to directly confront Fourth World nations appears to be stimulating a major part of the US government military realignment suggesting that we will see more violent confrontations involving conventional military forces from the United States, Russia, China and India in Fourth World territories.

What are these violent confrontations increasingly about? Control over land and industrially precious resources like oil, diamonds, and minerals, inside Fourth World territories is the central issue. Fourth World nation’s seeking to freely determine their own political future is a secondary rational for violent attacks.  The “war on terror” is transmogrifying into widening violent confrontations between states and Fourth World nations.

This is not necessary, but the military budgets of powerful states fire the fever. The biggest military in the world–the United States–is foremost among violent forces aiming to confront Fourth World nations.  As I have suggested on numerous occasions before, states need a Fourth World policy aimed at peaceful relations and non-violent political transformation. Less military and more diplomacy is necessary. States need to train their diplomats to understand the Fourth World.  Fourth World nations need to train their diplomats and political leaders to more effectively deal with states’ governments.

Escalation of violence is not the answer, but I fear that those with the guns will not listen.

(c) 2008 Center for World Indigenous Studies

Technorati Tags: Pakistan, military, Kenya, nations, states

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Gathering for a North American Regional Conference this fall in Mexico, they will be discussing how to further their priorities and projects, “in defense of Mother Earth and Indigenous territories and cultures.” As an authentic, cohesive, and determined movement of peoples presenting a coherent program for remedying the world’s maladies, they have already elevated discussions in the global public mind from the elementary civil and human rights to the more profound right to exist.

For their noble non-indigenous friends around the globe, it is a time to stand and be counted.

Why is it important understand the Fourth World perspective? First it must be understood that Fourth World Nations are a hidden reality which is only recently becoming apparent to the general public: Fourth World nations–denotes nations without states. This meaning emphasizes the non-recognition or exclusion of often ethnically or religiously defined groups from the political and economic world system. Examples of Fourth World nations include the Roma in Europe, pre-WWII Ashkenazi in the region of the Pale of Settlement, Kurds and Palestinians in the Middle East, and Native American Nations/First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Hawaiians and Indian peoples throughout the Americas.

Chief George Manuel (1929 – 1989), the noted leader of the world’s Fourth World nations gave political meaning to the expression “Fourth World” when he lead the formation of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples and advocated global recognition of the rights of Fourth World peoples.

These Fourth World nations have a direct influence over events, territories and natural resources that daily affect the lives of people world-wide. For example, the Ijaw have a great deal to do with global access to sweet crude oil in the delta region of Nigeria when some of their leaders block production of oil there (a 25% reduction in one year). Fourth World nations in Pashtunistan (read an earlier Fourth World Eye story) are the central concern of those states’ government leaders concern with finding Osama ben Laden. The views and decisions of Fourth World peoples in Pashtunistan are pivotal.

We all must understand and respect Fourth World nations for their central role in our lives, even though we are generally unaware of them. They play major roles in our political, economic, social and cultural life. They play a major part in our health whether environmental or medicinal. We can improve our understand here at Fourth World Eye. What is clear…Fourth World nations not only play an important role in
our lives, but constraints put on them by governments, corporations and the like drive them to want their freedom too.

(c) 2007 Center for World Indigenous Studies

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Technorati Tags: indigenous people, culture, oil, Nigeria, Iraq, Osama ben Laden