September 13, 2007: Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

On September 13, 2007, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. G.A. Res. 61/295, U.N. Doc. A/RES/61/295 (Sept. 13, 2007). After years of advocacy, the right of self-determination was finally extended to indigenous peoples.  At the time, four states voted against the Declaration: the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.  I heartily encourage our readers to look at Professor Melody MacKenzie’s insightful article entitled, “The U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Part I,” contained in Ka Huli Ao’s newsletter, Ka Moaʻe.