Mission

The International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) is an organization of Indigenous Peoples from North,
Central, South America, the Caribbean and the Pacific working for the Sovereignty and Self- Determination of Indigenous Peoples and the recognition and protection of Indigenous Rights, Treaties, Traditional Cultures and Sacred Lands.

Objectives

• To seek, promote and build participation of Indigenous Peoples in the United Nations
  United Nations
  The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
  
   (UN) and its specialized agencies, as well as other international forums.
• To seek international recognition for Treaties and Agreements between Indigenous Peoples and Nation-States.
• To support the human rights, self-determination and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples; to oppose colonialism in all its forms, and its effects upon Indigenous Peoples.
• To build solidarity and relationships of mutual support among Indigenous Peoples of the world.
• To disseminate information about Indigenous Peoples’ human rights issues, struggles, concerns and perspectives.
• To establish and maintain one or more organizational offices to carry out IITC’s information dissemination, networking and human rights programs.

A Voice for Indigenous Peoples

The IITC was founded in 1974 at a gathering called by the American Indian Movement

American Indian Movement

The American Indian Movement is a Native American activist organization in the United States, founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by urban Native Americans. The national AIM agenda focuses on spirituality, leadership, and sovereignty...

 in Standing Rock, South Dakota which was attended by more than 5000 representatives of 98 Indigenous Nations.

The symbol of the sacred pipe uniting the hemisphere was chosen for the IITC by the elders to represent the common bonds of spirituality, ties to the land and respect for traditional cultures
common to all Indigenous Peoples.

The IITC supports grassroots Indigenous struggles for human rights, self-determination and
environmental justice through information dissemination, networking, coalition building, advocacy and technical assistance. IITC builds, organizes and facilitates the direct, effective participation of traditional Indigenous Peoples in local, regional, national and international events and gatherings addressing their concerns and survival.

In 1977, the IITC became the first Indigenous organization to be recognized as a Non-Governmental
Organization(NGO) with Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council

United Nations Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...

. IITC continues to actively participate in a range of key international bodies to defend human rights, environmental justice, sustainable development and biological diversity and to advance the development and implementation of international standards and mechanisms recognizing and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The IITC also disseminates information about opportunities for international activism and
involvement to grassroots Indigenous communities and tribes, and educates and builds awareness
about Indigenous struggles among non-Indigenous Peoples and organizations.

Program Priorities

International Standard setting, including:

• Implementation of an effective plan of action for the 2nd International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
• Implementation of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly during its 62nd session at UN Headquarters in New York City on 13 September 2007....
  
  and adoption of a strong Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the Organization of American States.

Responding to threats and violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights including:

• Sovereignty, Self-Determination & Free Prior Informed Consent.
• Health & Environmental impacts of nuclear and toxic contamination, mining, drilling, dams, deforestation and climate change.
• Food Sovereignty & Subsistence Rights.
• Racism & Racial Discrimination.
• Violations of Treaty, Land & Water Rights.
• Cultural Rights, Sacred sites, Religious Freedom & Traditional Knowledge.
• Indigenous Women & Children’s rights.
• Economic Globalization & “free trade”.
• Militarism and military repression.

Human Rights Training, Capacity-building and Mentorship.

Communications, Outreach, Networking and Alliance Building.