Chickaloon chief attends indigenous meeting in Geneva

Chickaloon Views by Patricia Wade

Chickaloon chief Gary Harrison attended the UN draft declaration on indigenous human rights in Geneva in February.

The first few days were spent on discussions -- verging on arguments --about how to proceed with the presentation to make the procedure transparent.

The nation states explained they didn't want to include text that would weaken the document. Harrison stated if they added economic and cultural genocide, it would strengthen the document from the indigenous point of view.

But the nation states' point of view conveys if it's too ambiguous or controversial, then it weakens the document and gives people something to argue about.

The biggest problem was the nation states economically can't afford to give indigenous people rights to their land and resources and rights to autonomy.

But the indigenous people can't afford to give up because even if they settled for 10 percent that means that they are giving up 90 percent of their future generations.

Harrison explained that the committee ends in 2004 so we need to figure out what the consequences are for or against coming to an agreement.

The situation created by 9/11 may complicate our indigenous rights even more. An agreement had not been reached.

Chief attends oil and gas meeting

Chief Harrison attended the Oil and Gas meeting in Fairbanks on Feb. 23.

Participants were moving ahead as if drilling ANWR was a foregone conclusion. We at Chickaloon Village have always supported the Gwich'In, and we all stand together firmly regarding any resource development, unless it's controlled by indigenous people. Later, if other people want to have development in their area, it won't affect the Gwich'In. This idea came from Gwich'In Chief Evan Peter, who is also the representative for Gwich'In International.

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