On Identity and Indigenousness: A Position by the LightRay! Media and Indigenous Cultural Center Asaba

By Washington Uba

Delta, Nigeria -The United Nations World Conference on Indigenous Peoples concluded on September 23, 2014, with a landmark outcome document adopting concrete measures to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The conference brought together over 150 indigenous nations, organizations, and Native women’s coalitions to advocate for indigenous rights. Key achievements include:

Transforming the Expert Mechanism on Indigenous Rights

The new UN rules for indigenous governance
addressed the violence against indigenous women and the protection of sacred sites.

“This historic conference marks a significant step towards fulfilling the promises of the UN Declaration,” said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The Declaration, adopted in 2007, recognizes indigenous peoples’ rights to self-determination, autonomy, lands, and resources. Despite progress, many countries have failed to respect these rights.

The conference’s outcome document was adopted by consensus of all 193 UN member states.

Our Identity and Indigenousness: The Need for a World Conference on Indigenous Peoples

The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was a major victory for indigenous peoples. The result of 35 years of work and negotiations, the Declaration is a global statement of the rights of Indian and Alaska Native tribes and all other indigenous peoples inclusing that of Africans regarding:

– Rights of self-determination, self-government, and autonomy

– Rights to lands and resources

– Right to be free of violence and discrimination

– Many other rights

Yet, since the adoption of the UN Declaration in 2007, many countries have shown little understanding of indigenous peoples’ rights and little inclination to respect valuable rights to lands and resources and key political and social rights.

Human rights instruments like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples have little effect unless steps are taken to implement their provisions.

The World Conference on Indigenous Peoples was an historic opportunity to ensure the promises of the Declaration are fulfilled.

What did the World Conference achieve?

More than 150 indigenous nations, organizations, and Native women’s coalitions joined together and worked for two years in advance of the World Conference to advocate for four concrete measures:

1. Transform the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into an effective implementing and monitoring body for the UN Declaration.

2. Secure new rules that will give indigenous governments a more appropriate status in the UN.

3. Bring greater UN study, attention, and action to address the issue of violence against indigenous women.

4. Increase respect and protections for indigenous peoples’ sacred sites.

All four measures were included in some form in the final outcome of the Conference – the World Conference Outcome Document – adopted by consensus of all 193 member states of the United Nations.

The Role of the Indigenous Cultural Center Asaba

Works to assist indigenous peoples to realize their rights in the UN Declaration that recognizes the unique opportunity presented by the World Conference, coordinates indigenous peoples, organizations, and coalitions and to produce memos and guiding documents.