This pandemic threatens the physical, cultural and spiritual survival of our peoples as well as our baby直播app viability as Indigenous Nations and Native communities. The historic and ongoing human rights violations against Indigenous Peoples have created conditions that predispose听us to the worst impacts of this global pandemic.
鈥�Indigenous Peoples Statement听from the April 15听
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United States, set to take place on November 9, 2020, gives civil society the opportunity to evaluate the U.S.鈥檚 human rights record of the last five years听and recommend听solutions and strategies to improve where needed.
Responding to ramifications of the global COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. Human Rights Network (USHRN) has identified several areas of immediate and urgent concern as to human rights in the U.S. This includes healthcare, sanitation and water, prisons and immigration detention, safeguarding democracy (especially voting rights and the protection of human rights defenders), women鈥檚 rights, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.听
To the latter, First Peoples Worldwide is working with USHRN and its partners to assess听how the U.S. can better protect and preserve the human rights of the more than five million American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian peoples听who reside in its borders, as well as Indigenous Peoples around the world who may be impacted by U.S. international policies and business development.听
In advance of the 2020 review, First Peoples prepared and submitted Observations on the State of Indigenous Human Rights in the United States of America, in collaboration with the, , , and the American Indian Law Clinic at the University of baby直播app.
The report, which details ongoing and potential human rights violations if the U.S. continues to fast-track fossil fuel projects in the Arctic Refuge, states:
The government of the United States has repeatedly failed to protect the human rights of the Gwich鈥檌n by aggressively pursuing oil and gas development in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge without first obtaining the Free, Prior and Informed Consent of the Gwich鈥檌n Nation.
This is consistent with 鈥渁 history of violating the rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly in the context of energy and resource development projects.鈥� Oil and gas lease sales in the Coastal Plain are 鈥渋n direct violation of the human rights of the Gwich鈥檌n Nation and in violation of the , , and repugnant to the principles expressed in the , , and other human rights instruments.鈥�
Outlining integral facets of the Gwich鈥檌n way of life, the report calls for the U.S. to protect the Gwich鈥檌n鈥檚 rights to subsistence, food security and nutrition, health and mental wellness, a clean environment, and free, prior and informed consent, as well as to protect听against religious and cultural harms.
Many Indigenous Peoples face similar human rights violations, and where the听U.S. has failed to consider and protect Native people鈥檚 rights and welfare, enduring recourse听occurs. Recent examples include Tribes defending their lands and resources against the , and pipelines; ; the ; the听; and due to climate change and the historic lack of environmental protections.
The Gwich鈥檌n report is one of over delivered in advance of the U.S. UPR. Several of these听highlight other听ways that Indigenous Peoples听are being negatively impacted by U.S. governance and policy, such as:听
鈥⑻齦ack of land rights and protection of natural resources due to 鈥渋ncreasing federal disregard for indigenous sovereignty in favour of business and competitive interests鈥�
鈥⑻齮he effect of repealed water pollution regulations on Indigenous lands
鈥⑻齨o protection of sacred places from business developments
鈥⑻齞isproportionately high levels of rape, sexual violence and murder among Indigenous women
鈥⑻齞ifficulty prosecuting serious crimes on Tribal lands under 鈥渁 mishmash of federal, state and Tribal jurisdictions鈥�
鈥⑻齠orced displacement of people
鈥⑻齢igh poverty and unemployment rates, which undermine an adequate standard of living
鈥⑻齣nability to access affordable housing, compounded by federal budget cuts
鈥⑻齬ising suicide rates听
鈥⑻齞isproportionate maternal mortality rates听
鈥⑻齮he 鈥渆xpensive and daunting鈥� process to apply for tribal acknowledgement
鈥⑻齞iscriminatory language from the Executive office
That the U.S. must improve its commitment to ensure and protect the human rights of Indigenous Peoples is made more urgent while听鈥�critical protections of Native lands and resources are being trampled鈥� in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
After the 2020 UPR of the U.S. was because of听the COVID-19 crisis, USHRN organized a to address how the pandemic has intensified threats to human rights.
First Peoples, in partnership with , and , prepared a written statement encapsulating Indigenous Peoples鈥� perspectives. Presented by Dr. Octaviana Trujillo Yoeme, the statement [beginning at 43:15 of ] prioritized the following:
Right to Water
鈥iven that hand washing is a key measure for the prevention and spread of COVID-19, we are deeply concerned that Indigenous Peoples and communities who have little access to clean water or sources of water are disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19.
Criminalization of Human Rights Defenders
鈥lready three states have criminalized peaceful protest during the COVID-19 crisis usurping the law and undertaking practices that wouldn鈥檛 be allowed against any other segment of society reflecting the perpetual racism and prejudice faced by Indigenous Peoples.
Easing of Environmental Regulations and Fast Tracking of Oil & Gas Development
鈥mid unresolved concerns, the government expressed the intention to move forward with the lease sales in the middle of this global pandemic and at a time when oil and gas operations are shutting down due to COVID-19 concerns.
Indigenous Peoples鈥� Right to Exist and Forced Migration
鈥e are not being informed by the U.S. Federal or by state Governments about COVID-19 in our primary languages or languages we understand鈥� This in turn generates conditions for the large-scale spread of COVID-19 in our respective communities and baby直播apps that include construction, agriculture, agroindustry, and cleaning amongst other essential jobs.听
Disestablishment of Reservation Land
鈥n the midst of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic鈥� The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe鈥檚 citizens are currently suffering a massive loss of resources and services due to the uncertainty of the trust status of the reservation.
The statement concludes that 鈥渃ollective resilience and resistance鈥� are grounded in Indigenous Peoples鈥� 鈥渓ifeways, cultures, cosmovision, and with a vision toward the future.鈥�听 It provides the following recommendations to the U.S.: 1) consult with Native leaders and communities to understand 鈥渒ey priorities and needs to ensure that they have access to needed resources and support to deal with the health, food, water, and security emergencies that have arisen during this global pandemic鈥�; 2) adhere to minimum standards of Indigenous rights as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and 3) conduct an official investigation into human rights infringements on Indigenous women and children in the U.S. due to COVID-19.听
It is more important than ever to develop immediate plans and implement long-term solutions that will prioritize and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples as we adjust to our new normal and begin to work towards a better one.