Aboriginal Studies
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Social Justice and Human Rights Issues:
The Global Perspective
National and International indigenous human rights issues.
Human rights and indigenous peoples
Citizenship rights of other Indigenous peoples
Reconciliation
Role of United Nations
World Indigenous Peoples Conference
Sovereignty
References
There are a number of basic rights that people from around the world have agreed on, such as:
- the right to life
- freedom from torture
- other cruel and inhuman treatment
- rights to a fair trial
- free speech
- freedom of religion
- rights to health, education and an adequate standard of living.
These human rights are the same for all people everywhere - male and female, young and old, rich and poor, regardless of our background, where we live, what we think or what we believe. This is what makes human rights ‘universal'.
Rights also describe what is lawful: that is, some rights may be laid down in law. Australia has anti-discrimination laws that are about you being treated fairly in certain circumstances regardless of your age, gender, sexuality, ethnic background, disability, religion or some other central characteristic.
For more information go to Information for Students 
on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
Examine the excellent site Human Rights which is part of the common good civic and citizenship education site on ABC Learn Online .
References
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA )
Human rights and indigenous peoples
Although the history and culture of Indigenous communities vary enormously, there are many parallels in both their world views and their struggles. Making connections across cultures is a great source of potential learning and solidarity for Indigenous peoples worldwide. As the United Nations Decade of Indigenous Peoples draws to an end, these connections will become crucial as Indigenous peoples struggle internationally for their rights, and for the ratification of the UN Draft Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2004.
"Human rights are what reason requires and conscience demands. They are us and we are them. Human rights are rights that any person has as a human being. We are all human beings; we are all deserving of human rights. One cannot be true without the other."
Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations
As Mahatma Gandhi said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
References
Community Aid Abroad - Oxfam
Citizenship rights of other Indigenous peoples
United States: Choctaw Nation
An example of citizenship rights for Indigenous peoples is the Choctaw Nation and the United States. For information visit the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma website .
For the Native American/Indians such as the Choctaw, tribal citizenship and American citizenship became hard to distinguish when in 1897 Congress extended federal law over them requiring presidential approval of every act of their councils. Citizenship and guardianship over Indian lands seems to have gone hand in hand although it seems most Native Americans value their citizenship as do other Americans. A few deny it, notably the still-proud remnants of the Iroquois Confederacy in New York.
Other readings and connections can be found at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission's website
Reconciliation
Canada: Indigenous peoples
On January 7th, 1998 the Government of Canada issued a Statement of Reconciliation which stated in part:
"As Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians seek to move forward together in a process of renewal, it is essential that we deal with the aboriginal peoples of Canada, including the First Nations, Inuit and Mitis. Our purpose is not to rewrite History but, rather, to learn from our past and to find ways to deal with the negative impacts that certain historical decisions continue to have in our society today."
"Reconciliation involves building mutually respectful relationships between Indigenous and other Australians that allow us to work together to solve problems and generate success that is in everyone's best interests. Achieving reconciliation involves raising awareness and knowledge of Indigenous history and culture, changing attitudes that are often based on myths and misunderstandings, and encouraging action where everyone plays their part in building a better relationship between us as fellow Australians."
Reconciliation Australia
References
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation
Role of United Nations
"Governments come and go, but the peoples of the world remain a permanent constituency of the United Nations."
President of Uganda, 1979
General Assembly of the United Nations
Organisations in the United Nations system responded and are still responding to the problems faced by indigenous communities in areas such as human rights, the environment development, education and health (link to current socio-economic status of Aboriginal and Indigenous peoples).
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples available from the United Nations website . It affirms peoples' rights to self-determination; to their land, and to their cultures. It serves as a moral incentive to governments to return them control over their lives and futures. The General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 1993 as International Year for the Worlds Indigenous People.
References
General Assembly of the United Nations
World Indigenous Peoples Conference
WIPCE was founded in 1987 by Dr. Verna J. Kirkness. The very first World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) was held in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1987. The 1987 conference theme was “Tradition, Change and Survival.” Tradition represented by the past and the Elders; Change represented by the present and the youth and Survival represented by the future and the youth. There were participants from 17 countries, with a total of 1,500 people attending the 1987 WIPCE.
References
Who is this child named WIPCE?
Sovereignty
'Sovereignty' is a word that has a technical legal meaning - indeed, it has several technical legal meanings. It also has a less specific general or political meaning. When Aboriginal people in Australia or North America or elsewhere assert their sovereignty, they may be using the phrase in a legal or a political sense, or in a sense that represents some amalgam of the two.
Nettheim, G., Sovereignty and Aboriginal Peoples, Aboriginal Law Bulletin 61; (1991) 1(53)]
References
McRae and Nettheim, Indigenous Legal Issues: Commentary and Materials, Law Book Co Ltd, Sydney, 2009
Reynolds, H., Aboriginal Sovereignty, Allen and Unwin, 1996
ABC Learn Online
Community Aid Abroad - Oxfam Australia
United Nations Human Rights Website
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation
General Assembly of the United Nations
World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA)
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