John John: Nde' Delegation to Participate in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

NDÉ ISDZÁNÉ ŁANOHWILE’~~Lipan Apache Women Defense/Strength: Nde' Delegation to Participate in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Representatives from El Calaboz Rancheria, Lower Rio Grande Valley, and Nde' inland traditional territory will participate in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 10th Session, New York City, NY, May 16-27, 2011.

Dr. Margo Tamez (Nde', Co-Founder, Lipan Apache Women Defense) and Chairman Daniel Castro Romero, Jr. (Lipan Apache Band of Texas) will accompany an Apache delegation to present concept papers, research, and interventions related to the human rights violations in the matter of Lipan Apache peoples and Indigenous Proprietary Title ('Aboriginal Title'), land claims, the border wall, gender violence, and the situation of Indigenous women human rights defenders, among the many concerns raised by Nde' communities.

Margo Tamez stated, "We have a specific mandate from our people, and it is up to us to ensure that our peoples' voices and concerns are heard and understood by other Indigenous peoples at the UNPFII 10th Session, by U.N. officials, NGOs, and by States--particularly Spain, the Holy See, Mexico and the U.S. Indigenous peoples in South Texas, the LRGV and along the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo river are and have always been deeply related along cultural, social, political and economic perspectives and our histories of colonization. The Nde' delegation are actively engaging international arenas today more than ever, which is part of a broader movement of Indigenous peoples across the hemisphere. We are finally reclaiming our rightful place in the international legal arena as a Nation--a self-determination process in which Nde Lipan Apaches are uniquely situated for, given our long international relations experiences with Spain, Mexico, Texas and the U.S."