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Message travels from Kotzebue to Geneva

December 9th 2:10 am | Carey Restino Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

When Ian Erlich traveled from Kotzebue, Alaska to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in September, it was enough to think that he would have a chance to participate in a panel discussion about decolonization. Erlich, the CEO of Maniilaq Association, had become involved with the efforts of Ronald Barnes and the Indigenous Peoples and Nations Coalition. The panel discussion of the Human Rights Council was focused on the decolonization of indigenous lands.

That night, however, Erlich was informed that he was going to have an opportunity to speak before the council the following day, and he and his traveling companions scrambled to come up with a two-minute speech to cover the complicated issues concerning the history of Alaska's Native peoples.

Just minutes before he took the floor, he was informed that they needed to add several pieces to his speech, including recognition of the Special Rapporteur and references to a report on extractive industries. A secretary from the Human Rights Council took his speech and scribbled the additions on it, Erlich said, but he couldn't read the handwriting. So they wrote it again, but again, it was illegible. Finally, the changes were printed on the back of the speech.

"I had arrows going from the front to the back," Erlich said, adding that all of these factors added to a general nervousness about speaking in front of the auspicious council.

Despite the frantic nature of the events leading up the speech, Erlich said he felt his point was well received. One person told him it was the first time they understood the case in Alaska. At subsequent airings of his speech elsewhere, the plea for reconsideration of placement of Alaska on the self-governing territories list was heard by others, too, Erlich said.

The experience of traveling to Switzerland and speaking at the United Nations was memorable, Erlich said, from the stories he heard and people he met from around the world, to the extraordinary space in which the assembly gathered.

Erlich said he's hopeful that his speech will bring light to the effort to have Alaska's position reconsidered under international law and that more Alaskans will learn that this effort is underway.

"If there's anything that will help, it's greater participation from Alaska Natives in the effort," Erlich said, adding that plenty of opportunities exist to support the effort.

Erlich said people are welcome to contact him if they want more information, either by phone or email. A recording of his speech at can be seen at http://www.unmultime- dia.org/tv/webcast/2011/09/iassw-clus- tered-id-on-indigenous-peoples-19th-plena- ry-meeting.html.

 

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