Indigenous Notes, Issue 2 2011

Our program to advocate for indigenous peoples affected by multilateral development banks is a cornerstone of the work at the Indian Law Resource Center.  This project began in the late 1970s when the Center represented the Yanomami people of Brazil.  The Yanomami lived a peaceful and self-sufficient life, with no ties to the global economy, until Brazil received money from the World Bank to build a road through their territory.  The road unleashed chaos within the Yanomami communities.  With this case, we showed the World Bank that ignoring the rights of indigenous peoples when investing in development projects hurts communities and individuals. (More…)

Agua Caliente, a Maya Q’eqchi’ indigenous community of 385 people living in El Estor, in the   country’s Izabal province, filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights concerning the violation of their rights to property, self-government, due process of law   and judicial protection by the state of Guatemala.  The Complaint centers on a 40-year dispute over the community’s traditional ownership rights to land rich with nickel deposits. (More…)

International Commission Decision Brings New Hope to Native Women Facing Domestic Violence in the U.S.

An international human rights body has done something that federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court, failed to do — bring justice to a domestic violence survivor. (More…)

OAS Photo

On July 14, 2011, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs convened a long overdue oversight hearing on “Native Women: Protecting, Shielding, and Safeguarding Our Sisters, Mothers, and Daughters.”  In support of efforts to inform the Committee on the epidemic of violence against Native women, the Indian Law Resource Center submitted written testimony to be included in the hearing record. (More…)

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Releases Draft Tribal VAWA Reauthorization Bill

After its July 14, 2011 hearing on “Native Women:  Protecting, Shielding, and Safeguarding Our Sisters, Mothers, and Daughters,” the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs recently released a draft bill containing tribal provisions for the 2011 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.  The draft bill, which is posted on the Committee’s website, http://indian.senate.gov/issues/2011-08-15.cfm, includes a partial “Oliphant fix,” that would restore limited tribal jurisdiction over certain crimes by non-Indians in Indian country.  (More…)

Will your tax dollars be contributing to the demise of the world’s indigenous communities?  Get Informed!

On Monday, July 11, 2011, the Indian Law Resource Center sent a letter to World Bank President Robert Zoellick criticizing the World Bank’s safeguard policy update and consolidation process because it is likely to lead to weak policies that encourage serious and widespread human rights violations, especially against indigenous communities.  Safeguard policies are rules that prevent the World Bank from funding projects that can harm people and the environment. (More…)

The Senate Committe on Indian Affairs held an oversight hearing, Setting the Standard: Domestic Policy Implications of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, on June 9, 2011.  (More…)

A Charitable Gift Annuity is a contractual agreement between a donor and a nonprofit organization.  The donor gives the non-profit a lump sum of money for which they agree to pay the donor an income as long as the donor lives. When the donor passes, any remaining money belongs to the charity. (More…)

Métis Nation President visits Easter Island to Support Indigenous Rights Struggle

Erity Teave translates comments from Robert Coulter (far right) and Leonardo Crippa as they discuss how international law could be used to protect the rights of the Rapa Nui.