TONATIERRA Community Development Institute
PO Box 24009
Phoenix, AZ 85074
www.tonatierra.org

February 20, 2008

Dear Relatives,

Good Greetings. On September 13th 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A new day has dawned for the Nations of Indigenous Peoples of the world in terms of our legal and political relationship with the government states of the UN system. The Indigenous Peoples of the world are now finally acknowledged for the first time as full members of global society with inherent rights of Self Determination under international law. The passage of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly addresses both individual and collective rights, cultural rights and identity, rights to education, health, employment, language and Treaty Rights. Some have called this historic Declaration, which came about after decades of work within the UN system by generations of native leaders from around the world working together, as a Magna Carta for the Indigenous Peoples. For the first time, Indigenous Peoples are officially recognized as “equal to all other peoples..” What are the implications of the Declaration in terms of domestic policies of the US government towards Native American constituencies? What are the implications for the Indian Nations and Tribes of Arizona? We invite you to attend an Indigenous Peoples Consultation, which will take place on Wednesday March 12th, 2008 at the Arizona State Capitol from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon to dialogue on these questions. Present will be Ms. Tonya Gonnella Frichner, Onondaga Nation – Haudenosaunee Six Nations Confederacy. Ms. Gonella Frichner is current regional representative of North America for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. A special presentation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to dignitaries of the State of Arizona is planned during the Indigenous Peoples Consultation. Please consider attending this historic gathering. If you have questions regarding the Consultation, or would like to assist or support in any way with this event, please contact: Mr. Albert Tom, Arizona House of Representatives (602) 926-5862; Shannon Rivers (480) 220-6766; or Tupac Enrique (602) 466-8367. Email: chantlaca@aol.com. Thank you for your kind consideration.

Tupac Enrique Acosta,
YaotachcauhTlahtokan Nahuacalli
TONATIERRA