Evo Morales at World Indigenous Forum in New York

Evo Morales opens Seventh Session of UN Indigenous Forum on Monday, on climate change and bio-cultural diversity

Earthcycles is broadcasting from UN Forum, following two months of live broadcasts from the Longest Walk Northern Route, producer Govinda Dalton is in New York:
www.earthcycles.net/

UN Indigenous Forum agenda, documents and info:http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_seventh.html

Evo Morales at World Indigenous Forum

La Paz, Apr 19 (Prensa Latina) Bolivian President Evo Morales will travel to New York Sunday to attend the 7th period of sessions of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, an official source affirmed Saturday.
Governmental spokesman Ivan Canelas, who will accompany the president, told Prensa Latina Morales will speak for 30 minutes during the opening of the forum dedicated to the impact of climate change on those communities, and will later give a press conference.
Canelas recalled the meeting will be held until May 2, and will be the first session after the approval in September of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, rose to the category of law in Bolivia.
The official informed Morales will also speak about the political tension in the country, particularly the agrarian revolution hindered in the eastern region by big landowners.

Aboriginal delegation heads to UNPosted Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:22am AEST
The National Aboriginal Alliance is taking its concerns about the Northern Territory intervention to the United Nations.
A delegation leaves today for the annual UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.
Delegation Leader Les Malezer says parts of the intervention, like income management, breach United Nations charters on racial discrimination and human rights.
"What we hope to do is at least make people aware internationally of the extent of racial discrimination that occurs only against Aboriginal people in Australia and that continues despite changes of government," he said.
"Despite decades of supposed reforms in Australia, it's still the most discriminatory place in the world."

Nepalese team leaves for New York
By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Apr. 19
Minister for Local Development Dev Prasad Gurung left for New York on Saturday to take part in the Seventh Convention of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to be held from April 21 to May 2.The participation of Nepalese delegates is specially important given the context of UN General Assembly declaring a manifesto on the rights of the indigenous peoples last year and the Nepalese government ratifying article 169 of International Labour Organisation.The seven-member delegation has a plan to meet with the UN high officials at the changing political context of Nepal and implementation of the international conventions in the country.Jitpal Kirat, vice president of National Academy for the Uplift of Indigenous Nationalities, and members Sita Gurung, Dr. Chaitanya Subba, member of National Planning Commission, Tana Gautam, secretary at the office of the Prime Minister are among the delegates. The other delegates are Ganga Datta Awasthi, acting secretary at Ministry for Local Development and Baburam Gautam, under secretary of the same Ministry.

Quebec Delegation at Permanent Forum
An important delegation of the First Nations of Quebec at the UN - Quebec is invited to support the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples QUEBEC
CNW Telbec/ - Following the adoption by the Canadian Parliament of a motion supporting the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Chief of the Assembly of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), Ghislain Picard, reiterates his request to Quebec's
National Assembly.
"The recognition of the Declaration by the House of Commons
testifies to the legitimacy and the pertinence of this tool in the Canadian
system. Therefore, there is no longer any reason for the National Assembly, to
not adopt a motion of support and to commit to respect it", stated Ghislain
Picard.
The motion of support to the Universal Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples was adopted by a majority of MPs of the House of Commons,
on April 8. The Members of Parliament of the Conservative party were the only
ones who voted against the motion. While denouncing the attitude of Stephen
Harper's party on the issue of the vote, the First Nations of Quebec and
Labrador welcome the gesture of the Parliament, which constitutes an important
step towards the recognition of their fundamental rights.
It should be noted that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples was adopted by a strong majority vote, on September 13,
2007 by the United Nations General Assembly, after more than twenty years of
negotiations. One hundred forty-three countries had then voted in favor of the
Declaration, 11 had abstained and only 4, including Canada, had voted against.
Since that vote, the AFNQL has requested on many occasions, from the elected
officials of the National Assembly, to adopt a motion of support to this
Declaration, which is recognized as the tool ratifying the "minimal standards
required for the survival, the dignity and the well-being of Indigenous
Peoples of the world". "Quebec cannot hide behind the federal, since it
exercises a great number of authorities which are directly concerned by the
Declaration, such as land management and the exploitation of natural
resources", stated Chief Picard.
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
An important delegation of the First Nations of Quebec will participate
in the 7th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which will be
held in New York, from April 21 to May 2. Under the leadership of the Chief of
the Assembly of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), Ghislain
Picard, this delegation will take this opportunity to denounce the colonialist
attitude of the Canadian government, and particularly its refusal to support
the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
"The Canadian government has unveiled the extent of its discriminatory
and paternalistic policy towards the First Nations, by refusing to adopt the
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples", stated Ghislain Picard.
The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador wish to remind the government of
Canada, that, in spite of the fact that it voted against the Declaration, the
rights which are contained therein, still apply both in this country as well
as anywhere else.
In October 2007, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Louise Arbour, had expressed profound disappointment and surprise that a
country like Canada voted against the Declaration considering that it likes to
be viewed abroad as an example of tolerance and diversity.
"The Canadian government must hasten to respect the vote of the House of
Commons and adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples. The government must also take the appropriate measures to put an end
to its discriminatory policies and laws, which jeopardize the right of the
First Nations to self-determination", proclaims Chief Picard.
In regards to the Permanent Forum
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was created by
the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in July 2000, whose goals are to
provide advice to the United Nations on Indigenous issues, and to raise public
awareness on these issues. It comprises 16 independent experts who sit in a
personal capacity.
In regards to the AFNQL
The Assembly of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador is the regional
organization which represents the Chiefs of the First Nations of Quebec and
Labrador. Those who will be participating to this delegation are, Grand Chief
Lucien Wabanonik (Tribal Council of the Anishinabeg Algonquin Nation), Grand
Chief Eva Ottawa (Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw), Chief Jean-Charles Piétacho
(Conseil des Innus de Ekuanitshit) as well as several professionals of the
AFNQL, of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services
Commission, of the First Nations Education Council, of the Economic
Development Commission, and of the First Nations Human Resources Development
Commission of Quebec.
For media accreditation at the United Nations - Telephone:
(212) 963-7164 / Web Site:
http://www.un.org/media/accreditation/require.htm
For further information: Alain Garon, Informations and Communications
Officer, AFNQL, (418) 842-5020, Cell.: (418) 956-5720