Indigenous Rights on Chopping Block of UN #COP21 Paris #Climate Accord | #Indigenous Flotilla of Kayaks & Press Conference Demanding True Climate Solutions at COP21 | Indigenous Rising

***Media Advisory*** 
#Indigenous Flotilla of Kayaks & Press Conference Demanding True Climate Solutions at COP21 ---

Indigenous Rights on Chopping Block of UN #COP21 Paris #Climate Accord

Paris – Saturday – December 5th – On Friday December 4th, Indigenous Peoples from around the globe demonstrated inside the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC/COP21) convention centre at Le Bourget. The protest was carried out to highlight objections to the proposed removal of language pertaining to both the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights from Article 2.2 of the draft Paris Accord, ending the first week of negotiations. Norway, the UK and the EU have been key players in this removal of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Despite such vocal objections from Indigenous Peoples and their allies, the operative text of the Paris Accord, as it stands today, has had the rights of Indigenous Peoples language/clauses removed, and there is now a proposal to have ‘Human Rights’ removed as well.  At present, this leaves the rights of Indigenous Peoples only reflected within the preamble – which is purely aspirational text, and not legally binding or enforceable in any way. 

“The inclusion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples text, in addition to Human Rights text is crucial. A Western, non-Indigenous evaluation of Human Rights does not necessarily adequately protect our rights as Indigenous Peoples,” states Princess Daazhraii Johnson, REDOIL Alaska spokesperson. 

“Many of our Indigenous peoples still live off the land, living a subsistence-based lifestyle. And given that many of the world’s fossil fuel reserves are on or adjacent to Indigenous lands, we must protect our collective rights to self-determine our relationship to Mother Earth by rejecting false solutions to addressing climate change,” concluded Ms. Johnson...

more: Indigenous Rights on Chopping Block of UN COP21 Paris Climate Accord | Indigenous Rising

Indigenous Flotilla of Kayaks & Press Conference Demanding True Climate Solutions at COP21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Contact:

Dallas Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network, France: +33 75 1413 823, US: (708) 515-6158, dallas@ienearth.org

Andrew Miller, Amazon Watch, (202) 423-4828, andrew@amazonwatch.org

Jonathon Berman, Sierra Club, (202) 495-3033, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org

***Media Advisory***

Indigenous Flotilla of Kayaks & Press Conference Demanding True Climate Solutions at COP21

During the COP21 climate talks in Paris, Indigenous Peoples from the Arctic to the Amazon and their allies will gather to demand real climate solutions, including bottom-up initiatives originating in Indigenous knowledge, culture, and spirituality. 

What: Sunday’s event will feature an all-indigenous flotilla of kayaks followed by a press conference featuring Indigenous leaders from the Americas offering solutions to stave off the worst of climate change and protect Mother Earth. 

• The launching of a declaration calling on world leaders to keep fossil fuels in the ground, led by Indigenous peoples and signed by over 150 organizations.
• The signing announcement from Indigenous women leaders from North and South America of a treaty to protect Mother Earth.
• Presentation of the Kawsak Sacha “Living Forest” proposal from the Amazon rainforest by the Kichwa Indigenous people of Sarayaku. 
• Indigenous flotilla on the Bassin de la Villette, including Sarayaku’s “Canoe of Life” which has traveled 6000 miles to Paris with a message from the Amazon.

When: The flotilla action will start Sunday, December 6th at 2 pm local time, immediately followed by a press conference

Where: Péniche Antipode barge on the Bassin de la Villete Canal. 55 Quai de la Seine, 75019 (Closest metro station: Riquet on the 7 Line)

Who: The press conference will be led by Indigenous peoples organizations and movements including Indigenous Environmental Network; Idle No More, and the Kichwa community of Sarayaku from Ecuador. 

Indigenous spokespeople speaking at the press conference:

1. Felix Santi (Kichwa): President of the Kichwa community of Sarayaku in the Ecuadorian Amazon, speaking about the Canoe of Life and the Living Forest concept;
2. Faith Gemmill (Gwich’in & Pit River/Wintu): Executive Director of Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands, speaking on the Declaration to Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground;
3. Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca): Native rights activist, environmentalist and actress, speaking on the Indigenous Women’s Treaty; and
4. Ena Santi (Kichwa): Sarayaku Council Member in charge of Women’s Issues, speaking on the Indigenous Women’s Treaty

Other spokespeople available for comment post-press conference:

• Tom Goldtooth (Dine’ and Dakota): Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network
• Leila Salazar-López: Executive Director of Amazon Watch
• Eric Pica: Executive Director of Friends of the Earth
• Esperanza Martínez: Director of Acción Ecológica
• Lindsey Allen: Executive Director of Rainforest Action Network
• May Boeve: Executive Director of 350.org
• Mary Anne Hitt: Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign

Visuals: 

• Indigenous flotilla of several canoes and at least 25 kayaks adorned with Indigenous art work representing the different Indigenous cultures participating in the event;
• Colorful banners and flags; and
• Indigenous representatives wearing their traditional attire and regalia

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