Resolution for Public Issues Committee

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.