Chairman John Berrey Calls On Communities to Better Protect Women, Elderly and Needy

NEW YORK – Speaking at a United Nations conference in New York this week, Quapaw Tribe Chairman John Berrey represented Native-Americans with a strong voice advocating for UN enforcement for the rights of indigenous people worldwide.

"My desire is for the UN to adopt enforcement mechanisms and have governments worldwide respect those mechanisms," Berrey told the high-level World Conference On Indigenous Peoples.

“It was an important day for the Quapaw Tribe," he said, "because for hundreds of years we have been involved in international affairs related to this effort. The adoption of the outcome document (for enforcement) is a huge step forward for native people."

The conference was an in-depth discussion of the challenges facing indigenous communities related to land, natural resources and industries in territories they have historically populated, and to seek ways of ensuring those people's rights and privileges are not trampled upon. Its goal is to improve relationships between indigenous peoples and their respective governments by summoning the will to ensure the people's rights. Chairman Berrey was one of three Native-American leaders on a panel speaking to the UN's World Conference.

He also called on indigenous communities themselves to be diligent in protecting the rights of women, the elderly and the challenged members of their societies.

"Everyone has a responsibility in this important effort. I urge everyone to be part of the solutions that will lead the world for peace and love to reign in this dark hour of our existence," Chairman Berrey said.