De-Brief Report:

Global Indigenous Peoples Preparatory Conference For the UN High Level Plenary
To be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Issues 2014

(10-12 June 2013, Alta, Norway)

To: All interested parties From: Carwyn Jones, Hone Harawira and Catherine Davis (Aotearoa Delegates for the WCIP Global Indigenous Peoples preparatory Conference, Alta, 10-12 June 2013) Date: 23 June 2013 BACKGROUND 1. On 10-12 June 2013, the Global Indigenous Peoples Preparatory Conference ( the Global Conference) for the High Level Plenary of the United Nations General Assembly (to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Issues 2014 or WCIP) was held in Alta, Norway.1 2. The Global Conference, including travel and accommodation for Indigenous Delegates, was made possible by the generous funding contribution of the Parliament of the indigenous Saami peoples of Norway. Caucuses and Delegates 3. The Global Conference comprised participation by Indigenous Peoples Caucuses from the seven UN regions of the world (Africa; Asia; Central and South America and the Caribbean; the Arctic; Eastern Europe; the Russian Federation; North America; and the Pacific), the Indigenous Womens Global Caucus and the Indigenous Youth Caucus. Preparatory Meetings 4. Each Indigenous Peoples caucus held its own preparatory meeting in the months leading up to the Global Conference. The objective of each preparatory meeting was to produce a caucus Outcome Document containing concrete actions aligned with Indigenous Peoples priorities concerning in particular the implementation of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration). This would be presented to the Global Conference as the basis for drafting a Global Indigenous Peoples Outcome Document to in turn be used as the basis for negotiations with UN member States in the production of a final Outcome Document for adoption by both States and Indigenous Peoples at the WCIP. Global Conference Delegate Selection

Information on the WCIP is available at http://www.wcip2014.org/ . For official UN information on WCIP modalities, see UN document A/RES/66/296, 15 October 2012 at http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=%20A/RES/66/296 .

5. Pacific delegates to attend the Global Conference were selected according to a process agreed to by participants who attended the Pacific Indigenous Peoples preparatory meeting held 19-21 March 2013, in Redfern Sydney.2 6. Compliant with that process,3 four delegates were selected from Aotearoa: Catherine Davis, Hone Harawira, Carwyn Jones and Hema Broad. Tracey CastroWhare was also present at the Global Conference, but officially as a member of the WCIP Global Coordinating Committee (GCG) Secretariat. Draft WCIP Outcome Document 7. All Indigenous preparatory meetings appointed Rapporteurs to meet in Madrid, Spain, on 6 and 7 May 2013. Their terms of reference were to work with other appointed Indigenous Rapporteurs in the drafting of an Outcome Document for consideration at the Global Conference, and to finalise drafting of that document at the Global Conference. The Pacific preparatory meeting appointed Mr Mick Dodson (Australia) and Ms Mililani Trask (Hawaii) as our Rapporteurs. Caucus activity at the Global Conference 8. All caucuses convened meetings on 9 June in Alta to brief delegates and further prepare for the Conference. Thereafter, caucuses met daily outside plenary session hours to prepare for each days Agenda items, to discuss and decide on any associated issues arising and to organize work in between plenary sessions (such as the drafting of statements to the plenary). Caucus break out sessions were also convened during the plenary sessions at the discretion of the Conference Bureau (the Bureau4 - for example, to enable caucuses to discuss aspects of work in a more timely manner). 9. The Pacific Caucus appointed Brian Wyatt (Australia) and Catherine Davis (Aotearoa) as caucus Co-Chairs for the duration of the Global Conference. CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS Day One Preliminary Matters 10. Day one began with the official opening and the Election of Officers, including the Bureau members appointed to share chairing and other duties associated with the Conference. The Pacific Caucus elected Bureau member was Les Malezer (Australia). Caucus Reports 11. Day one continued with the presentation of reports from each of the caucuses preparatory meetings, and general discussion about the content of those reports.5 Draft Outcome Document, and Strategic Action Plan
2

This selection process included the coordination of networking and communications by country focal points to facilitate inclusivity in the selection process. Dayle Takitimu was the original focal point for Aotearoa. However, Dayle notified that due to other commitments she had to step down from that responsibility. By default, Catherine Davis took over Dayles role. 3 This included direct consultation by conference call with Moana Jackson and Prof. Margaret Mutu. 4 See para 10 below. 5 Each of those meeting reports may be found at http://wcip2014.org/indigenous-peoples.

