On March 4th, the Italian textile consortium Benetton filed a lawsuit in an Argentinian court that seeks to evict a Mapuche community from the land known as “Santa Rosa.” In February of last year, the Mapuche reclaimed the land after being violently evicted 5 years earlier.

The company claims the tract of land should be returned to them because the Mapuche didn’t listen to the order of Provincial Judge Omar Magellan, who forbade the community from making changes (that irreparably damage) the land.

So what are the changes? A gate, a …

As of January 1st, the indigenous town of Sanmin, located in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan, will be known as the Namasiya Township–marking the first day of a new government-backed effort to reclaim the names of Indigenous towns.

According to a an article on Tawain headlines, “the name rectification is in line with appeals from the indigenous movement as well as the “New Partnership between the Indigenous Peoples and the Government of Taiwan” treaty signed by President Chen Shui-bian in 1999 and reaffirmed in 2002…”

The treaty is made up of seven …

The Cimi-Assessoria de Imprensa, announced today that on August 28, the Brazilian government signed two decrees for the Tupinikim/Guarani, granting them title to 18,070 hectares of lands in the municipality of Aracruz, state of Espirito Santo, Brazil.

You may recall, late last month the Tupinikim/Guarani began a campaign to reclaim their lands. They set out exactly as they had announced, but just two weeks later, on August 11, they were once again evicted.

This recent decision, published in the Federal State Gazette and signed by the Minister of Justice Tarso …

On July 23, the Tupinikim and Guarani along with several Quilombolas began an effort to reclaim 11,009 hectares of land in Espiritu Santo, Brazil— land which is currently occupied and used by Aracruz Cellulose for a Eucalyptus Plantation.

In an Open Letter released the following day, the Commission of Tupinikim and Guarani Chiefs and Leaders stated that they’ve been waiting for nearly 40 years for the government to address this matter, but they do nothing but avoid and delay resolution.

Well, the reclamation was initially successful. They started …

A community from chubut province has filed a criminal action lawsuit against Luciano Benetton, whom they hold responsible from usurping Mapuche lands.

From Real World Radio A member of Santa Rosa Leleque community, Mauro Millan, said in an interview with Mas Voces radio station that Benetton is Argentina’s “largest estate-owner” and that he owns 300 thousand hectares only in Chubut.

The plaintiffs estimate that the business group owns 970 thousand hectares in the Patagonia, where it produces 10 per cent of the wool used for its clothing.

Millan reminded that in …

There’s been alot going on lately with regard to Land Claims issues, actions among Six Nations, and matters related to the June 29th National Day of Protest.

I’m short on time at the moment, but want to post an overview of what’s been going on:

Railways and June 29th

It seems AFN’s Phil Fontaine has pretty much had a change of heart, finally realizing that taking beaurocratic routing to address indigenous Issues is a complete waste of time. It’s still unfortunate that he keeps talking about money, and suggests that ‘we just want what Canada already has…’ There are some that think …

I just posted the following over at my blog on gnn.tv, and thought I’d also share it here. As a side note, I’m also working on several writings focusing on what I briefly mention here, and I found a few good ones from others too. If that sounds good, please stay tuned.

Some under-reported Indigenous Struggles
and our need to be aware of them

In my day to day research I encounter many stories about different actions and events around the world which seem to go largely unnoticed.. I think it’s important that we are aware of them, particularly so we …

There’s a fair amount of spin being put on this, but it’s interesting to see how the New Zealand Government has responded (allegedly, because it would take too long to take another course - like forced removal…)

From Whenua, Fenua, Enua, Vanua: Maori involved in the illegal occupation of two schools, including alleged vandalism and apparent theft of thousands of litres of water, are set to be rewarded with free land leases. The proposed deal has outraged the National Party, which says it sets a precedent for ”bullying” …

One year ago today, the OPP raided a site occupied by Six Nations People, in a failed attempt to end the protest that began at the end of February 2006, to compel Canada and Ontario to uphold The Two Row Wampum — and Respect the Haldimand Proclamation by ceasing a development project and vacating the region, now known as Kanonhstaton.

The past year has been a consistently tense, empowering, and educational experience for people both in support of, and in opposition to the Reclamation Project, and Indigenous Peoples struggles everywhere.

From the …

See the video news segment titled “Whakakoro Customary Ownership” in the News section of the Whangape site

OUR BIRTHRIGHT
We are occupying our ancestral Maunga Whakakoro to stop it from being alienated from the Hapu forever.

WHAKAKORO It is the sacred Maunga of our ancestors Ueoneone and Reitu. All Ngapuhi whakapapa back to these Tupuna. It is the Maunga from which Ueoneone summoned his mystical Manu ( Bird ) to travel to Tainui to return with Reipai and Reitu.

From this event it connects Ngapuhi with Tainui. It is the Mountain that has watched over our Hapu as we have practiced our traditions …