(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Canadian First Nations delegation declared the abovementioned in a statement issued after their recent visit to Iran from October 13 to 18.
The following is the full text of the statement by the Canadian First Nations delegation.
I, Terrance Nelson, Liaison for First Nations and Dennis Pashe, Hereditary Dakota Chief, an indigenous delegation, who was invited by the Peace Lovers Society Organization, have completed an exploratory mission to Tehran from October 13th to October 18th, 2012.
We were represented by several Chiefs of First Nations of North America. Our purpose was to consolidate and promote relations between Iranian and First Nations Peoples through developmental and human rights cooperation and coordination.
We had very productive meetings with the Iranian civil society, universities and human rights institutions.
We were warned not to go to Iran and Western media has consistently tried to de-humanize and demonize the Iranian people. The people of Iran are nothing like the lies told in Western media. The spiritual base of the Iranian people has fashioned the mannerism and politeness of the people.
It will be in the report of Dennis Pashe and me to the Chiefs that it is not only safe to be in Tehran, Iranians are willing to open a protocol to work with the indigenous leadership of the First Nations. My job here on this trip was to clarify the issues and the areas for further cooperation.
As a technician working for First Nations people, a letter of request by First Nations Chiefs of Canada will be sent to OPEC Secretariat and member states, inter alias and the relevant Iranian officials to facilitate a presentation by the Chiefs to the OPEC Nations Summit.
Peace Lovers Society and other interested institutions will work with the indigenous people to identify areas of common interest in relation to studying the Health needs of the Indigenous people. The indigenous people of Canada also request support of health clinics, private diagnostic facilities in First Nations Reservations.
Indigenous people receive no payment for 2.5 million barrels of oil a day sold by Canada to the United States. We call upon the government of Canada to consider the experiences of other countries regarding fair distribution of the natural resources' income. The OPEC nations have had similar history in dealing with colonial powers.
Canada has condemned Iran for human rights violation against women. I found women to be in every area of the civil and political activities and was informed that 70% of the students in Universities are women. Doctors and scientists in Iran are increasingly women.
In the course of promoting the situation of the secondary education of the student of the indigenous peoples of Canada some of the Iranian universities will study offering opportunities for indigenous students to train in Iran.
Iranian NGOs expressed their willingness to continue exchange experiences and good practices with indigenous peoples and in this regard hold and support an international seminar about human rights of indigenous peoples.
I have informed the Iranian people in several media interviews and in meetings of the issue of the six hundred murdered and missing indigenous women in Canada. They were shocked that such inhuman behavior was occurring in Canada. The Canadian Indian Act created a system of 60 to 95% unemployment in First Nations communities. Further, indigenous peoples are deemed to be legally incompetent under Section 89 of the Indian Act, thereby denying them access to financial institutions and banks.
For promotion of a media strategy to facilitate dialogue and understanding of Iranian People and First Nations peoples of Canada, a direct interaction will be created between Iranian civil society and First Nations.
Peace Lovers Society expressed its willingness to invite the Sisters in Spirit (NGO) to Iran. The Sisters in Spirit are the lead indigenous women organization working on the 600 murdered and missing indigenous women in Canada.
As a whole I want to say that Iran is a land of peace. I saw in Iran respect for Human Rights and respect for women who participate at all levels of government. The dynamism of the Iranian society is a proof of this reality.
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