International Indian Treaty Council

The International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) is an organization of Indigenous Peoples from North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. It works to advance Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination, defend treaties and traditional cultures, protect sacred lands, and promote the human rights of Indigenous communities. Rather than operating as a commercial consumer brand, IITC functions as an advocacy, networking, education, and technical-assistance organization whose public identity is closely associated with Indigenous international representation. IITC was formed in June 1974 following the First International Indian Treaty Conference, held on the land of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. The gathering was called by the American Indian Movement and brought together delegates from 97 tribes and Indigenous nations from North and South America. A second treaty conference took place in June 1976 on Yanktonai Dakota land in Greenwood, South Dakota. These meetings helped establish an enduring transnational platform centered on treaties, land rights, sovereignty, and Indigenous political participation. The organization developed an international role during the 1970s. In September 1977, IITC organized the International NGO Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The meeting, also known as the United Nations Conference on Indians in the Americas, connected Indigenous advocacy in the Americas with United Nations processes. From 1977 onward, IITC was recognized by the United Nations as a category II non-governmental organization with consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. This status enabled it to participate in and influence international discussions concerning Indigenous rights. IITC's work includes supporting grassroots struggles through information sharing, coalition building, advocacy, networking, and technical assistance. It encourages Indigenous participation in United Nations bodies and other international institutions, including forums concerned with human rights, sustainable development, biodiversity, education, labor, culture, and conservation. Its objectives include seeking international recognition of treaties and agreements between Indigenous Peoples and states; opposing colonialism and its continuing effects; strengthening relationships among Indigenous Peoples; and disseminating information about Indigenous human-rights concerns. The organization was involved in the long international process that led to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted in 2007. In 2004, during the tenth session of the Intersessional Working Group on the Draft Declaration, IITC helped coordinate a hunger strike protesting threats to Indigenous lands, health, and rights, including environmental racism, toxic dumping, globalization, and the loss of mineral and water rights. IITC also maintains a public education and cultural-organizing role. Since the mid-1970s, it has organized the Indigenous Peoples' Sunrise Ceremony on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on the United States Thanksgiving holiday. The ceremony honors the Indigenous gathering associated with the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz. IITC also began publishing Treaty Council News in 1977; the bulletin, described as one of the early Indigenous news publications in the United States, continues in electronic form through the organization's website. The organization remains focused on Indigenous rights advocacy, international participation, treaty recognition, and community-led environmental and cultural protection.

The International Indian Treaty Council emerged from the growing Indigenous sovereignty and treaty-rights movements of the 1970s. Its founding gathering took place from June 8 to June 16, 1974, on the land of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. Called by the American Indian Movement, the First International Indian Treaty Conference brought together delegates representing 97 Indian tribes and Indigenous nations from across North and South America. Bill Means is identified as the organization's founder. The conference created a continuing structure for Indigenous Peoples to address treaty obligations, sovereignty, land protection, and political self-determination across national borders. IITC's early work combined movement organizing with international advocacy. A second International Treaty Conference was held from June 16 to June 20, 1976, on Yanktonai Dakota land in Greenwood, South Dakota. The organization also became a venue for exchanges among Indigenous activists from different regions. In 1976, Aboriginal Australian activist and poet Lionel Fogarty addressed an IITC meeting, reflecting the council's expanding international orientation. A major institutional turning point came in 1977. IITC organized the International NGO Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from September 20 to September 23. Also referred to as the United Nations Conference on Indians in the Americas, the event placed Indigenous concerns directly within the international human-rights system. Beginning in 1977, IITC held category II non-governmental-organization consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. This recognition gave the organization a formal channel for participation in UN discussions and helped establish it as an Indigenous advocate operating at both grassroots and international levels. Over subsequent decades, IITC worked to increase Indigenous participation in international forums. Its engagement has included UN human-rights bodies, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNESCO, and the Commission on Sustainable Development. The organization has also participated in processes associated with the International Labour Organization, UN world conferences, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the World Archaeological Congress. Its approach has involved advocacy, information dissemination, coalition building, community networking, and technical assistance intended to help Indigenous communities present their own concerns in international settings. IITC was involved in the lengthy drafting and adoption process for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2004, during the tenth session of the Intersessional Working Group on the draft declaration, it helped coordinate a hunger strike. The protest drew attention to the continuing effects of colonialism and to threats involving Indigenous lands, environmental contamination, mineral and water rights, and broader forms of economic and political dispossession. The declaration was adopted by the United Nations in 2007, marking an important international milestone for the principles IITC had promoted. The council's work has not been limited to formal diplomacy. Since the middle of the 1970s, it has organized the Indigenous Peoples' Sunrise Ceremony on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Held on the United States Thanksgiving holiday, the ceremony commemorates the Indigenous gathering associated with the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz and serves as a public expression of Indigenous survival, cultural continuity, and resistance. IITC also launched Treaty Council News in 1977. The periodical was among the early Indigenous news publications in the United States and continues in electronic form through the organization's website. People associated with IITC over time include Jimmie Durham, Paul Chaat Smith, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Bill Wahpepah, Hinewirangi Kohu Morgan, and Bumpy Kanahele. Andrea Carmen is identified as the organization's executive director. IITC's continuing public role is that of a transnational Indigenous rights organization supporting sovereignty, treaty recognition, self-determination, environmental justice, cultural protection, and meaningful Indigenous participation in international governance.

