InternationalTreatytoProtectand

RestoreMotherEarth

InternationalMotherEarthDay,April22,2016
NewYorkCity,NewYork
Preamble
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamilyspeakasone,guidedbythe
sacredteachingsandspiritualtraditionsoftheFourDirectionsthat
uplift,guide,protect,warn,inspireandchallengetheentireHuman
Familytoliveinwaysthatsustainandenhancehumanlifeandthe
livesofallwhodwellonMotherEarth,andherebydedicateourlives
andenergiestohealinganddevelopingourselves,thewebof
relationshipsthatmakeourworldandthewaywelivewithMother
Earth.
ThespiritualfoundationoftheIndigenousworldviewisbasedonthe
ancientunderstandingofthefundamentalonenessandunityofall
life.Therefore,allmembersoftheHumanFamilyareapartofthe
SacredCircleofLife.
SinceallmembersoftheHumanFamilyareapartoftheSacred
CircleofLife,weareallIndigenousPeoplesofourMotherEarth.
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Therefore,everyHumanBeingisresponsibleforthewellbeingofone
anotherandalllivingthingsuponourMotherEarth.
Whetherornotthenationstates,multinationalcorporationsor
internationaldevelopmentagenciesthatsurroundusarewillingor
abletoparticipatewithusatthistime,ourIndigenousPeoplesand
AlliesoftheHumanFamilyaremovingdynamicallyforwardin
rebuildingandreunifyingtheAmericasandbeyond!
Ouractionsandvision,guidedbytheNaturalLawsandGuiding
Principles,inherentinourIndigenousWorldviewandLegalOrder,
arebasedonaneternal,spirituallyenduringfoundation.Inaddition:
1.Wehavetheancientpropheciesandtheclearvisionofafutureof
socialjusticeandcollectiveprosperityfortheAmericasandbeyond
thatweareintheprocessofmanifesting.Thisnewglobalcivilization
thatisunfolding,aspromisedbytheAncientOnesandtheAncientof
Days,fullyhonorstheNaturalLawsandRightsofMotherEarthand
theUnityandDiversityofourHumanFamily.ThisNewSpiritual
SpringtimeforetoldbyourEldersisnowunfoldinggloballyassureas
thesunriseseverymorning.
2.Wehavealwayshadastrong,enduringandunbreakablespiritual
foundationofculturalvaluesandguidingprinciplesthathave
empoweredustosurviveandarise,withgreaterstrengthandwisdom
thanever,despiteagreatspiritualwintertime.Eventhoughthislong,
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spiritualwinterwasfilledwiththeutmosthumancruelty,violence,
injustice,abuse,andphysicalandculturalgenocidewehavenever
surrenderedourinherentsovereignty!Despitetheselongsuffered
challenges,throughouttheAmericasandaroundMotherEarth,our
IndigenousPeoplesarereawakeningtotheirspiritualandcultural
identitiesandarehealingourSacredRelationshipsbetween
ourselves,MotherEarthandallmembersoftheHumanFamily.
3.Together,ourIndigenousPeoplesandAlliesofourHumanFamily
havethecultural,spiritual,scientific,technological,social,
environmental,economicandagriculturalcapacitiesandwisdom
neededtococreateandrebuildourFamilies,TribesandNations
strongerandmoreunifiedthaneverbefore.
4.OurIndigenousPeoplesofMotherEarthhavethegrowing
collectivesocialandeconomiccapital,coupledwithvastnatural
resources,tobringourgreatestdreamsandvisionstoreality.With
growingcollectivestrength,wearededicatedtoprotectingand
restoringourBelovedMotherasthesacredheritageofall
generations,yettocome!Furthermore,itiscrystalclearthatthese
collectiveresourceswillempowerustobecomeaprimaryspiritual
andeconomicforce,notonlyintheAmericas,butalsothroughout
MotherEarth.Wearedestinedtoplayaneverincreasingroleas
globalleadersinwiselymandatingthesustainableandharmonious
waysfordevelopingMotherEarth'sgifts,andresources!Wewill

ensurethatwhenthedevelopmentofthenaturalresourcesofMother
Earthisnotsustainable,nomattertheprofit,theywillnotbe
developed!OurSacredPlacesandtheHealthfulLifeofourBeloved
MotherEartharenotforsaleandexploitationforanyprice!
5.We,theIndigenousPeoplesoftheEagleoftheNorthhavethe
materialresourcestosupportthedevelopmentofthecollective
resourcesofourIndigenousRelativesoftheQuetzalandCondorof
theSouth,astheychoose.TheQuetzalandCondoroftheSouth
equallyhavecriticalresourcestosharewiththeEagleoftheNorth.
Ourgreateststrengthisfullyrealizingourspiritualandcultural
unity.
6.Throughutilizingemergingdigitalcommunicationsandgreen
technologiesinharmonywithourvast,collectivesocial,economic,
culturalandspiritualcapacities,wewillmanifestafuturewithsocial,
environmental,andeconomicjusticeforallmembersoftheHuman
FamilyandourBelovedMotherEarth!
7.TheprimarychallengethatstandsbeforeusasIndigenousPeoples
andasaHumanFamily,inrebuildingtheAmericas,andbeyond,is
disunity.Thisdisunitycausedbyallformsofcolonialism,injustice
andgenocide,isadirectresultofthethreePapalBullsof14521493
andtheresultingDoctrineofDiscovery.Thisongoingcolonization,
injustice,andgenocidehasresultedinunresolvedintergenerational

trauma,internalizedoppressionandotherdeepeningglobalsuffering
andinjustice.Wearecommittedtofullyandjustlyrecognize,address
andheal,byeverypeacefulandlegalmannerpossible,theextremes
ofwealthandpovertythatmustbeeliminated,balancedand
harmonizedcausedbythePapalBullsof14521493andresulting
DoctrineofDiscovery.
Aswemovecourageouslyandwiselyforward,ingreaterandgreater
love,compassion,justiceandunity,wearereconnectingtoour
enduringandunbreakablespiritualandculturalfoundationfor
healing,reconciliationandcollectiveactionforProtectingand
RestoringtheSacredeverywhereonMotherEarth.Withthefull
realizationofourspiritualandculturalfoundationsforprayerful,
wise,unprecedentedandunifiedaction,ourultimatevictorywill
gracefullyandassuredlyunfoldattherighttimesandplaces,as
foretoldbyourAncientOnes.
Withthefullunderstandingoftheseunshakable,spiritualand
culturalfoundations,wefullydedicateourselvesandourresourcesto
realizetheseunprecedented,unifiedactionstostoprunawayclimate
change:
Article1
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committoProtectingand
RestoringtheSacred:WewillremindourselvesandourHuman
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Family,throughoursacredprayers,songs,ceremonyandourancient
prophecies,thatMotherEarthisoursacredprovideroflife,nota
limitlessdumpforourwastehereonlytosatisfyourappetiteforthe
materialdimensionoflife.RestoringtheSacredincludespreserving
andprotectingsacredsitesworldwideandreturningheirloomsacred
objectstakenfromtheirrightfulowners.Wewillreturnthesesacred
sitesandobjectstotheiroriginalculturalandspiritualpurposes.
Article2
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committosupportingthe
globalemergenceoftheSeventhGeneration,aspromised,by
fosteringyouthparticipation,leadership,andwisdominall
decisionmakingprocessesimpactingalllifeonMotherEarth.
Article3
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committoreducing
consumption:Thisreductionofconsumptionmuststartintherich
nations,amongthewealthyandcomfortable,torestorethevaluesof
simplicityandhumility.OurHumanFamilycanlivemuchhappier
andmorerewardingliveswithlessconsumptionofMotherEarths
bodyandenergy.
Article4

We,theMembersoftheHumanFamilycommit,toprotecting
womensrightstostabilizehumanpopulation:wevegrownpast
MotherEarthscapacity,andourhumanpopulationjustcannotkeep
growing.Ourancientrelativesknewthattheircommunitieshadtofit
theirhabitat.Naturalpatternsofcreationwerepracticedthat
resultedinextendedfamiliesinbalancewiththenaturalworld.
Today,overabillionofourHumanFamilyarehungrydaily,and10
millionoftheserelativesstarvetodeatheveryyear.Wemuststabilize
thepopulationofourHumanFamily.Itsessentialtoensurewomen
everywherehaveequalrightsandrespect.Whereverwomenhave
rightsovertheirreproduction,andwherecontraceptionisfreely
available,thebirthratenaturallydeclines.Universaleducation,social
justice,andecologicaljusticeallowcommunitiestolimittheir
populationgrowth.
Article5
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committotransitioningto
sustainableandrenewableenergysourcesandtakeeverypeaceful
actionpossibletoreduceandeliminatehydrocarbonenergyuse
coal,oil,gasandbuildtherenewableenergyinfrastructure:solar,
wind,andhydropower,whereitisacceptableandisapproved
throughaprocessoffree,priorandinformedconsent.Conservation
willbeanimportantpartofanygenuineenergytransition,using
powermodestlyandcarefully,tominimizeconsumption,including

