Summit of Indigenous Nations

Mato Paha Treaty of 2006

August 3, 2006


 The aforementioned nations have existed on Turtle Island and in our respective territories since time immemorial with our cultures, languages, governments, sciences, intergovernmental relationships and institutions in tact.  Here on this 3rd day of August 2006, on the territory of the Tetuwan Oyate, within site of the sacred Mato Paha and by its witness, the following constitutes the Articles of a Treaty concluded between the aforementioned nations, the signatories being duly authorized to act on behalf of their peoples. 

 Article 1:  The aforementioned nations have gathered here for the purpose of protecting and acknowledging our sacred relationship with the land;

 Article 2:  The aforementioned nations have also gathered here to acknowledge and affirm that it is the inherent right of our people to gather upon our sacred land and to safeguard that sanctity under the Original Instructions given to us by the Creator;

 Article 3:  The aforementioned nations have also come together here at the site of Mato Paha to establish and confirm that peaceful relations exists amongst our nations and that we do hereby agree to maintain good faith and friendship in our mutual relations and further to maintain an effective and lasting peace;

 Article 4:  The aforementioned nations, being sovereign and independent under the laws of the Creator and under international law as confirmed in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the human rights covenants of the United Nations, do hereby confirm and covenant that we commit ourselves to seek and create the means and mechanisms for trade of products and goods originating in our communities.  We further commit ourselves to serve and sustain the needs of our peoples and we will engage in mutual exchange and trade that benefits all of our peoples and respect the territories and land for which we are all responsible. 

 Article 5:  The aforementioned nations do herby confirm and covenant that we will provide mutual support and defense, one for the other, with respect to our ability and efforts to protect the sacred lands, resources and cultures, the responsibility for which was  given to us by the Creator.

 Article 6:  The aforementioned nations do hereby confirm and covenant that our peoples, communities, institutions and governments, will work together in mutual support and for the benefit of our lands and peoples in local, national and international forums;

 Article 7:  The conceptual doctrine of discovery (“doctrine of discovery”) is the basis for claiming the extinguishment of aboriginal title and subjugation of indigenous peoples of Abya Yala (North & South America).  Therefore, the aforementioned nations do hereby confirm and covenant to support our mutual efforts to rescind and abrogate the international standards and colonial rule that was begun by the Doctrine of Discovery, the Papal Bulls of the 15th and 16th centuries and the 1496 Royal Charter of England, that continue to deny Indigenous peoples’ human rights, and continue to adversely affect our rights to collectively decide our destinies.  

Article 8:  Further, the aforementioned nations do hereby commit one to the other to apply and continue to apply all necessary pressure upon the Catholic Church in Rome and in all of its congregations throughout the world to publicly renounce the Papal Bulls and the resulting genocide and disenfranchisement of Indigenous peoples.

Ratified/Witnessed/Agreed to this 3rd day of August, 2006, on behalf of:

Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council

CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador)