Action group Indians & Human Rights
The Action Group Indians & Human Rights eV (AGIM) is a non-profit association based in Munich , which is dedicated to the political and cultural support of Indian peoples in North America within the framework of human rights work . The association was founded in 1986 under the name "Big Mountain Action Group" . In close cooperation and lively exchange with various Indian organizations and human rights organizations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, AGIM supports these peoples in their struggle for self-determination and recognition as sovereign nations .
Club goal and fields of activity
The current living conditions of North American Indians in the reservations are similar (according to information from the association) to those in the “Third World”. Traditional subsistence farming is threatened by the exploitation of natural resources on indigenous land. The diversity and vitality of Indian culture can only be preserved by preserving their livelihoods. The members of the AGIM see this as an obligation of the citizens in the industrialized countries towards the indigenous peoples , as these themselves usually hardly have sufficient influence in the global balance of power. This is done u. a. by promoting Indian projects aimed at providing the Indians with economic security and independence. In particular, the " Lone Buffalo Project " should be pointed out, which enables the Lakota of the Pine Ridge Reservation to maintain a small herd of buffalo since 2004 , which offers the tribe an economic perspective within the framework of their own cultural roots.
The fields of activity include political engagement, cultural support and public relations. Members of the organization take part in local activities such as demonstrations against the atomic bomb tests on the Nevada Test Site and the resulting destruction of the Western Shoshone land or the blockade of the Lubicon Cree in Canada. AGIM organizes and takes part in protest actions in Germany and Europe, such as activities against the forced relocation of Dineh or blockades against low-level flights over the Innu country .
Political activities include discussions with politicians, embassies or representatives of companies that mine natural resources on Indian land, as well as participation in congresses and political lobbying. In addition, AGIM is represented annually in the relevant bodies of the United Nations in order to achieve recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples by the international community.
In addition to political support, it is important to promote the cultural independence of Indian peoples. AGIM therefore initiates exhibitions and other events that promote understanding of the different cultures of North American Indians, such as concerts with the Mohawk singer Don P. Martin or lecture tours with the Cheyenne poet Lance Henson.
In “Coyote” No. 72 from 2006, the 20-year work of the association was documented.
Current projects and campaigns (as of 2007)
- "Missing and Murdered" - Indian women in Canada
- "Lubicon Cree" - Land rights conflict and illegal logging in Northern Saskatchewan
- "Buffalo Project - Lone Buffalo" on the Pine Ridge Reservation
- "Stop Sun Peaks" - expansion of a ski area in British Columbia on indigenous land
- "Stop the militarization of Indian land"
Publications
The magazine "Coyote" ( ISSN 0939-4362 ) published by AGIM and published quarterly is the only periodical in the German-speaking area that is exclusively devoted to North American Indians. The magazine reports on the current situation of the indigenous peoples in North America, documents political and cultural developments and explains the background. The contributions are characterized by first-class research, high information density and extensive background content. The spectrum of topics ranges from current reporting on the focal points of human rights violations (in some cases also about peoples outside of North America, e.g. the Saami in Lapland or the Nenets in Siberia) to book and film reviews and the presentation of indigenous artists.
In addition to the Coyote, AGIM has already published several books. Examples are:
- "Voices of the Earth" - 14 contributions by representatives of various indigenous peoples on the environment and development, ISBN 3-922696-37-6 (1993)
- "Go Beyond" - poems by the Dakota writer, artist and activist Tom LaBlanc , ISBN 978-3-9806931-0-3 (1992)
- "Songs in the Language of the Enemy" - Poems by Cheyenne Lance Henson, ISBN 3-9806931-1-2 (1999)
- "Words from the Edge" - A poetic collection: Cheyenne - Meitei - Sami - Maori, ISBN 3-9806931-2-0 (2000)
- "Indian literature guide" - alphabetical index of the most important literature on the subject of "Indian" (2000)
Web links
- Action group website
- Literature by and about Action Group Indians & Human Rights in the catalog of the German National Library