Indigenous Rights

We would like to acknowledge and give respect to the traditional owners, Eora Nation, whose land we are standing on today.

Racism and ignorance continue to exist in the world today. We were saddened to learn that even within this forum of social change leaders the ignorance of which we speak has taken place. Some delegates have questioned the reason behind an Indigenous Rights group at OIYP2004, compounding these issues. Please take the information presented to silence the whispers and actions that spread negativity and are formulated on ignorance or selfishness.

We as Indigenous Peoples continue to struggle to maintain our way of life, by appropriate teachings handed down through the generations before us, these teachings are not always portrayed accurately or adequately through the western medias.

The concept of traditions among many Indigenous Peoples is a manifestation of survival that entails an interconnectedness of everything in life, involving physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental balances defined by a group of distinct people (to the dominant society).

Our ancestors did survive thousands of years and out-live genocide attempts fighting for our right to live. We would not have the chance to be here today if our predecessors we were quiet about our struggle and plight: our circumstances as distinct peoples.

Lack of recognition of Indigenous rights on the behalf of our governments and strategic policies of assimilation result in underlying problems we face, such as: drug use/abuse, school drop-outs, inadequate health care and education.

We are asking not for extended rights, but inherent rights, these rights acknowledge our way of life, not only as traditional peoples of our lands but as a group of peoples on this earth, the same earth we share with you.

Accept this knowledge as a gift and selflessly share it with other people, ensuring we all have access to an improved and peaceful world, as all our lives depend on it.