In 2007, following decades of advocacy by indigenous peoples, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Declaration). Today’s challenge is to realize the promises of the Declaration in the lives of indigenous peoples.

In 2018, the University of Colorado Law School (Colorado Law) and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) committed to working on this challenge in the context of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian rights. Together they launched the joint “Project to Implement the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the U.S.” by co-sponsoring a conference at the University of Colorado Law School from March 15–16, 2019.

Over two days, attorneys, scholars, tribal leaders, activists, students and others discussed challenges in federal Indian law and the potential role of the Declaration in advocacy efforts. Collectively, this cohort considered advocacy opportunities around language rights; business and human rights; religious freedoms; cultural rights; Indian child welfare; climate change and environmental policy; and technology, media and communications.

The project has multiple aims, including fostering awareness of the Declaration in Indian Country and working closely with indigenous leaders on implementation efforts. The project partners with non-governmental organizations, universities and other organizations to further indigenous peoples’ human rights and advance education about the Declaration. It also fosters relationships among attorneys, tribal members and others interested in the broader effort. While this is primarily a legal advocacy project, its participants include both lawyers and nonlawyers, some of whom are tribal leaders, traditional cultural practitioners and members of tribal communities. Indigenous peoples’ lifeways, values and knowledge always guide this project.

• Publication of Project Toolkit

  Additional Info

  The toolkit on Implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will be published and disseminated among interested groups. Further details to be provided.

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  Location

  online resource

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Public Program (open to the public)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

• Tribal Implementation Workshop

  Additional Info

  Following the publication of the Tribal Implementation Toolkit, and upon receiving a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, we have begun offering workshops to tribal and Indigenous communities on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and various opportunities for domestic implementation. Two workshops in Oklahoma have been completed, with more planned for 2022.

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  Location

  outside colorado

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Public Program (open to the public)

  Program Fee

  No charge to attend/participate in activity or program