When the United Nations passed its Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in September 2007, only four nations voted against it: Australia, New Zealand, Canada – and the United States. Not difficult, historically, to understand why, but what millennium is this? Of course, Bush was president then. But while the Obama administration recently and laudably signaled its intention to reverse the Bush position against endorsing the U.N. Statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, it has not yet indicated a course of action on the indigenous peoples declaration.

While the administration ponders that course, it will get a first bite at a second apple. The Organization of American States (OAS) has produced a Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples specifically aimed at conditions in the Americas. You can send letters urging adoption of the Declaration at the Indian Law Resource Center.

(Thanks to Native America, Discovered and Conquered for bringing this to my attention.)

AJA