Reading the Glenn Morris comment in “Invader-States Hijacked UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples” and Steven Newcomb’s “A Response to Glenn Morris’s Column” alongside Vice President Will Micklen’s “World Conference Takes Concrete Action to Benefit Indigenous Peoples” calls to mind the difference between “demagogues” and the people responsible for governing. “Demagogues” are essentially interested in their own narrow perspective at the expense of comity and deliberative agreement—they try to get support by making false claims and promises and using arguments based on emotion rather than reason. Those who govern a nation either within the framework of a constitution or customary laws have a duty to seek comity and deliberative agreement toward a larger goal. Monsieurs Morris and Newcomb are not accountable to anyone but themselves. Vice President Micklin is responsible to his government and the 29,000 members of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. There is a difference.

In intergovernmental forums such as the United Nations and intertribal bodies such as the National Congress of American Indians one’s accountability counts. Those of us, who head non-governmental organizations, sit as academics, or who study international law may comment or suggest. We cannot and do not exercise the political authority and responsibility of a government. Vice President Micklin and other political leaders participated in the deliberations of the UN leading up to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. They had the duty and responsibility to engage the United Nations and individual UN Member states. That duty has deep roots in the foundational culture of each nation.

Demagoguery does perform a function. It can point out the extreme boundaries of social possibilities, excite emotions and often instill hostility in opponents.