Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) Newswire

R.A.V.E.N. - March 16, 2012

As representatives of the Tsilhqot’in Nation which include ?Esdilagh (Alexandria Indian Band), Tsi Deldel (Alexis Creek First Nations), Tl’etinqox‐T’in (Anaham Indian Band), Yunesit’in (Stone Indian Band), Tl’esqox (Toosey Indian Band), and Xeni Gwet’in First Nations (Nemiah Valley Indian Band), we proclaim the responsibility to honor and respect water as a sacred being that sustains all life. We have been placed upon Mother Earth, each in our own traditional sacred land and territory to care for all of creation and water. In recognition of the Rights of Mother Earth we are here today to present a call to action.

We call for the World Water Forum (WWF) take immediate action this year to:

• take immediate and effective measures to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with specific attention paid to the full recognition of Indigenous land rights, including Title, and the Indigenous right to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) when decisions are being made which affect Indigenous Peoples and Territories.

• take full and effective measures to ensure its actions and policies with respect to considering the Indigenous Peoples position that the proposed water policies do not pose a grave threat to the cultural survival of the Indigenous Peoples and the environment. And serious consideration is made to projects that will irreparably alienate the land and its waters from the Tsilhqot’in Nation, and all Indigenous Peoples including their homes, sacred sites, medicinal gathering areas and clean water.

We are in support of an Indigenous World Forum on Water and Peace as a solution to the challenges to the world’s water. The intent of the Indigenous World Forum on Water and Peace (IWFWP) is to bring together a diverse Indigenous knowledge network that integrates multi‐disciplinary approaches to water and peace.

We are in concert with the need to give voice to the Indigenous perspective of guardianship of all sources of water. We as Indigenous Peoples understand this as our sacred duty to protect our relationship to all the elements that comprise life. However, governments, corporations and civil society do not consider the Indigenous teachings of water. We feel it is imperative that the consideration be given to the points that have been raised by Indigenous Peoples of the world regarding the protection, conservation, safety, and access to clean water and sanitation as a priority in any discussion of water issues.

• As Indigenous Peoples, we view Western privatization as unsustainable. Furthermore, the
establishment of water as a commodity violates the basic human right to water and sacred principles of water.

• Those Indigenous peoples who are the most removed from the existing policies and
governmental decision‐making in regard to access and rights to water are the most impacted and require mechanisms for active and meaningful participation of Indigenous peoples in all water policy decisions.

These peoples are not informed, nor are they included in the establishment of policies, or agreements that involve the sale of their water sources. The right of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) must be recognized in all situations where water policy decisions affect Indigenous Peoples.

We, the Tsilhqot’in Nation are in support of the establishment of Water as a right of Nature. We call upon the Ministers and Heads of Delegations assembled in Marseille, France, on 13 March 2012 at the Ministerial Conference of the 6th World Water Forum to support the access to safe water as a basic human right, as recognized by the United Nations General Assembly. A central concern of Indigenous Peoples in all aspects of water and sanitation policy and solutions must be the obligation to ensure that the rights of Indigenous Peoples are respected, upheld and recognized, consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We are a community of members of Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations, Indigenous nations and communities.

Prepared by the Tsilhqot’in Nation:
Tel: (001) 250 392 3918 Fax: (001) 250 398 5798
March 14, 2012

Blaine’s presentation can be found in PDF format here.

http://raventrust.com/blog/2012-03/time-for-solutions-presented-by-blaine-grinder-tl-etinqox-leader-at-the-6th-world-water-forum.html