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Ed Menard, Park Ranger
A United Nations official says sacred lands -- like the Black Hills of Dakota, which includes Mount Rushmore -- should be returned to Native American control.
The United States must do more to heal the wounds of indigenous peoples caused by more than a century of oppression, including restoring control over lands Native Americans consider to be sacred, according to a U.N. human rights investigator.
James Anaya, the U.N. special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, just completed a 12-day visit to the United States where he met with representatives of indigenous peoples in the District of Columbia, Arizona, Alaska, Oregon, Washington State, South Dakota, and Oklahoma. He also met with U.S. government officials.
"I have heard stories that make evident the profound hurt that indigenous peoples continue to feel because of the history of oppression they have faced," Anaya said in a statement issued by the U.N. human rights office in Geneva Friday.
That oppression, he said, has included the seizure of lands and resources, the removal of children from their families and communities, the loss of languages, violation of treaties, and brutality, all grounded in racial discrimination.
Anaya welcomed the U.S. decision to endorse the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2010 and other steps the government has taken, but said more was needed.
'History of oppression'
His findings will be included in a final report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council. While not binding, the recommendations carry moral weight that can influence governments.
"It is clear that this history does not just blemish the past, but translates into present day disadvantage for indigenous peoples in the country," Anaya said.
"There have still not been adequate measures of reconciliation to overcome the persistent legacies of the history of oppression, and that there is still much healing that needs to be done," he said.
Game hunt for sacred white buffaloes riles Native groups
In Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, where some Native Americans depend on hunting and fishing, Anaya said tribes face "ever-greater threats ... due to a growing surge of competing interests, and in some cases incompatible extractive activities, over these lands and resources."
"In Alaska, indigenous peoples complain about a complex and overly restrictive state regulatory apparatus that impedes their access to subsistence resources (fish and wildlife)," he said.
Native American tribe gets permit to kill bald eagles
Mining for natural resources in parts of the country has also caused serious problems for indigenous peoples.
"Past uncontrolled and irresponsible extractive activities, including uranium mining in the Southwest, have resulted in the contamination of indigenous peoples' water sources and other resources, and in numerous documented negative health effects among Native Americans," he said.
Mount Rushmore
He said indigenous peoples feel they have too little control over geographic regions considered sacred to them, like the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona and the Black Hills in South Dakota. Anaya suggested such lands should be returned to Native peoples.
"Securing the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands is of central importance to indigenous peoples' socioeconomic development, self-determination, and cultural integrity," Anaya said.
"Continued efforts to resolve, clarify, and strengthen the protection of indigenous lands, resources, and sacred sites should be made," he added.
How genocide wiped out a Native American population
Mount Rushmore, a popular tourist attraction, is located in the Black Hills, which the Sioux tribe consider to be sacred and have territorial claims to based on an 1868 treaty. Shortly after that treaty was signed, gold was discovered in the region. U.S. Congress eventually passed a law taking over the land.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1980 that the seizure of the land was illegal and ordered the government to pay compensation. But the Sioux rejected the money and has continued to demand the return of the now public lands.
Anaya said he will make specific recommendations on these and other issues in a full report later this year.
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Leave a Comment:
for some interesting reading try 1491 by charles mann.
the native american had claims to land that they organized among the tribes according to the uses and conventions meaningful to themselves. land ownership as we see it was not part of that picture.
guess who gave native americans claim to the land as the europeans define it? the treaties the europeans created! so if you want to blame someone for the fix we're in, blame your white skinned ancestors.
You've apparently missed the point. It's not the white skinned people who are in a fix, but rather, the red skinned american indian. As you stated, land ownership was not part of the picture. But some american indians of today claim to have been in a perpetual fix over land they did not have to begin with.
Tell the U.N. to move to France. We dont need them here.
LOL think about this for a second....We didnt get the land from the indiand lol....
Louisiana Purchase? We bought the land from the French and Mexicans and Russia..Tell them to go after the people who sold us the land. We madea legal land purchase from the people who owned and conquered the land ong before we purchased it.
As far as I am concerned, once we bought the lnd fromother countrys, the occupants were squatters..If they have issue, then they need to goto the world court, sue the countrys that made the purchase and settle it that way.
Seems they are so willing to adhere to teh UN decission. Let the courts tell them that France didnt have the right to sell land that was sold to the French.
ANd dont give me this crap the indians didnt understand ownership..Seems they do now.
