Resolution to stand for Indigenous Peoples
rights to ecological justice, self-determination and an economy of life
The
Assembly of the World Council of Churches, meeting in Busan, 30
October - 8
November 2013,
guided by the Assembly theme prayer “God
of Life, lead us to justice and peace!”;
recalling the
World Council of Churches’ long committment to stand in solidarity with
Indigenous Peoples;
honoring the
presence and important contributions of Indigenous Peoples in the Ecumenical
movement and member churches in offering alternative visions of life, church
and world;
acknowledging the
vulnerability of Indigenous Peoples globally, their struggles to maintain their
societies, languages, cultures and spiritualites, and alarmed
by the
growing threat facing Indigenous Peoples with respect to resource extraction
and other intrusions;
reaffirms the
committment of the World Council of Churches to stand in solidarity with, and
maintain a programmatic committment on
Indigenous Peoples’ issues the next program period.
Together, we recommend:.
A. Maintain an
Indigenous Peoples desk
Maintain
the Indigenous Peoples desk at the World Council of Churches office in Geneva
to coordinate, facilitate, and realize the programmatic commitment of the World
Council of Churches
by affirming and embodying the vital constitutive contributions of Indigenous
Peoples.
B. Affirm the traditional spirituality of
Indigenous Peoples and their unique place in God’s Church and Creation
Call
on all bodies, member churches, partner institutions, and all affiliates of the
World Council of Churches to support the self-determined aspirations of
Indigenous communities around the world within church structures and
organizations, nurturing relationships based on partnerships which focus on the
cultural, spiritual, social, and economic independence of Indigenous
communities.
Encourage
member churches to reflect upon their own history, and encourage all Christians
to seek a greater understanding of the Indigenous Peoples within their contexts
and to support Indigenous Peoples in their ongoing efforts for their inherent
sovereignty and fundamental human rights as peoples to be respected.
C. Engage Global economic systems in dialogue
aimed at defining and enacting just policy.
As
a financial stakeholder representing tens of millions of congregations,
organizations and individuals worldwide, meet with world bank executives, WTO
members, and the G-20, and negotiate for just policy (including the
"United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" and
the World Health Organization’s “Health in All Policies Plan”) to be included
in all development policies, plans, projects and activities. Further, support
the 2013 United Nations Alta Document, which was created at the World
Conference on Indigenous Peoples, and use it as a guiding document for WCC
policy relating to Indigenous Peoples.
Engage
as an active intermediary between the economic structures listed above, states,
and Indigenous and vulnerable communities, encouraging direct negotiation
between those in power and Indigenous/vulnerable communities.
We
must actively seek peaceful resolution and communication. But when negotiation
fails, and our demands are ignored and dismissed, we must stand aside by
divesting economic interests of the church from the systems of death,
specifically, harmful extractive industry that denies peaceful life to present
and future generations.
D. Attack the roots of colonialism and
empower disenfranchised groups in their own contexts.
Support
and strengthen the grassroots efforts of Indigenous and vulnerable communities
working to dismantle oppressive laws and policies, particularly targeting trade
agreements, international and national practices that promote resource
extraction to the detriment of the health, human rights and sovereignty of
Indigenous and vulnerable peoples. This is consistent with the tactics of the
historical WCC "Program Combating Racism."
Provide
education to member churches and partner organizations on the historical
context of colonialism, including the legal and policy structures created by
the Doctrine of Discovery.
House a global movement to resist
economic oppression.
Coordinate
communication and actions among member churches. These tactics must both
include and go beyond education, including organized boycotts, vigils, lobbying
campaigns, and other actions that specifically target extractive industries,
commercial industries and pleasure-oriented tourism industries that soil the
air, water and food, and also the culture and cultural rights, of indigenous
and vulnerable communities.
Support
Indigenous and vulnerable Peoples rights to mobilization, recognizing the
violation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, including mercy and fact finding
missions, letters to national executives, etc.
Provide support to Indigenous and
Vulnerable Peoples making delegations to the United Nations.
Provide
support in logistics, travel, facilitation, and accreditation to Indigenous and
or vulnerable peoples making delegations to UN agencies to be represented at
interventions, hearings, country reports, and other sessions.