Proposal: Platform Amendment - Native Americans
Native Americans
110914
(underlined=new; struck-out=deleted) Only the changes are to be commented upon unless there are major changes that need correction
SPONSOR: Platform Standing Group
PRESENTERS/CONTACTS: Peggy Koteen, Pkoteen@aol.com ; Shane Que Hee, squehee@ucla.edu
SUBJECT: Native Americans in the Social Justice and Liveable Communities section. Nonviolence. Social Justice, Personal and Global Responsibility are the involved 10 Key Values of the GP.
Background and Purpose
We recognize the rights of all indigenous peoples worldwide, and we support full self-government on all Indian reservations.
Like many indigenous peoples, Native Americans have been the victims of European colonialism. Today, tribal lands are threatened by oil exploration, mining and toxic poisoning. Native American culture is only meagerly represented in history books.
Sexual violence against indigenous women in the USA has been increasing dramatically. US Government statistics show that Native American Indian women are more likely to be raped than other women, and most of the assaults were perpetrated by non-native men. Many violations of indigenous people go unreported because of the poor response by the authorities.
In addition to the issues raised in the Human Rights /Civil Liberties and Affirmative Action planks, the Green Party supports full rights for Native Americans:
1 Give Native American culture equal weight with European culture in our educational and socialization processes.
2. Support the 500 Years of Resistance Movement which seeks to tell the whole story about the arrival of European culture in the Americas.
3. Recognize treaty rights concerning hunting and fishing at subsistence levels, with catch sizes to be negotiated between tribes and the appropriate government agencies.
Native treaty rights should always take precedence over commercial profits and foreign fishing interests.
4. Recognize Native American claims to ancestral remains and artifacts. Tribes should have full freedom to practice tribal religions on reservations.
5. Strictly Ensure full enforcement of sexual assault laws relative to indigenous women just as they would be enforced relative to non-native women.
6. Introduce culturally-appropriate educational materials in their own language to reservations of indigenous people that deal with what sexual assaults are, measures to prevent them, what to do if assaulted, and what support services are available.
7. Introduce legislation Fully fund and ensure adequate accesss to prohibit under-funding of health facilities for indigenous populations.
8. Oppose oil exploration in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge due to its effect on native tribes, and to its threat to the environment and wildlife.
9. Oppose locating toxic dumps, nuclear tests and other undesirable workings of industrialized society on tribal lands.
10. Oppose the misuse of the criminal justice system, and the use of excessive force, to deny Native Americans their rights.
11. Eliminate barriers to the full involvement of Native Americans in the decisions that will affect them.
12. Support the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.
COMMITTEE DECISION . The revised platform plank was posted on September 29 2014 as a result of the General Assembly directive to incorporate the relevant sections of the voted down platform plank “Sexual Assault of Native Americans and Indigenous Alaskans” by Joel Sarch at the Isla Vista General Assembly of June 12-13 2014. The final version of the plank was voted upon by the voting members of Platform Committee on Nov 9 2014. The voting by Nov 16 2014 was Co-Co Shane Que Hee and Peggy Koteen Yes, and CC Co-Co Marnie Glickman No, with Joe Fulgaro and Jesse Moorman not commenting or voting at any stage.
RESOURCES: This is a revised GPCA platform plank.
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The clean copy follows:
Native Americans 110914
We recognize the rights of all indigenous peoples worldwide, and we support full self-government on all Indian reservations.
Like many indigenous peoples, Native Americans have been the victims of European colonialism. Today, tribal lands are threatened by oil exploration, mining and toxic poisoning. Native American culture is only meagerly represented in history books.
Sexual violence against indigenous women in the USA has been increasing dramatically. US Government statistics show that Native American Indian women are more likely to be raped than other women, and most of the assaults were perpetrated by non-native men. Many violations of indigenous people go unreported because of the poor response by the authorities.
In addition to the issues raised in the Human Rights /Civil Liberties and Affirmative Action planks, the Green Party supports full rights for Native Americans:
1 Give Native American culture equal weight with European culture in our educational and socialization processes.
2. Support the 500 Years of Resistance Movement which seeks to tell the whole story about the arrival of European culture in the Americas.
3. Recognize treaty rights concerning hunting and fishing at subsistence levels, with catch sizes to be negotiated between tribes and the appropriate government agencies.
Native treaty rights should always take precedence over commercial profits and foreign fishing interests.
4. Recognize Native American claims to ancestral remains and artifacts. Tribes should have full freedom to practice tribal religions on reservations.
5. Strickly enforce sexual assault laws relative to indigenous women just as they would be enforced relative to non-native women.
6. Introduce educational materials in their own language to reservations of indigenous people that deal with what sexual assaults are, measures to prevent them, what to do if assaulted, and what support services are available.
7. Introduce legislation that would prohibit under-funding of health facilities for indigenous populations.
8. Oppose oil exploration in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge due to its effect on native tribes, and to its threat to the environment and wildlife.
9. Oppose locating toxic dumps, nuclear tests and other undesirable workings of industrialized society on tribal lands.
10. Oppose the misuse of the criminal justice system, and the use of excessive force, to deny Native Americans their rights.
11. Eliminate barriers to the full involvement of Native Americans in the decisions that will affect them.
12. Support the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.
We welcome all Californians who share the Green vision.
Join us in creating a new politics.
GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
PO Box 485
San Francisco, CA 94104
(916) 448-3437