MIAMI, OK — Chief Benjamin Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe is commending recent federal efforts to advance the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Adopted in 2007, UNDRIP outlines the rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide, and the United States joined 192 other United Nations member states in 2014 in committing to uphold its principles.
“For more than 15 years, Second Chief Baldridge and I have worked to strengthen US support for the UNDRIP,” said Chief Barnes, “Recent advancements demonstrate the importance of collaboration between tribal nations and federal partners to honor Indigenous rights and uphold commitments to UNDRIP.”
Since 2008, the Shawnee Tribe leaders have worked with other tribal leaders, federal partners, and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to develop pathways for implementing UNDRIP in a way that benefits the Shawnee Tribe and other tribal nations, including Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian peoples.
The Department of the Interior recently outlined ten significant steps taken to support UNDRIP, including:
“These accomplishments reinforce the importance of honoring UNDRIP’s foundational principle of free, prior, and informed consent,” said Chief Barnes. “Upholding these rights benefits not only the Shawnee Tribe and Indian Country but also strengthens the broader fabric of our nation and supports Indigenous peoples worldwide. I look forward to continuing this important work with federal agencies and Congress to ensure ongoing progress.”
The Shawnee Tribe remains committed to working with federal agencies, tribal nations, and other partners to advance the principles of UNDRIP and ensure that Indigenous rights and sovereignty are respected and protected.
###
Let’s show each other some love in saawanwaatoweewe (Shawnee language)! The tribe is hosting a Valentine’s Day card contest. Sincere, funny or somewhere in-between, we want to see your most creative cards, artwork, memes, or poetry. Email your entries to media@shawnee-tribe.com on or before next Wednesday, February 12. Entries must use Shawnee language. People’s Choice […]
February is Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about a serious issue that impacts people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Dating violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to gain power and control over a partner in a romantic relationship. It can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, […]
2K FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTING SHAWNEE LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION On February 3, tribal leaders and the Shawnee language team hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling a newly renovated recording studio at the Emma “Mock” Donaldson saawanwaatoweewika (Shawnee language house) with citizens and staff from Firaxis Games. 2K Foundations, the charitable giving subsidiary of 2K Games, has provided generous support to renovate and […]
From “The Ohio Country” Webpage: “This 12–episode series provides a perspective on the history of the region we now call Ohio that very few of us learned in school. It puts the experiences of Miami, Shawnee, Wyandotte, and other American Indian People at the center of a refreshed version of the state’s complicated past and […]
Did you know? Recycling each ton of paper saves:
On Monday, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum for heads of executive departments and federal agencies requiring agencies to “complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their [f]ederal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive […]
Messages from the Chiefs — Spring 2025: Chief Banes looks ahead in 2025, and Chief Baldridge highlights building and maintaining relationships on the local, state and federal levels to ensure the growth of the Shawnee Tribe.
Check out recycling plastics by their numbers from the tribe’s Environmental Resources Department!