Peter d'Errico: UN conference wasn't win for indigenous peoples

The "outcome document" of the high-level plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly—known as The World Conference on Indigenous Peoples—has generated controversy about whether it represents a "win" for Indigenous peoples. The evidence shows it does not.

As Dina Gilio-Whitaker noted, "Indigenous Peoples had no official say in the drafting process other than their input during the preparation process…and a consultative role through two informal interactive hearings…. This lack of an 'official' voice was why the North American Indigenous Peoples Caucus’ (NAIPC) withdrew … and issued a call to cancel the conference."

The "interactive hearings" listed participants as "representatives of indigenous peoples" and "representatives of entities of the UN system." This separation of Indigenous Peoples from the "UN system" shows why the enthusiastic responses by some Native leaders are misplaced, and why the critics have a strong point.

Will Micklin, 1st Vice President of the Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, acknowledged, "indigenous nations are not members of the UN nor are they subject to the UN Charter." Nevertheless, he declared the outcome document a "victory," saying it demonstrates "serious commitments by UN member states and…concrete and decisive action…."