March for indigenous rights

INDIGENOUS people from across the globe gathered in the US capital on Friday for a march drawing attention to social and environmental injustices against indigenous communities worldwide, in what organisers said was a first.

Co-ordinators said more than 1 000 participated in the Indigenous Peoples March, aimed at raising awareness about systemic problems, including police brutality, violence against women, voter suppression and an “environmental holocaust”.

Up to 2.5 billion people depend on indigenous and community lands, which make up more than half of all land globally, but legally own just 10%.

Campaigners say native groups are struggling with encroachment by governments and logging, mining and agribusiness companies.

“We’re here in support of the aims of indigenous peoples across the world – for our safety, health, the protection of our families and our water, for the protection of our lives,” Rufus Kelly, of the Nottoway tribe in Virginia, said. “And we want to make sure that people know we have not gone anywhere – that we are still here. We’re not extinct. We’re right here among you, and we want to share that with you.”

Parallel events took place in other US cities and abroad, said Jesse Phelps of the Lakota People’s Law Project, saying the DC march was a “huge step toward the unification and amplification” of indigenous voices.

This type of solidarity building has been taking place across the globe, said Victoria Tauli-corpuz, the UN’S expert on the rights of indigenous peoples.

“Indigenous peoples in almost all parts of the world are suffering from racism and discrimination and gross violations of human rights, but their persistence in strengthening their movements and communities enabled some to succeed in protecting their lands and territories from environmental destruction.” |