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12. The Bureau also presented two key documents on day one for all delegates consideration: a. The draft Outcome Document (from Madrid6); and b. The draft Strategic Action Plan for the WCIP 7: This contains time-framed actions intended to facilitate the most successful outcome for Indigenous Peoples regarding the WCIP (for example, further meetings and lobbying). Day Two 13. On day two, the Global Conference held a general debate on the Outcome Document and Strategic Action Plan for the WCIP.8 Much feedback was received from caucuses about the Strategic Action Plan, indicating the desire for substantial amendments and additions to be made to it. The Bureau announced that due to the need to prioritise production of the Outcome Document, the Strategic Action plan would be finalised post the Global Conference. On this day, the Rapporteurs began intensive drafting sessions on the Outcome Document based on the statements received from the caucuses. Day Three 14. On the last day of the Global Conference (after an extended plenary interspersed with caucus drafting and discussion breakout sessions), the delegates finally reached agreement on and unanimous endorsement of the Global Outcome Document. Despite caucuses having to make compromises on certain clauses and text within the document, none the less the general feeling at the end of the day as expressed by the caucuses, the Bureau and dignitaries present was that endorsement was an historical achievement in the ongoing journey of Indigenous Peoples efforts to progressively realise the recognition and implementation of our human rights. WHERE TO FROM HERE The WCIP Outcome Document 15. The Outcome Document to be considered at the WCIP will be a culmination of States and Indigenous Peoples priorities in terms of Declaration implementation. In preparation for the WCIP, UN member States will also produce their own Outcome Document. Lobbying of States to ensure inclusion of our priorities (as contained in our Global Outcome Document) in the hybrid Outcome Document for the WCIP will therefore comprise a key aspect of the Indigenous Peoples Strategic Action Plan. 16. However, being a UN event ultimately run according to UN rules and procedures and controlled by States,9 there is uncertainty as to the extent to which the recommendations and text in the Alta Outcome Document will be included and reflected in the WCIP Outcome Document. Influencing the final WCIP Outcome Document will depend to a large degree on the effectiveness of Indigenous Peoples lobbying.
6 7

This had actually been circulated electronically ahead of the Global Conference. See attached document. 8 For the Pacific Caucus combined statements on the draft Outcome Document, see http://www.scribd.com/doc/149289284/Pacific-Statements-combined-regarding-Alta-IndigenousPeoples-Outcome-Document-2013 . 9 See note 1 above.

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WCIP Participation Indigenous Peoples Concerns 17. Given the rules and procedures for the WCIP as contained in the applicable GA resolution (known as the modalities document),10 Indigenous Peoples have expressed many concerns that their involvement in the event will not be in accordance with standards of full and fair participation in matters that affect Indigenous Peoples.11 More specifically (and in addition to the concern in para 16 above about the negotiation of the WCIP Outcome Document), the modalities document reflects that: a. Participation by Indigenous Peoples organizations and institutions is not UN funded, meaning Indigenous Peoples have to find their own funding not just for WCIP participation but also for all preparatory activities (one of the differences with a true UN World conference which is funded12); b. the WCIP was reduced from two days to 1 days (ref para 1. Note that the WCIP was originally supposed to be 3 days); c. Member States will have the final decision on which Indigenous Peoples organizations and institutions will participate in the WCIP (para 3 (h)); and d. Ultimately places the approval of the WCIP Outcome Document solely in the hands of Member States (para 9). 18. Generally, these and other observations have led to criticisms that the States will use the WCIP to showcase and promote the positives of Indigenous Peoples situations and play down the negatives. Others feel that a more insidious agenda of certain States will be to redefine the language and interpretation of the Declaration, for example: a. by emphasizing the prominence of Article 46 of the Declaration which speaks of actions which might impair the territorial integrity or political unity of States (raised by States in the context of arguing that Indigenous Peoples attempts to have their own self-determination is basically separating from the State, and therefore inconsistent with Article 46); or b. by re-interpreting the meaning of terms such as self determination and its application to all Indigenous Peoples.13 19. Some feel that Indigenous Peoples legitimize this inequitable situation by our participating in it. Indigenous Peoples support 20. On the other hand, proponents for participation in the WCIP argue that it is the nature of the beast that Indigenous Peoples hard fought for gains at the UN have
10
11

