Madame Chairperson, Distinguished delegates: (Spoken in Cayuga)Hello to you all, I am thankful for the many things our creator has given us. I am happy your mind is well, and you have good thoughts today.
My name is Kim Morf and I am here today to give thanks to those that have made the UNPFII possible. On behalf of my great grandfather Levi General, better known as Chief Deskaheh of the Haudenosaunee, I commend the Forum. In 1923 my GG left Canada on a quest for aboriginal rights by travelling to London and then Geneva to seek support from the League of Nations for his people. The Haudenosaunee refrained from engaging in war because they wished to rely on peaceful policies such as those echoed in the LN & UN Covenants. Chief Deskaheh was determined to preserve the treaty rights of the Haudenosaunee, and he believed in the “Spirit of Geneva” and felt the LN was the venue to give voice to the smaller nations of the world. I give thanks to the nations of Estonia, Ireland, Panama, Persia & the Netherlands, who all supported my great grandfather on his quest for peace and recognition of indigenous political independence. As the Haudenosaunee follow and believe in The Great Law of Peace, the UN is an organization that promotes laws for Peace. In his words, Deskaheh defended the rights of indigenous peoples “to live under their own laws, in their own countries, to worship their Great Spirit in their own way.”
My GG would be very proud of each and every one of you today, and to know that this Forum exists so that we have a voice to express our concerns. During his lifetime he encouraged all indigenous communities to be heard because no matter who you are, no matter where you are, stand up and speak, educate your sons and daughters so they will be able to do the same. My great grandfather believed that Mother Earth has no borders; we are here to respect and protect the land and all of its occupants. I too see how important this is, and I am proud of my heritage, and wish to continue my GG’s work by promoting indigenous rights through this great international organization, the UN. On behalf of my great grandfather I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation for all those that have laid the path for us to be here today, such as Maori leader T.W. Ratana, and members of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations.
There are many of us, over 370 million indigenous people worldwide, and we see some of these faces in attendance today. It is my hope that indigenous groups continue to respect each other’s differences and unite for the greatest cause on Mother Earth…Peace. We can do it, we will do it, once we had no voice and now we do. As you come here to the UN to speak your minds on such important issues as
- economic and social development
- indigenous women, the Arctic, the Declaration
- Human rights, & the fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples
Hear the call of your elders by letting your voices echo hope for Peace and it will be. Being here today, I feel the energy of our ancestors who encourage us to continue our purpose. I hope you feel them too. In closing, I leave you with this wish, (Spoken in Cayuga). May you have peace in your mind and heart. Thank you.