• 2007

  UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted

  [1]International Indian Treaty Councilen.wikipedia.org

  The United Nations adopted the declaration whose drafting and advocacy process had involved IITC.

• 2004

  Hunger strike supporting Indigenous rights declaration

  [1]International Indian Treaty Councilen.wikipedia.org

  IITC helped coordinate a hunger strike during UN discussions on the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

• 1977

  United Nations consultative status

  [1]International Indian Treaty Councilen.wikipedia.org

  IITC gained category II NGO consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

• 1977

  Treaty Council News begins publication

  [1]International Indian Treaty Councilen.wikipedia.org

  IITC began publishing Treaty Council News, an Indigenous-focused bulletin that later continued electronically.

• 1976

  Second International Treaty Conference

  [1]International Indian Treaty Councilen.wikipedia.org

  IITC held a second treaty conference in Greenwood, South Dakota, on Yanktonai Dakota land.

• 1974

  First International Indian Treaty Conference leads to IITC's formation

  [1]International Indian Treaty Councilen.wikipedia.org

  Delegates from 97 Indigenous tribes and nations met on Standing Rock Sioux Tribe land in South Dakota, creating the organization that became the International Indian Treaty Council.

A transnational Indigenous rights organization connecting grassroots communities with United Nations and other international forums while defending sovereignty, treaties, self-determination, traditional cultures, and sacred lands.

• Publication · 1977

  Treaty Council News

  Treaty Council News is IITC's Indigenous-focused bulletin. It disseminates information about Indigenous human-rights issues, community struggles, international advocacy, and opportunities for participation. It began in 1977 and is described as continuing in electronic form through the organization's website.

• Advocacy and technical assistance

  United Nations advocacy and participation support

  IITC supports Indigenous Peoples seeking to participate in United Nations and other international forums. Its work includes information dissemination, networking, coalition building, advocacy, and technical assistance related to human rights, treaties, sovereignty, environmental protection, and self-determination.

• Cultural gathering

  Indigenous Peoples' Sunrise Ceremony

  The Indigenous Peoples' Sunrise Ceremony is an annual gathering organized by IITC on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay during the United States Thanksgiving holiday. It honors the Indigenous gathering associated with the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz and expresses Indigenous cultural continuity, remembrance, and resistance.

• 2004Hunger strike for the rights of Indigenous Peoples

  International

  IITC helped coordinate a hunger strike during negotiations on the draft UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The action highlighted land loss, environmental racism, toxic dumping, globalization, and threats to mineral and water rights.

  Outcome. The protest formed part of broader advocacy that preceded adoption of the UN declaration in 2007.

  Source
• 1977International NGO Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas

  International · Americas

  IITC organized a conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva addressing discrimination against Indigenous populations in the Americas and strengthening Indigenous engagement with the United Nations.

  Outcome. The event helped bring Indigenous issues into international NGO and UN discussions.

  Source
• Indigenous Peoples' Sunrise Ceremony

  United States

  Since the mid-1970s, IITC has organized an annual Alcatraz Island ceremony on the United States Thanksgiving holiday to honor the 1969 Indigenous occupation and affirm Indigenous survival and cultural identity.

  Outcome. The ceremony became a recurring public cultural and commemorative event associated with IITC.

  Source

• 2004

  Escalate advocacy during negotiations on the Indigenous rights declarationStrategy

  Background

  IITC considered land dispossession, environmental contamination, and threats to Indigenous resource rights central issues in the draft declaration process.

  Action taken

  It helped coordinate a hunger strike during the tenth session of the relevant UN working group.

  Aftermath

  The action contributed to sustained public advocacy before the declaration's adoption by the UN in 2007.

  Source

• 1977

  Pursue formal participation in United Nations processesStrategy

  Background

  IITC sought to ensure that Indigenous Peoples could address sovereignty, treaty rights, human rights, and environmental concerns in international institutions.

  Action taken

  The organization organized a Geneva conference and secured category II NGO consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council.

  Aftermath

  The status provided a formal channel for IITC's continuing participation in UN and related international forums.

  Source

1. 1International Indian Treaty Councilen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Indian Treaty Council official websitetreatycouncil.org