Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 2, 1 February 1993 — Speech rings in year of indigenous peoples [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Speech rings in year of indigenous peoples

Laenui (Burgess) addresses United Nations

by Jeff Clark The United Nations has declared 1993 the International Year for the World's Indigenous People. On Dec. 10, 1992, the U.N.'s Human Rights Day, representatives of indigenous peoples from across the globe were given the opportunity to address the U.N.'s General Assembly. Pōka Laenui (Hayden Burgess), president of the Pacific Asia Council of lndigenous Peoples, spoke on behalf of Hawaiians.

Laenui welcomed the U.N.'s "eall for a new partnership" between its member nations and the indigenous peoples with whom they share territory. But he said any partnership is doomed to failure unless the partners share eommon values and aspirations.

"The theme of domination has permeated every aspect of man's relationship with one another and with his environment. We have witnessed the

institution of slavery, of imperialism and colonization, and of eeonomie conglomerations whieh have demoted the quest for spiritual development to the lowest rung of consideration. In the quest to dominate, we have seen man's rampant

destruction of his immediate environment and his insatiable hunger for further destruction in lands far from his own shores," Laenui told the U.N. He sug-

gested that in the new partnership, "we explore not new ways of sharing in the domination process, but in totally new — : — . modes of conduct

built on the respect of all things to be." Laenui contrasted the values by whieh a society's success is currently measured (gross national product, ineome flow, gross aeeumulahon, etc.) and those by whieh they could be measured, such as

strong cultures, healthy people, respect for the elderly, protection of the children, a pristine environment, and human rights and compassion. "Aren't these

values just as important, if not more important, in the measure of the health of a society? We are looking for a shift in value priorities as we take a position of partnership with others," he said. Laenui, a former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee, said indigenous peoples highly regard the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but would not be a party to the U.N.'s "hypocrisy. How does an international body evoke such high principles and yet include within its membership countries whieh consistently commit gross violations of human rights?" he asked. He named several areas where indigenous peoples' rights are insufficiently protected, and said many other U.N.

members trade with and support the suspect nations. "We eall for an end to such hypocrisy and for firm action to be taken by this institution to end such atrocities," Laenui said.

Because the U.N. General Assembly's rules prohibit addresses by individuals not officially representing a member government, the Assembly adjourned and a special session was called so the indigenous representatives could speak. Laenui said these representatives should occupy permanent places within the General Assembly. "If the U.N. is serious about the formation of a new arrangement with indigenous peoples, then structural changes must take plaee to bring about such an arrangement," he said.

Poka Laenui