International Indian Treaty Council

International Indian Treaty Council is a non-United Nations organization that was established in 1974 by Lakota Oglala Sioux AIM leader Russell Means and Anishinaabe Cree Indigenous rights activist Matthew Coon Come. The organization was founded to promote the rights of Indigenous peoples and to support the implementation of treaties and agreements between Indigenous nations and Canada, United States, and other countries. The council has worked closely with organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund to advance the rights of Native Americans and Indigenous peoples in North America. The organization has also collaborated with international organizations such as the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the International Labour Organization to promote the rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide.

● History

The International Indian Treaty Council was established in 1974 at a gathering of Indigenous peoples from across North America at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The organization was founded in response to the Wounded Knee incident and the AIM occupation of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, which highlighted the need for Indigenous peoples to have a stronger voice in international affairs. The council's early work focused on supporting the rights of Native Americans and Indigenous peoples in North America, including the Inuit and First Nations in Canada. The organization has also worked with Latin American Indigenous peoples, such as the Maya people and the Quechua people, to promote their rights and interests. The council has been supported by human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch, as well as by churches and faith-based organizations such as the World Council of Churches and the Catholic Church.

● Organization

The International Indian Treaty Council is a non-governmental organization that is governed by a board of directors composed of Indigenous peoples from across the Americas. The organization has a secretariat that is responsible for its day-to-day operations, and it is headquartered in San Francisco, California. The council has a number of regional offices, including in Ottawa, Canada, and Mexico City, Mexico. The organization works closely with other Indigenous peoples organizations, such as the Native American Rights Fund and the Indigenous Peoples' Biocultural Climate Change Assessment, to advance the rights of Indigenous peoples. The council has also collaborated with academic institutions such as the University of British Columbia and the University of Arizona to promote research and education on Indigenous peoples issues.

● Objectives

The International Indian Treaty Council has a number of objectives, including the promotion of the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and autonomy. The organization also seeks to support the implementation of treaties and agreements between Indigenous nations and Canada, United States, and other countries. The council works to promote the rights of Indigenous peoples to their traditional lands and natural resources, and to support their efforts to protect their cultures and languages. The organization has also worked to promote the rights of Indigenous women and to support their efforts to address violence against women and other forms of discrimination. The council has collaborated with organizations such as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the International Women's Health Coalition to promote the rights of Indigenous women.

● Activities

The International Indian Treaty Council has been involved in a number of activities over the years, including advocacy and lobbying efforts to promote the rights of Indigenous peoples. The organization has worked to support the development of international law and policy related to Indigenous peoples, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The council has also provided technical assistance and capacity building support to Indigenous peoples organizations and communities, particularly in the areas of human rights and environmental protection. The organization has collaborated with non-governmental organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund and the World Wildlife Fund to promote the rights of Indigenous peoples to their traditional lands and natural resources. The council has also worked with governments such as the Government of Canada and the United States Department of the Interior to support the implementation of treaties and agreements related to Indigenous peoples.

● International Recognition

The International Indian Treaty Council has received international recognition for its work promoting the rights of Indigenous peoples. The organization has been accredited by the United Nations Economic and Social Council and has consultative status with the United Nations. The council has also been recognized by the Organization of American States and the European Union for its work promoting the rights of Indigenous peoples. The organization has received awards and honors from organizations such as the Right Livelihood Award and the Indigenous Peoples' Biocultural Climate Change Assessment, and has been supported by philanthropic organizations such as the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. The council has also collaborated with celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Angelina Jolie to promote the rights of Indigenous peoples and to support their efforts to protect their cultures and traditional lands. Category:Indigenous rights organizations