DATE
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20006
Dear President Obama,
I write to urge you to immediately endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The declaration is a set of principles that would provide Native Americans and Native Alaskans with greater security regarding their basic human rights, including their rights to equality and non-discrimination.
Around the world, 147 countries have endorsed the declaration. Since it is not a treaty it does not require the advice and consent of the Senate for the United States to endorse it. The declaration fortifies much of what is already a part of U.S. law. But it goes a step further and recommends that States adopt a number of principles that would ensure that Indigenous Peoples can exercise their right to free, prior, and informed consent before governments approve projects such as hydroelectric dams, mines, logging, etc., or military activities on their lands. It also affirmatively supports Indigenous Peoples’ rights to teach their languages to their children, and to manifest, practice, and develop, and teach their spiritual and religious traditions to their children. While the declaration is not a self-executing treaty with the full force of law, it comprises the world’s most comprehensive and up-to-date statement of the rights that all Indigenous Peoples – individually and collectively – should possess, and articulates the standards that States should strive to attain to ensure that their rights are protected.
Most of the world’s national governments have endorsed the Declaration. Only two “no” votes remain: Canada and the United States. Let’s not be the last country to endorse an internationally negotiated Declaration that begins to amend historic wrongs against Indigenous Peoples here and around the globe.
Sincerely yours,
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
CC:
Department of State
S/SR Global Intergovernmental Affairs
2201 C. St. NW, Ste. 1317
Washington DC 20520
Email: Declaration@state.gov