See note 1 above. E.g., ref Article 18 of the Declaration: Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decisionmaking in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures. 12 Which is why the WCIPs official name is High Level Plenary of the United Nations General Assembly to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Issues 2014, not actually a World Conference. 13 For example, the Hawaiian delegates advised that due to ongoing objections to Hawaiis calls for decolonization, the Obama Administration in the USA is effectively saying that Hawaiians have less of a right to self determination than other Indigenous Peoples do. There is speculation that the USA may use the WCIP to further legitimize this policy position.

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been made incrementally and progressively over a long period of time. Although Indigenous Peoples continue to rightly strive for full and fair participation, it is at the same time understood that the UN system is the member States space, and therefore not Indigenous Peoples to control (yet). These commentators also consider that Indigenous Peoples must maintain a presence at the UN to bear direct witness of the behaviour of States. Summary 21. Indigenous Peoples need to decide how we continue to participate and involve ourselves in the WCIP from this point forward. Up until now, most Indigenous Peoples delegates and organizations have considered that the regional and global preparatory meetings have been a fantastic opportunity for Indigenous Peoples to hold our own gatherings where we control the modalities and agenda. We have rarely had such an opportunity to date. The Alta Outcome Document is already being treated as a stand-alone declaration that sets the benchmark for a global Indigenous Peoples voice on our priorities in terms of State, UN and Indigenous Peoples action to be taken to promote and protect our responsibilities and rights. This has huge value in itself, despite how the WCIP might ultimately go, and despite any State action (or inaction) in the future. 22. Neither do we as Indigenous Peoples wish to be divided through potential internal conflict among our Indigenous Peoples organizations and communities over the rightness or wrongness of participating in the WCIP. Some Indigenous Peoples have already expressed caution in demonizing one another for our choice in this matter. Rather, we should recognise the diversity of our political choices, and identify the opportunities for collectively working together in an overarching strategy for the progressive realization of self-determination and the standards contained in the Declaration. The question is how to maintain effective plurality of action while maintaining our respective integrity in regards to our decisions and actions moving forward. Appointment of WCIP Delegates 23. The process for the appointment of Indigenous Peoples WCIP Delegates is expected to reflect the process used for appointment of Alta delegates, including the allocation of delegate numbers across the regions. We understand that the GCG will announce that appointment process shortly, and Mori will need to determine who they wish to nominate for consideration in this process. RECOMMENDATIONS 24. We recommend that Mori: a. Note that there are arguments for and against Indigenous Peoples participation the WCIP; b. Support WCIP participation, bearing in mind the concerns raised by Indigenous Peoples; c. Note all the preparatory work (lobbying, fundraising, networking with other Pacific and global Indigenous Peoples delegates, etc) that is needed for effective WCIP participation. d. Note also that the draft strategic WCIP action plan presented at Alta has yet to be finalised, but Indigenous Peoples will need to produce and implement strategic plans specific to our own regions and countries; Page 5 of 6

e. Determine the nature and degree to which they will resource and support those Mori involved in the WCIP activities moving forward; f. Note that the GCG is expected soon to announce the appointment process for Indigenous Peoples WCIP Delegates, and Mori will need to determine who they wish to nominate for this process; and g. The Alta Delegates meet for a de-brief with key Mori rights advocates and other interested parties to determine where to from here.

N, Carwyn Jones, Hone Harawira and Catherine Davis Aotearoa Delegates for the WCIP Global Indigenous Peoples preparatory Conference, Alta, 10-12 June 2013

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