Oh yeah and since we Kicked the crud out of Mexico to take Texas and part of the Southwest, lets see how giving Mexico back land that may be sacred to them (in some way) goes...TEll a Texan it isnt their land anymore, because Mexico didnt understand.
Oh and since the Russians did purchase Alaska from the Inuit NATION...LEGALLY....ANd in turn we purchased the land from Russia....LEGALLY...Whats up wiht that?
So, THE U.S. didnt take the land from the Indians...THE FRENCH DID.. We just wanted teh SQUATTERS on the land we purchased to cooperate. They didnt we eliminated them.
It is not the U.S.A.'s fault that the NAtions of the 16th century sold land to the French or allowed it to be taken...THe friggin INdiand loved the French, and understood Trade and Ownership. Teh fought for French Ownership of Land...So when the French Sold us the land, the Indinas were officially Squatters.. We could do what we wanted...If they didnt liek it, they had every right to get the heck out.
Go after the French that screwed you........The U.S owes you nothig, seems the French, British, Dutch, Russians, Spanish and Portugeese owe you.
Give it all Back and move back to Europe!
That would solve Europe's declining population, and perhaps stop the prospective Islamic takeover of Europe.
the u.n gave the u.s. and coalition authorizarion to invade afghanistan after 911. how did you feel about operation enduring freedom back in october of 2001?
I feel the same about the UN now that I did before operation enduring freedom. We don't need their permission. The UN is irrevelent and I want my country out of the UN. I want my tax dollars to go to the benefit of US citizens only. Even if those citizen's are bellyaching about something that did not happen to them personally.
if we don't need it, why did g w bush pursue it?
Maybe he was trying to follow proper channels? I don't know.
This is a moronic statement by any official (UN or otherwise). While the treatment of Native Americans wasn't stellar please name all the expansions throughout history where the locals were treated well. Is this UN official ready to give parts of other countries back to the "natives" that were there before? Almost the entire current global map is made up of countries that were conquered at one point or another. Is the U.S. the only country that is requested to turn over land to the previous occupants?
On a side note...check it. I am part "Native American". But, I consider myself an American; nothing else.
ahahahaha, NO. Nice job UN, have you seen how corrupt Native Americans are? Why don't you look into that.
Get the heck outta here UN...To little and to late...Bu-Bye!
i think the Un is perfectly aware that the US is not going to comply with these suggestions. it was done to illustrate to the US that it is not perfect and is rife with a history of human rights violations. in other words, we have been taken down a peg or two.
The report was done by a US born Native American. He specializes in fighting for indigenous people.
I'm sure like all lawyers he is highly ethical and honest - - - - hehehehehehehe.
No, Allison, we have not been taken down a peg...the UN has taken itself down several pegs with this nonsense.
There may not be a "written" history but our ancestors had and have their oral history passed on from generation to generation. The U. S. , should return all lands belonging to Native Americans if it is to have any credibility in the world because it is definetely losing it. Respect and honor begins at home, not in some faraway country that we can invade and continue the genocide that began in this continent. Read the real history, not what is taught in the schools.
I have never seen such a series of evasive comments to cover up an obvious imperative.
We pride ourselves in living in a government of law. Every house, every foot of land, is owned by somebody, and their right of ownership can be traced back for generations.
There are places in this country where Native Americans were entitled by legally sanctioned treaties (equally the supreme law of the land with the Constitution) to certain property. Many of these treaties were specified to be perpetual.
State and federal government subsequently broke these treaties. They not only unilaterally took back these properties, but made no attempt to recompense the native owners either for the land itself or for the oil, gold, or other possessions (for which, in many cases, they desired the land.)
It doesn’t matter whether the Native Americans were previously living in barbaric violence or paradisiac harmony.
It is irrelevant that carrying out the law would be horrendously unpleasant for many “white” people living today.
It shouldn’t weigh one way or the other that an international organization takes up a position on the question.
Those stolen properties belong to identifiable groups of people. They are in the hands of people who have no legal right to them.
If we believe in law, treaties, justice, we will do something about it. This seems to be a good time, when the rightful owners seem willing to settle for limited “holy territories,” a mere fraction of what was taken from them.
This nation was supremely fortunate in having the opportunity to build upon one of the true foundations of civilization, the consistent rule of law for all. Judging from this chain of comments, we never really meant it. I think this betrayal will return to haunt us.
The Native Americans were a conquered people.
Their victors did break treaties, not unusual anywhere.
As a conquered people they were given amazing rights. They not only have all the rights of their victors they have even more rights than that.
In the end the treaties really don't matter anymore because we are ALL Americans. People really should quit trying to categorize people by the color of their skin.
