On January 18 2019, Indigenous peoples from across the world will be uniting in Washington D.C. to stand together to bring awareness to the injustices affecting Indigenous men, women and children.

In the lead up to the historic event, Last Real Indians will be featuring individuals involved with the Indigenous Peoples March.

LRI editor Matt Remle recently spoke with Roberto Múkaro Borrero (Taíno) about the march, holding governments accountable for treaty obligations, and the resiliency of Indigenous peoples.

Tell us about the Indigenous Peoples March?

In my view, the Indigenous Peoples March is about demanding justice and
affirming solidarity among our diverse First Nations Peoples across the
hemisphere and around the world. It is about celebrating diversity while
recognizing our similar situations in a time that we see increasing human
rights violations against our communities and assaults against the very
environments our peoples need to survive. This March is an important
opportunity to raise the visibility of the issues that affect us and to
form new alliances or re-vitalize ancient ones. When so many Indigenous
Peoples come together in one place it is a powerful testimony to our
resilience and our collective will to fight for a better world for our
present and future generations.

What issues will you be high-lighting at the march (how can people support that issue/s)?

At the march we will be demanding the respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples, especially our right to self-determination. We will demand that the U.S. and other governments uphold their obligations to treaties entered into with Indigenous Peoples, as well as those entered into within international entities like the United Nations. The rights of Indigenous Peoples are clearly articulated at the international level, however; governments need to implement what they agreed to implement. We will hold them accountable at the local, national, and international level.

Why is it important for indigenous peoples to show unity?

It is critically important to show unity at this time, because after years
of incremental advancements for many Indigenous Peoples, the rise of
right-wing governments along with their push for deregulation, pose
increasing threats to our present and future generations. We can see this
clearly as the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and western
science concur that the earth is undergoing rapid and serious changes due
to the planet’s increasing warming and the acidification of the oceans.
However, a growing number of governments are choosing to ignore these
facts to continue unsustainable consumption and production patterns that
are based on the commodification of all life on earth. Instead of heeding
the signs and striving for harmony with the natural world, governments and corporate lobbyists continue to push policies that benefit a relatively
privileged few while disregarding the well-being of those who are
vulnerable and marginalized.

Why will you be in the streets on 1/18?

As a community leader and a father, I have a responsibility to be in the
streets on January 18 to enjoin my voice with all the others who will be
demanding justice and a better future for our diverse Nations, Peoples,
and communities. To remain silent is to be complicit in the face of the
increasing injustice, racism, xenophobia, and intolerance we are currently
witnessing today.

Roberto Múkaro Borrero (Taíno) is the International Mechanisms Director
for the US Human Rights Network; the current President of the United
Confederation of Taíno People; and a sanctioned leader of the indigenous
Guainía Taíno Tribe.

For more information on the Indigenous Peoples March go here

Follow on Instagram here #whyimarch #ipmdc19

by Wakíƞyaƞ Waánataƞ (Matt Remle)

Matt Remle (Lakota) is an editor and writer for Last Real Indians and LRInspireand the co-founder of Mazaska Talks. Follow @wakiyan7

Matt Remle photo via Yes Magazine by Alex Garland

Jan 10, 2019 - Why I March: Roberto Múkaro Borrero ‘To Remain Silent is to be Complicit’