Draft Letter for Indian and Alaska Native Nations
Date
Ms. Reta Jo Lewis
Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street N.W., Suite 1317
Washington, D.C. 20520
Email:Declaration@state.gov
Dear Ms. Reta Jo Lewis,
The __________ (name of Indian or Alaska Native nation) is writing this letter to strongly urge the United States to endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, without qualification or reservation. By doing so, the United States would demonstrate its strong commitment to human rights and reaffirm its position of moral and ethical leadership in the world community.
In this country and around the world, human rights of indigenous peoples are being ignored and often violated. Violations of indigenous human rights, such as rights to land, resources and the environment, often lead to disastrous consequences that hurt all of us and leave Native peoples with an ongoing sense of marginalization.
By signing onto the UN Declaration, the United States will welcome a new era of respect and healing for Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian peoples. The Declaration is the result of three decades of continuous effort by advocates, Native peoples, and the international community to ensure recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples around the globe. These rights include, among others, the right to exist as distinct peoples, the right to conservation and protection of the environment, the right to be free from discrimination and forced assimilation, and the right to self-determination.
As Native peoples, we are often asked why is it so important for the United States to endorse the Declaration? How will endorsement by the United States affect us as Native individuals and as a Native nation? The answers are simple, yet important.
The Declaration acknowledges that indigenous peoples deserve respect, fair treatment by the government, equality before the law, and the right to make our own decisions about our lands, territories, and peoples.
- :: Endorsement of the Declaration will provide hope that the laws of the United States, many of which are mirrored in the language of the Declaration, will be honored and respected for all citizens of the United States, including Native peoples. Further, the principles in the Declaration may help guide the federal government in improving the laws and legal policies impacting Native individuals and nations.
- :: Endorsement of the Declaration will lead to an increased sense of respect by federal and state policy makers for the cultures and lands and territories of Native nations, as well as our right to make our own decisions regarding issues that affect us. We also hope that endorsement will lead to increased understanding of and greater respect and tolerance for Native peoples and our cultures by other groups in the United States.
- :: To say as simply as possible, endorsement of the Declaration will help restore a sense of worthiness and self-respect in our hearts and minds caused by the decades of unfair federal policies throughout the history of the United States. We will see a renewal of hope that the concerns of Native peoples will be recognized and addressed by the United States and around the world.
(ADD OR REPLACE THESE POINTS WITH THOSE SPECIFIC TO YOUR COMMUNITY)
Let the United Nations Declaration be a part of the United States’ commitment to bring real and lasting change for the Native nations of this country. Thank you.