eliminatinganynaturalresourceextractionprojectsliketheAlberta
TarSands.
NationstateseverywhereonMotherEarthneedtoremovealltaxes
andtariffsonsolartechnologyandotherprovenalternativeenergy
sources.Also,nationstatesmustincreasecarbontaxes,eliminate
subsidiestothepetroleumindustry,andusethoserevenuesto
subsidizerenewableenergyresearchandinstallation.
Article6
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committorestoringnatural
ecologicalfunctiononaplanetaryscalebyreversingthedeclineof
forests,coralreefs,wetlandsandotherproductiveecosystems.
Replanting,restoring,andprotectingthewildforeststoprovide
naturalspeciesdiversitytogrowagain,andtosupplyhuman
communitieswithmaterialsandenergyformodestlivesconnectedto
productivelivingsystems.Toachievethis,werequireaparadigm
shiftineconomics,achangefromgrowthandextractiontothe
preservationoftherealwealth:ournaturalecosystems.Ratherthan
attempttomonetizenature,wemustdotheoppositeandnaturalize
theeconomy.
Article7

We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committopermittingonly
organicandtraditionalfarmingbyendingtheindustrialfarming
methodsthathavedestroyedsoilsandspreadtoxinsthroughoutour
environment.ForIndigenousPeoples,organicfarmingis
conventionalagriculture.
Article8
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committobuildingarobust
infrastructureforpublictransportationbyeliminatingtheoveruseof
carsandrestoreefficientpublictransportationsystems,lightrail,
electrictrainsandtrolleys.Wewillrebuildourcommunitiesso
peoplecanaccesstheirneedsbywalkingandbicycling.
Article9
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committowagingpeacewith
theunderstandingthatwaristhegreatestconsumerofoiland
energy,thelargestcontributortoecologicaldestructionandthemost
destructiveforceamongtheHumanFamily.Warbenefitsonlythe
powerful,thewealthyandtheweaponsindustry.Wewillmakepeace
aglobalpriority,refusetofundwarmachines,refusetoparticipatein
warmakingandstopglorifyingwar.Wecalltoeliminatetheweapons
industrythatlivesoffthemiseryofthevictimsamongourrelatives.
Therealizationofworldpeacecanbeestablishedonthefullspiritual
awarenessoftheOnenessoftheHumanFamilyandtheelimination
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ofprejudiceinallforms,includinganythingthatcausesahuman
beingorsocietytofeelsuperiortoanother.
Article10
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committorestoring,
promotingandprotectingtherightsofIndigenousPeoples.Industrial
economieshaveconsistentlypushedIndigenouscommunitiesfrom
theirproductiveland.ByrestoringtherightsofallIndigenous
communities,indeedofallmembersoftheHumanFamilywhoknow
howtoliveinharmonywiththenaturalworld,wetakeanimportant
stepforwardtowardshealingourMotherEarth.Thisincludesthefull
legalimplementationoftheUnitedNationsDeclarationontheRights
ofIndigenousPeoples,withparticularemphasisontheprincipleof
free,priorandinformedconsent!
Article11
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committocleaningupand
redevelopingtoxicwastesites.AllNationStatesandMultinational
Corporationsresponsibleforgeneratingtoxicwasteincluding
nuclear,petroleum,chemical,agriculturalandanyothertoxicwaste
mustimmediatelydevelopandimplementaglobalplantoeliminate
thosetoxinsfromallecosystems,air,land,andwater,by2020.

