Salamanca Students Join 10th Session of the UNPFII at the UN | Politics

Nineteen Salamanca City Central School students, members of the world’s first Model United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), traveled to New York City to attend the initial days of the 10th Session of the UNPFII at the United Nations. Native American students registered for the opportunity to speak on the issue of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) rights, part of the U.N. Declaration of Indigenous Rights. Senior, Courtney Crouse, Tonawanda Seneca, Turtle Clan, was recognized by the session and called upon to read the statement she authored on behalf of the SCCSD Model UNPFII students. Strong support was shown by the delegates’ applause and the large numbers who came up to introduce themselves, wanting to follow up with the group in the future. The students were told over and over how much respect the delegates had for them, noting their strength to attend these sessions and present testimony. The students made a positive and lasting impression as they represented the Seneca community and their families to the world.

During their second day at the U.N., the students attended a powerful training session on the United Nations, its basic structure, the function it performs, and how to negotiate its processes. This was taught by Joshua Cooper, Director of the Hawaii Institute for Human Rights and a political science lecturer at the University of Hawaii West Oahu. Cooper enlightened students to the common acronyms used for the committees. He likened them to beaches they could land on to discuss certain topics and concerns, saying it is important to know what beach to land on for help.

The students also had the privilege to meet and learn from indigenous leader Marcos Terena, of the Terena tribe of Brazil, whose accomplishments include: founder of the first indigenous movement in Brazil, The Indigenous United Nation (UNIND), and a founding member of Land is Life, the organizers of the training. Marcos told the students that the water has a spirit, that is our spirit, and the Creator gives us all these things. He also stressed to the Native American students the importance of continuing to learn their Native language and songs. Rachel Wolfe, Courtney Crouse and Breezy Crouse honored him with a Seneca song.

On day three, the students had a private meeting with Joseph Melrose, the Acting United States Representative for Management and Reform to the United Nations, to discuss concerns they had about Native issues: the PACT act (to prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure collection of all tobacco taxes and other purposes), religious freedom, why is Columbus Day a national holiday, class III gaming (under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988), and land issues. All of the students’ questions referred to the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights and they did not allow Acting U.S. Representative Melrose to side step their questions. It was an excellent opportunity for them to experience and learn how to handle bureaucratic evasion, commonly employed by officials when directly faced with Native American inquiries.

The Seneca Nation, the Salamanca City Central School District and the Salamanca Community were well represented by these young leaders as they accomplished the tasks established by the group. They overcame great odds to speak at the United Nations 10th session of the UNPFII and would like to take the opportunity to thank those that made this experience possible. Thanks go to the Salamanca City Central School District and community, the Seneca Nation Executives and Council, the Employees of the Seneca Nation, The Seneca Nation Education Department, the Kinzua Dam Re-licensing Commission, SNR Denton US LLP, Jamestown Community College and Julie Musial, April Williams for making the best Indian Tacos to sell, Lawrence Huff Jr. for his donation of a handmade Gasdo:wa, Caleb Abrams for his time to accompany the group to NYC and record this event - which will be available for presentation to the community at a later date - and a special thank you to Smitty at the WGWE for all his support to help  keep the students’ efforts at the forefront of the Seneca community and the local listening area. Most importantly, the group thanks their parents, who, as the group’s advisors say, “Have raised children of unshakable faith and inner courage to take on such a daunting task.” These advisors - Rachel Wolfe (Seneca Language and Seneca History Teacher), Gerald Musial (Global History and Seneca History Teacher), and Suzanne John-Blacksnake (Native American Guidance Counselor) - went on the say that they “have been humbled to be surrounded by such strength and courage.”