Stop whining, Ted. Plenty has been given, and is being given today, to the american indians to compensate for anything that was taken. I didn't take anything from the american indians who inhabitated these lands before my ancestors arrived, but part of my federal tax money is just given away to american indians. Face it, Ted, american indians are no less greedy than anyone else.
The statute of limitations applies here. The present generation of Americans are not responsible for any alleged wrongs, real or pretended, committed a hundred years ago. Case closed!
In addition, treaties, by definition can only exist between sovereign entities. Something comes to mind about having cake, and eating it too...
All the native Americans came from somewhere else too, they came over a land bridge somewhere north of Alaska and were from Mongolia, Siberia, etc etc Native Americans were only the first people in what later became North America. They were not Americans until 1776 when America was formed, the United States of America and they were not even Americans then, Arizona didn't come on board until 1850, by then the Apaches and other Indians were not in charge, they lost their war against the invaders before that, when the United States allowed Arizona to join the Union, that is when they became citizens of this country. They either adjusted or they been on welfare ever since and they done their share of robbing, rape, murder and assorted mayhem against the invaders, when do they pay these peoples ancestors for all the scalps and other mutilations which they did. Their actions went a long way in determining how they were treated in defeat, they were for lack of a better word, savages. One of my ancestors didn't run fast enough and I'm a small part Commanche myself, maybe I should have free casino priviledge because of all the anquish caused to me and my ancestors. lol Address the problems of now, not something that happened a hundred, two hundred, even a thousand years ago. Everything has been settled and we all citizens of the USA and what is, that's what we have. all this crap about I was here first is just that, bunk. According to the bible, we all related to Adam and Eve, Noah and his bunch and the people around the Tower of Babel, so we are ALL entitled to Indian lands as we are all kinfolk so to speak. If you go to possession is 9/10 of the law, then we kicked them out a long time ago and they should have no rights except to reservations that were given to them in return for peace. The UN is a joke, they doing no good in the middleast or anywhere else, they fail most of the time, even Korea was politically motivated to make a north and south. My point is the Indians have no more right to the USA than anyone else and leave everything alone as it is now and disband that stupid UN or just drop out and it will fold anyhow.
"Yep, the point of this article seems to have been lost on you. America, the country advertised to be the land of the free and home of the brave is built on a legacy of oppression and cowardice. The US went to war with Sadaam Hussein in 1990 because he invaded Kuwait for its oil resources. How is what he did different from what the US did to the Native Americans in the west in the 19th century? All that stuff from the founding fathers about all men being created equal and having certain unalienable rights was just a bunch of wind not worth the paper it was written on. When it came time to apply that bold statement to black slaves and the native peoples, the ball was dropped. The US is no better than the country it rebelled against." Will
I can only totally agree with Will's statement here! The USA was built on land that Europeans invaded with total disregard to the native peoples while bringing black slaves with them. Their religion and greed motivated them to destroy the cultures of both the natives and Africans and the 500 nations who lived there for thousands of years. The God of these ruthless corrupt Euros is $, and more $. Hypocritically they speak of Freedom, Equal Rights and stuff like that, but really only mean $$$$. It says even on the currency: In God we trust! So God=$. Ask your pastors why he is so rich and pays no taxes!? And crime of course pays, ask your lawyer! What did we give the natives in exchange of their great culture? Casinos, prostitution, alcohol, pollution, corrupting $! Same in Australia, Middle East, Africa... Only in Asia we had a bit more issues taken them over. Of course you are going to say that we the great white race from Europe are so superior to others because our culture is so much more 'advanced' (PC, cars, planes, skyscrapers, etc). Actually we are totally retarded as we invented a system of slavery for the masses whereas all those others had cultures of carefree living without the need to work hard to pay bills. We made ourselves the slaves to our masters (Corporations, governments) by having to do slave work to earn a miserable living of unfree life to be able to buy totally unnecessary dumbing stuff with $ we do not even have, thus turning ourselves into life-long servitude! BRAVO!
Of course Alexander the Great poisoned his foes, and destroyed civilization after civilization as he expanded his empire.
Lol! I love your posts, oregon. I wish I could remember tidbits of info like you do.
Kuwait had an ally strong enough to defeat the invaders. If the tribes had banded together, who knows how this all turns out.
Nothing. That's because it was an archaic culture that was imminently unsustainable.
I can't speak for you, but my lfe in no way sucks that bad. Geez.
