DOCUMENT: UBCIC88.TXT - OUR LAND IS OUR FUTURE - UNION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA INDIAN CHIEFS FOUNDING HEAD OFFICE VANCOUVER OFFICE 345 Yellowhead Highway 200 - 73 Water Street Kamloops, B.C. V2H 1H1 Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1A1 Tel: (604) 828-8778 Kamloops Tel: (604) 684-0231 Vancouver Fax: (604) 828-0319 Kamloops Fax: (604) 684-5726 Vancouver United Nations Commission on Human Rights Working Group on Indigenous Populations Sixth Session, August 1988 Geneva, Switzerland STATEMENT OF THE UNION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA INDIAN CHIEFS Presented August 4, 1988 By Chief Saul Terry, President, U.B.C.I.C. Madam Chairman and Working Group Members: I am Chief Saul Terry, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs and I thank you for yet another opportunity to address this sub-commission of the United Nations on Human Rights. In the company of other natural nations of the world, we speak to you as distinct Peoples. The term "ethnic minorities" is the invention of states and an incorrect reference to our Peoples. Agenda item five refers to a Declaration of Principles on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We think that it is important to set standards, providing it is understood that our Peoples have existing natural rights to self- determination. Self-determination continues to exist for our member Indian Nations because we have not ceded our lands and resources nor our right to self-determination to any other entity on this deteriorating planet. We are however, forced to live with all manner of imposed policies designed to cripple our initiatives and aspirations. Despite the limitations upon our human rights throughout our Indian territories in Canada, we have not abandoned the fight to achieve self-determination. Therefore we wish to assist members of this Working Group by making some recommendations. They are based upon natural laws, which another delegation has previously asserted, must incorporate trust, honour and respect among nations. During the Fifth Session of the Working Group, I presented a brief on behalf of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs entitled Aboriginal Title and Rights. It is a statement of principles which are based upon our sacred connection to Mother Earth. Our position paper reiterates the fact that Indian political, legal and socio-economic systems were developed in accordance with the laws of the Creator, which continue to this day. Furthermore, we believe that our power to govern rests with our Peoples' whose Aboriginal title and rights cannot be extinguished or terminated. Endowed as we are with the natural right to determine our own future, we have never sought to dismember a state, but external intervention in our affairs continues to encumber the everyday lives of our Peoples. When our nations exercise our sovereign powers we are met with state opposition: Indian sovereignty and jurisdiction over lands and resources is obstructed. Yet we, as Indian nations, are prepared to share resources in our respective homelands through fair and honourable trade. This concept is disregarded by settler governments who refuse to complete the circle of confederation with our Indian nations. So we are impoverished and have no control over current developments which adversely effect our Peoples, such as Canada's Meech Lake Accord and its Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Having said these things, I note that the essential emphasis of my remarks is on the national sovereignty of Indian Nations and the need for nations and states like Canada to live as friendly neighbours. A state should no assume the right to dominate and control nations without the consent of nations. The Draft Universal Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples must reflect a growing confidence in friendly relations between Indian Nations and states. Therefore the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs urges the Working Group to more aggressively incorporate the terms of reference contained in the 1987 Indigenous Peoples Draft Declaration on the Right of Self-determination for Indigenous Nations. Without Self-determination, the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples would be empty and utterly unrealistic. The Universal Declaration must begin with a fundamental recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Right to Self-determination. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- :: :: A service provided by :: :: The Center For World Indigenous Studies :: :: www.cwis.org :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Originating at the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Olympia, Washington USA www.cwis.org © 1999 Center for World Indigenous Studies (All Rights Reserved. References up to 500 words must be referenced to the Center for World Indigenous Studies and/or the Author Copyright Policy Material appearing in the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive is accepted on the basis that the material is the original, unoccupied work of the author or authors. 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