ADRESSING THE U.N. ABOUT LAKOTA SOVEREIGNITY
by Chase Iron Eyes, Lakota Law
On September 26, a good thing happened. In coordination with the United Nations Human Rights Committee (#UNHRC) and Civil Society Task Force, I spoke before the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (#ICCPR) working group on #IndigenousRights and Self-Determination. I'm grateful for this rare opportunity to declare our #sovereignty
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and present our case as #IndigenousPeoples on a global stage. Today, I'm excited to share with you my thoughts, and I invite you to watch my short video presentation right here.
The #ICCPR is a major international #treaty that commits signatory nations to protecting individuals' civil and political rights. In speaking on behalf of Native treaty rights and sovereignty, I quoted the wisdom of Chief Frank Fools Crow, advocating for #LandBack
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and a renewed international commitment to justice for Indigenous Peoples.
#LakotaLaw was originally invited by the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming (special thanks to the #ACLU 's Stephanie Amiotte) to sign on to a report presented to the UNHRC regarding threats posed to the #BlackHills by #mining.
That report quotes my thoughts regarding innumerable #SacredSites contained within the Black Hills, including Pe' Sla,
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a cherished 2,022-acre mountain prairie home to #buffalo that features pristine springs and ponds. I also discuss the deceitful history of the #U.S. in its dealings with the #OcetiSakowin and the vital need to protect our #SacredLands from #ExtractiveIndustry.
In addition to the #ACLU and #LakotaLaw, the report, titled "Desecration and Exploitation of the Black Hills, South Dakota Indigenous Sacred Site," has signatories from our friends
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and allies at the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance and Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association. At the ICCPR working group briefing, other worldwide Indigenous sovereignty leaders — including chiefs, NGO directors, and legal operatives — joined me in providing important #testimony.
The international human rights community must attend to the interests of #IndigenousPeoples, particularly in the context of #ClimateJustice. In both my written and verbal statements,
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I emphasized the #UnitedStates ' illegal seizure and ongoing occupation of the #BlackHills. Our history — from the original occupation of our shores, through the Black Hills #GoldRush, to the present day — clearly demonstrates that #colonizers will always prioritize taking lands and resources over respect for Indigenous knowledge and sovereignty.
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That's why true and holistic justice requires the return of sacred lands to Indigenous hands.
Wopila tanka — thank you for recognizing our sovereignty!
Chase Iron Eyes
Co-Director and Lead Counsel
The Lakota People's Law Project
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anna_lillith 🇺🇦🌱🐖