December 1999

Linking Indigenous Peoples

The Nama Indigenous Dance Group with Ms Hana Tukukino from Aotearoa/New Zealand, and Ms Lucy Mulenkei, a Maasai woman from Kenya and a CAIP delegate, at the official launch of the Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples on November 12 in Durban, South Africa.

THE newly formed Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples was officially launched at the Commonwealth People's Centre associated with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) recently in Durban, South Africa.

On 23 July 1999, a dialogue on Indigenous rights in the Commonwealth, sponsored jointly by the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, was held at the University of London. At this meeting, which was attended by Indigenous people from various parts of the Commonwealth, those present strongly supported the creation of an organisation to progress the interests of Indigenous Peoples in the Commonwealth.

During the following week, the Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples (CAIP) was formed. The fifteen founding member organisations of CAIP include (by Commonwealth region):

Africa Region

• Griqua National Forum (South Africa)
• Kipok Barabaig Programme (Tanzania)
• Olepolos People Programme (Kenya)

Americas Region

• Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations (Canada)
• International Org of Indigenous Resource Development (Canada)
• Mohawk Nation of Kahnawake (Canada)
• WIN Sports Incorporated (Canada)

Asia Region

• Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (India)
• TAUNGYA (Bangladesh)

Pacific Region

• Foundation for Aboriginal & Islander Research Action (Australia)
• Nat. Aboriginal & Islander Legal Services Secretariat (Australia)
• National Indigenous Working Group on Native Title (Australia)
• Nat. Secretariat of Torres Strait Islander Organisations Ltd (Australia)
• Nga Kaiwhakmarama I Nga Ture (New Zealand)
• Pacific Concerns Resource Centre Inc (Fiji)

CAIP's objectives are:

• to provide and promote links between Indigenous Peoples of the Commonwealth;
• to advocate the interests of Indigenous Peoples within Commonwealth fora;
• to promote understanding and education of the identity and status of Indigenous Peoples within the Commonwealth;
• to strengthen information exchange, research and publicity on a pan-Commonwealth basis on Indigenous issues;
• to promote the elimination of racial discrimination against Indigenous peoples;
• to assist in the development of sustainable solutions to land rights conflicts arising over shared territories; and
• to develop recognition of the unique contributions Indigenous peoples make to the family of Commonwealth nations.

Membership is open to Indigenous peoples organisations from within the Commonwealth whose objectives and functions are consistent with the objectives of CAIP.

CAIP was accredited by the Commonwealth Secretariat to send six delegates to the events associated with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Durban, South Africa, from 12 to 15 November 1999. The CAIP delegates included: Mr Cecil le Fleur, CAIP President, (South Africa); Ms Lucy Mulenkei (Kenya); Ms Caren Wickliffe (Aotearoa/New Zealand); Ms Losena Tubanavau-Salabula (Fiji); Ms Felicia Smith (South Africa) and Mr Shane Hoffman, CAIP Secretary (Australia).

The Official CAIP launch was held at 12.30 pm on Friday 12 November in the Commonwealth People's Centre. It was highly successful. Several Commonwealth non-government organisations attended, including the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), represented by former Queensland senator Margaret Reynolds.

The program was opened with Indigenous singing and dancing by the Nama children from Kuboes, South Africa. The opening address was delivered by Mr Cecil le Fleur, CAIP President. Dr William Langeveldt, an Indigenous academic from Southern Africa, spoke about his publication: Aluta Continua! Our Struggle Continues! Lucy Mulenkei, a Maasai woman from Kenya, spoke about the role of Indigenous women in CAIP. A special presentation was made by the Maori people from Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The chair of CAIP, Mr Cecil le Fleur (holding a pen, third from right), conducting a meeting on launch day

FAIRA Aboriginal Corporation
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