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Article12
WetheMembersoftheHumanFamily,committoimplementing
universalgenderequalitybyrealizingthatthefullequalityforwomen
andmenisaprerequisiteofpeace.Thedenialofsuchequalityisan
injusticeagainsthalfoftheworldspopulationandpromotesharmful
attitudesandhabitsamongmen,fromthefamilytotheworkplace,
intopoliticallifeandinternationalrelations.Ultimately,anygender
discrimination,includinggenderviolence,leadsdirectlytoa
destructiverelationshipwithMotherEarth.Therearenogrounds
moral,practicalorbiologicalthatthiscanbejustified.Onlywhen
womenandmenhavefullequalpartnership,inallfieldsofhuman
endeavor,willwebeabletocreatethemoralandpsychological
climatetorealizefullyinternationalpeace.
Article13
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamilycommit,tofacilitating
decisionmakingbyleaders,sothatdecisionsremainbeneficialfor
sevengenerationsintothefuture,apolicyknownbyIndigenous
peopleas"SevenGenerations"decisionmaking.IntheIhanktonwan
DakotaTraditions,thethirteenthtepeepoleisthewomen'spole,
aroundwhichthehideorcanvasistightlywrapped.Aftererecting
thefirsttwelvepoles,thethirteenthpoleisliftedintoplace,andthe
skinofthetepeeisunwrappedaroundtheothers,coveringall.

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Withoutthispole,ofcourse,thereisnoshelter.Scientificevidence
showsthatthetoxicpollutionofindustrialcultureispoisoningthe
wombsofwomankind,infectingourfuturegenerations,causing
disease,diabetes,obesity,birthdefects,cancersandchemical
violence.Thesetoxinsarebreakingthethirteenthpole,harmingour
womenandallwomen,endangeringunbornchildrensothatthere
maynotbetheseventhgeneration.Makingdecisionstogenerate
moneyratherthanmaintainingthehealthofallmembersofour
HumanFamilyistheoppositeofSeventhGenerationdecisions.
Article14
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamilycommit,toestablishingand
maintainingBioregionalMarineSanctuariesthroughoutMother
Earth,assoonaspossible.BioregionalMarineSanctuariesarenamed
areasofEarth,WaterandAirwherenaturalanimalpopulationsare
protectedandrestoredtomorethan50%ofhistoriclevelsassoonas
possibleandwaterqualityandforestbiomasslevelsarepreserved
andrestoredtoveryhighconcentrations.BioregionalMarine
Sanctuaryboundariescorrespondtonaturalfeaturessuchas
watershedtopography,vegetationtypes,oceaniccontinentalshelves
andmargins.Allrivers,creeks,lakes,ponds,estuariesandaquifers
areincluded.
Article15

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We,themembersoftheHumanFamily,committoreducingthelarge
scalefarmingofanimals.Theroleofanimalagricultureinclimate
changehasbeenlargelyignoredduringclimateconferencesdespite
livestockbeingtheworldsleadingemitterofmethane.Further,the
increaseddemandforraisinganimalsforhumanconsumptionis
leadingtothedestructionofbothourrainforestsandalsotherural
landmanyofourbrothersandsisterscallhome,causinghuman
rightsabuses,povertyandviolence.Wewillholdthefactoryfarming
industryandthegovernmentswhoshelterthemwithlaws
accountableforthesetragedies,andwewillplayourpartin
protectingMotherEarthfromfurtherdestruction.
Article16
We,theMembersoftheHumanFamily,committoholdgovernments
andcorporationsresponsibleformakinggenuineprogresstosolve
thegrowingchallengeofClimateChange.Historically,after21years
ofclimateconferences,governmentsandcorporationshave
accomplishednothingtosolvetheclimatechallengeandhave,infact,
subsidizedthepetroleumenergyindustrythatincreasesclimate
change.Whilewewillholdgovernmentsandcorporations
responsibleformakinggenuineprogress,wewillnotrelyonthemto
restoretheharmonyandbalanceoflife.Themajorityoftheworkto

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protectandrestorethesacrednessofliferemainswitheachandevery
oneofus.
WecallallmembersofHumanFamilyofMotherEarth,including,all
levelsofnonIndigenousandIndigenousgovernments,citizen
organizations,businesses,laborunions,nongovernmental
organizationsandthirdpartiestorecognize,supportandupholdthis
InternationalTreatytoProtectandRestoreMotherEarth.Weinvite
youtosignifyyourcommitmentbysigningtheAddendumtothis
InternationalTreaty.

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