Native Hawaiian Self-Determination Included in Platform Adopted by Dems

Day 2 of the Denver convention saw a step forward for the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, or so-called Akaka bill.

The Democratic Party determined to include its support for Native Hawaiian self-determination and sovereignty in its platform formally adopted during the convention.

Barack Obama himself, who was raised in Hawai'i, had already expressed his support in january and promised to sign the bill that would allow Native Hawaiians to negotiate over control of land and assets.

John McCain, who had served as chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, has said he opposes the bill.

Colleen Hanabusa, a member of the Hawaii Delegation at the convention, praised the decision. The fact that you have Native Hawaiians recognized alongside Native Americans is really a major statement," she said in a report on KHON News.

For a concise background account of the bill, its status in the election season, and the two candidates' positions, see the Honolulu Advertiser's report.

There is hope for the world!

From the Guardian:

Paraguay: Former slave gets cabinet position

Margarita Mbywangi, a tribal chief who'd been captured and sold into slavery, has become the first indigenous person to oversee ethnic Indian affairs in Paraguay. She'll serve under newly-elected progressive president, Fernando Lugo.

Here:

International Day of the World's Indigenous People

9 August

---

By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the General Assembly decided to celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. In 2004 the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade by resolution 59/174. The goal of this Decade is to further strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development. In April 2000, the Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution to establish the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which was endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in resolution 2000/22 of 28 July 2000. The mandate of the Permanent Forum is to discuss indigenous issues related to culture, economic and social development, education, the environment, health and human rights.

The Case for Diane Benson, first Native American women to run for Congress

Nation magazine editor, Katrina Vanden Heuvel, blogs her strong support for Diane Benson, waging a tough fight to unseat Repbulican representative Don Young for Alaska's at large Congressional seat, despite the fact the Young faces criminal allegations for bribery and extortion. But first Benson must defeat a Democratic challenger in the primary on August 26, Ethan Berkowitz. Berkowitz has got the Democratic establishment on his side. But Benson, who grew up poor, even destitute, has grass roots and progressive support.