Activism: Indigeneous Peoples' Rights
Alaska Federation of Natives
“The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska. Its membership includes 178 villages (both federally-recognized tribes and village corporations), 13 regional Native corporations and 12 regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums that contract and run federal and state programs. AFN is governed by a 37-member Board, which is elected by its membership at the annual convention held each October. The mission of AFN is to enhance and promote the cultural, economic and political voice of the entire Alaska Native community. Alaska Native people began as members of full sovereign nations and continue to enjoy a unique political relationship with the federal government. We will survive and prosper as distinct ethnic and cultural groups and will participate fully as members of the overall society. The mission of AFN is to enhance and promote the cultural, economic and political voice of the entire Alaska Native community.” - from their website
Amazon Alliance
“The Amazon Alliance is a coalition comprised of nearly one hundred indigenous organizations and allied NGOs that work with indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin. Through the Alliance, these organizations join forces to ensure the protection of fragile Amazonian ecosystems and the rights of the indigenous and traditional peoples of the region. The birth of the Alliance marked a turning point in Amazonian conservation paradigms, at a time when policies typically denied the land rights of Amazonian peoples in favor of parks and conservation programs. In severe cases, this approach led to the relocation of indigenous communities, affecting their social structures and indigenous economies necessary for their survival. Given this critical situation, the environmental community met with the Coordinating Body of Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) in 1990 in Iquitos, Peru, and came to the realization that supporting the Indigenous and Traditional Peoples of the Amazon would lead to the best defense of the Amazonian ecosystem. The participants in the meeting founded the Amazon Alliance to ensure effective coordination between all of the organizations in the Amazon Basin and a political space for indigenous organizations and leaders.” - from their website
Amazon Watch
“[Our mission is] To work with indigenous and environmental organizations in the Amazon Basin to defend the environment and advance indigenous peoples’ rights in the face of large-scale industrial development-oil and gas pipelines, power lines, roads, and other mega-projects.” - from their website
American Civil Liberties Union
“If the rights of society’s most vulnerable members are denied, everybody’s rights are imperiled. The ACLU was founded by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Albert DeSilver and others in 1920. We are nonprofit and nonpartisan and have grown from a roomful of civil liberties activists to an organization of more than 500,000 members and supporters. We handle nearly 6,000 court cases annually from our offices in almost every state. We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.” - from their website
American Indian Movement (AIM)
“AIM has repeatedly brought successful suit against the federal government for the protection of the rights of Native Nations guaranteed in treaties, sovereignty, the United States Constitution, and laws. The philosophy of self-determination upon which the movement is built is deeply rooted in traditional spirituality, culture, language and history. AIM develops partnerships to address the common needs of the people. Its first mandate is to ensure the fulfillment of treaties made with the United States. This is the clear and unwavering vision of The American Indian Movement.” - from their website
Global Exchange
“As an education and action resource center, we advance our vision by working to ensure our members and constituents are empowered locally and connected globally to create a just and sustainable world. Global Exchange takes a holistic approach to creating change. With 20 years working for international human rights, we realize that in order to advance social, environmental and economic justice we must transform the global economy from profit centered to people centered, from currency to community.” - from their website
Indigenous Peoples and the Law
“Indigenous Peoples and the Law is an online institute of law affecting indigenous peoples. It aims to provide links to the best and latest articles available on the internet. Original essays and considered reader responses are also published on this site.” - from their website
International Indian Treaty Council
“The IITC supports grassroots Indigenous struggles through information dissemination, networking, coalition building, technical assistance, organizing and facilitating the effective participation of traditional Peoples in local, regional, national and international forums, events and gatherings.” - from their website
MADRE
“MADRE is driven by a commitment to solutions. We use human rights to advance social, environmental, and economic justice, understanding that human rights are not a hierarchy, but an indivisible set of standards for all people to enjoy. MADRE’s focus is on delivering results - meeting immediate, local needs and creating sustainable, long-term alternatives. Over the past 24 years, MADRE has built a network of community-based women’s organizations worldwide. This network encompasses thousands of women and families - in Sudan, Iraq, Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, Guatemala, Kenya, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Palestine and elsewhere - who are on the frontlines of our global crisis. Yet, as part of the MADRE network, they know that change is not only possible - it is already happening.” - from their website
Transform Columbus Day Alliance
“The Transform Columbus Day Alliance actively rejects the celebration of Christopher Columbus and his legacy of domination, oppression, and colonialism. We also reject historical misconceptions regarding Columbus and his “discovery” of the Americas.” - from their website
United Native America
“Standing up for America and the American Indian Community.” - from their website