K, I'm just old. I've read a lot of this stuff in my lifetime. For instance there have been a few remarks about Ishi. I read about Ishi somewhere around 1970, about the same time I read "The Teachings of Don Juan".
When I was very young one of the first, (all words), books I read was about Black Hawk. It greatly influenced my life.
I have read a great deal about Chief Joseph. Joseph, OR is named for him. It is at the south end of Wallowa Lake, in a valley that was sacred to the Nez Perce. People live there now.
When gold was found in the area the treaty was broken and the Nez Perce were forced out of the area.
A few years ago the people of the area purchased some land and gave it back to the tribe. Still the treaty was broken. Joseph was a very wise and honorable man, who recognized the futility of fighting.
These things all happened many years ago, today our nation is set. There is no need to give land to our own citizens, especially since few follow the "sacred" traditions of their ancient peoples.
Joseph's father, Old Chief Joseph, was a Christian very early on. The breaking of the treaty did cause him to turn from Christianity.
There is no question great harm was done to the ancient people but it is old history, and the result of greed, and war.
That is just the way war goes - - it always has.
I am 3/4 Native American. I am not demanding that all land be returned to us but that certain sacred land is considered. I welcome all those who live here now and continue to look for opportunity. Since this is my ancestral land I hope all of us can develop better communication and understanding of our history so that maybe those who don't know Native American history can wear our shoes for a moment to gain some perspective. That is all. And in regards to the Casino BS, there are less than 10% of recognized tribes that are profiting from Casino's. Who wouldn't take the opportunity to make a lot of money when you don’t have any resources available when many tribes were relocated to areas with no resources at all! So let’s just try and understand each other before we speak.
Why do you keep posting the same thing?
I am 3/4 Native American. I am not demanding that all land be returned to us but that certain sacred land is considered. I welcome all those who live here now and continue to look for opportunity. Since this is my ancestral land I hope all of us can develop better communication and understanding of our history so that maybe those who don't know Native American history can wear our shoes for a moment to gain some perspective. That is all. And in regards to the Casino BS, there are less than 10% of recognized tribes that are profiting from Casino's. Who wouldn't take the opportunity to make a lot of money when you don’t have any resources available when many tribes were relocated to areas with no resources at all! So let’s just try and understand each other before we speak.
Eli, I'm trying to understand and I'm failing miserably. Please help a sister out.
The UN Needs to Stop Getting Into US Way & Let the US Handle It & we all would not be in this mess.
F**K the UN, tell those morons to get the **** out and Stay out. I'm also part Native American.
Our expanse West, not a very pretty time in our history. Widesale slaughter of people and resources. Almost exterminated tribes in New England. Take a guess who used the first biologocal warfare? The English-trading blankets from TB wards to the Pequot Tribes. At least you people's tirade against the native americans have taken the hatred usually uttered about Obama. You people are amazin' have a great day.
The British gave blankets targeting the Indians AND the French. No one knows if they were successful.
the un needs to go to iran ,china,russia places like that and solve there human rights prob. and keep there big fat nose out of our busniss or we will cut moff funding there parties and orgies that they are doing on our dime. If I were pres. they would not be in america,and the un bldg. would be fore the homeliss. What dose iseral have to do with this blog and by the way duncough Iseral has given up land as a fact because God gave them,well just read your bible if you have one and it will tell you what land God gave them duncough.
I think the Federal goverment should give them back their land...American Native's are the rightful owner of those land......
Eli
I am not native american but often wish I was. I study and do research for myself only. Your people were living on these lands for up tp to 15 thousand years have been on record. No white man for years. Just finished a search of hernando Desoto when he first came over and landed in Florida in 1400 something, and how he treated the native's. It was horrific time for the native's. there is a lot of history of natives of the whole U S. Stay proud for yourself. I wish all their lands can be rectified somehow. But it sounds impossible. .
UN give back the land on which your offices stand! It belongs to the people of the United States who have supported your worthless organization with their labor!
Man dominating man to his own injury.
The way we treated American Indians was deplorable - on horrid reservations...living in subhuman conditions. What would be fair/equitable at this point in time, COULD be worked out. HOWEVER, the obsolete, confused, know-nothing, demented, demanding, disfunctional, disjointed, bigoted, bullying entity known as the UN needs to butt out of anythng US - I think they have bigger fish to fry - such as giving the Jews back the territory stolen by the so called' Palestinians. And once they accomplish that, they could consider voluntarily disbanding.
Indians cannot control their own reservations and economics let alone priceless land holdings. Dismantle the reservations and let them assimilate. It would be kinder.