Hello Everyone,
There are a number of people and organizations to be thanked for the ability to get out our 1894 Sioux Nation Treaty Council (SNTC) newsletter, AND for the trip to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland to attend the Human Rights Council (HRC) meeting. Our deepest gratitude – Wopila Tanka to Honor the Earth, Tonatierra, CAGI, Incomindios, and Ken H., Steve, W., Jennifer S., Lukas R., Robin W., Marc W., Sylvia L., Theresa S., Corina E., Tupac E., Therese S., Pascal E., Anita W., Emmanuel C., Chester C., Akia C., and Pete K. Thank you all so much for your kindness and generosity and answering the call that we needed help. We never have received any help from any government: tribal, federal, or state. It is only through small grants and individual help that we have been able to do the work since 1894. A special thank you to Tonatierra for the feast and ceremony for a safe trip the night before we left, and for the prayers during the Butterfly Sun. All of you are part of a group of extraordinary people.
The trip to the UN was the most important activity in March. We invited and were joined by the Maori from Aotearoa-New Zealand, the Mapuche from Chile, the Western Shoshone from Nevada and the Cree from Canada in North America; all have treaties with colonizing governments. We were also privileged to be joined by translators from Tonatierra to assist with Spanish translations with Aucan Huilcaman from the Mapuche, as well as ambassadors or their assistants who only speak Spanish. Unfortunately, one of our delegates, Edward Valandra, was unable to attend due to surgery for an injured ankle the day before our flight.
Any trip that is made to Geneva and to a high level meeting such as the HRC requires months of planning, submitting forms and statements, and gatheringthe funds needed for such a trip. In addition, our statement to the HRC requires the support of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) status. We have been blessed with working with Incomindios from Switzerland who have helped us for many years. Our statement to the 58th Session of the HRC is attached. It was supposed to be on the HRC website but it was still not when we left Geneva. Another one that was not on the website was from Hawaii. However, the Maori, the Mapuche, and the Western Shoshone’s statements were all there. [I am thinking of others ways to get our information to the HRC members.]
The United States (US) withdrew from the HRC after the new administration in Washington, DC, began in January. The reason why we attended the March HRC meeting was to show the HRC and the UN that we are nations too. We are not just “Indigenous” peoples, nor are we a part of the US. The other bodies in the UN specifically for Indigenous issues do not have the ability to address treaty issues. Therefore, we went as ‘treaty nations. We hoped to have a panel side-event during one of the afternoon recesses entitled “Nations with Treaties with Colonizing Governments” to get the point across. However, there were hundreds of others also applying. If they had a number of NGOs sponsoring them, they were more likely to get a room for their side event. Therefore, we were unable to get a room as we only had Incomindios.
In order to get the information out, before we left for the trip, the Maori delegation created a pamphlet (attached) that was handed out in the meeting room and in the social gathering place. The pamphlet quoted from Special Rapporteur Miguel Alfonso Martinez’s UN “Study on Treaties...” verifying that our treaties are International in status and legality.
On the last page was an invitation to a Prayer Gathering on March 20th, the Spring Equinox, or Butterfly Sun. The invitation was also as a single piece with a Spanish translation on the back. The Gathering was blessed with a mature bald eagle circling before the prayers began. Not everyone saw it but those that did were amazed as there are NO bald eagles in Europe. For the SNTC Spokesperson, it was a sign that our prayers would be answered. We prayed for ‘Wicozani na wolakota’ for Unci Ina Makoce and all Her children: good health and peace and all good things that peace brings for Grandmother and Mother Earth. A letter was sent via postal mail and email asking our friends to also pray for the same things on that day, and answers were received from around the world. The good health is already beginning. A few days after we left, an unknown blue spiral was seen in the sky in many places in Europe.
In front of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland: center and clockwise: Eve Reyes-Aguirre, Izkaloteka Mexica; Charmaine White Face in mask, Oglala Tituwan Oceti Sakowin; Corina Enrique, Izkaloteka Mexica; Anita Weilenmann, Swiss; Tina Ngata, Maori; Fermina Stevens, Western Shoshone; Mary Gibson, Western Shoshone; Danii Marks, Maori; Felina Rodriguez, Izkaloteka Mexica. (Not in the picture is Aucan Huilcaman, Mapuche.)
The Maori were able to meet with the Assistant to the Ambassador from New Zealand. Although we were unable to meet with the new Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, Mr. Albert K. Barume from Africa, we all were able to meet with a Human Rights Officer, Francisco Alfonzo. (He also attended our Prayer Gathering from the bottom of the small hill.)
In the beginning of the planning process, Sharon Venne, Cree, from Canada was involved. She brought four women from the Onion Lake Cree nation. We would meet informally in the Serpentine for coffee or tea and discuss issues. They also participated in the Prayer Gathering. The following picture shows Aucan Huilcaman, Mapuche, in the center with the Cree women on the left, and the rest of us on the right during a discussion. Felina is translating.
When we were informed that we each were not going to be allowed to do an oral intervention, we joined together and Aucan gave our joint oral intervention. (Attached) It was only 90 seconds but can be viewed on UN Web TV for those of you interested. I was also able to meet the Ambassadors from Venezuela, Pakistan, and Cuba and give them a copy of the book, Indigenous Nations Rights in the Balance (INRB) regarding the betrayal of Indigenous peoples with the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I also handed to each of them an Invitation to the Prayer Gathering.
Other Activities since January, 2025:
The book and a pamphlet were made available at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) in New York in April. (The Pamphlet is attached. If you wish a copy of the book, let me know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) issued a call for input on the subject of “The right of Indigenous Peoples to their Traditional economies.” Our statement is attached.
Although the US is on the agenda during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) next November, it is not certain that they will participate. However, we submitted a statement planting seeds with the Ambassadors to the UPR. (Attached)
The Treaty Study Guide that was mentioned in the last newsletter is still being written although it is turning into an Analysis. We were always told about a “Chicago Rewrite” of the 1868 Treaty by elders, and it appears to be true. On the way to Washington, DC, we were told that the government officials had to stay in Cgicago along the way. When they stopped, they rewrote parts of the Treaty to get it approved by the US Congress. The 1868 Treaty Analysis will expose the Articles and phrases that were probably inserted in the “Chicago Rewrite” as they are colonizing actions that our grandparents would never have allowed. There would be no “original Treaty” as that would expose the deceitfulness of the government officials. However, it is apparent which Articles still protect us and why our elders continue to want the Treaty enforced. As soon as this Analysis is completed, I will be sending it out.
Finally, with all the changes going on in the world, the dominance that the US has had for the last 80 years is weakening. What this means for the United Nations is unclear. However, there are 192 other nations that are member States of this exclusive organization. With the US raising tariffs and doing sanctions on many of the member States, some have begun joining together for trade and economic benefits such as BRICS which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. A number of other States have since joined them. Attached is an article about what is happening Internationally. It has been included in this Newsletter as the mainstream media: newspapers, television, radio, and some in social media, do not always tell people the whole information or the truth.
We had thought of having a meeting in July. Upon further deliberation and prayer, it might not be to the benefit of our people with the times as they are. However, if any of you would rather have a Zoom meeting, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I will continue sending the newsletters to let everyone know what is happening or being planned. Thank you to those who keep donating envelopes and stamps and funds for copying. Wopila tanka.
Hope you all have a safe, peaceful, and healthy summer.
Sincerely,
Charmaine White Face Zumila Wobaga
HRC Statement 58th Session Item 4 March 2025
Final Draft of Oral Stmt to 58 HRC
SNTC Report to Emrip re trad econ 1.2