Australia and New Zealand, along with Canada and

the US, stood alone against the 143 nations voting

in favour of the declaration of the rights of

indigenous peoples.

While the colonial governments of Australia, Canada, US, and New Zealand withdrew to the safety of their invader regimes to bury their collective heads in the sand, Indigenous peoples around the world celebrated recently.

Finally, the UN General Assembly had passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on September 13th 2007 by an overwhelming majority in an historic vote in New York.

It was the climax of 22 years of intensive debate and negotiation. It came as no surprise that Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States voted against the declaration, whilst 143 nations voted in favour and 11 abstained.

While in Australia we watch the government overrule the constitution with regard to racial discrimination, the rest of the indigenous world is dancing in the streets.

Kiplangat Cheruiyot of the Ogiek tribe, Kenya said, “Now the lives of indigenous peoples will be on an equal footing with the rest of world citizens.’

Jumanda Gakelebone, Bushman of First People of the Kalahari, Botswana stated, “Governments can no longer treat us as second-class citizens, and tribal peoples are now protected from being thrown off their lands.”

No such protection for usmob here.