Profile

Action Group Native Americans & Human Rights (formerly Big Mountain Action Group) is an organization that - within the scope of human rights work - dedicates itself to the political and cultural support of Indigenous nations of North America. It has been founded in 1986 and is officially acknowledged as a non-profit organization.

The common aim to preserve natural resources and to protect the environment connects people world-wide. Facing the global challenges on behalf of human rights and environmental protection such a cooperation between Indigenous peoples and Europeans is necessary. The dialogue between the peoples concerned on the one hand and on the other authorities, institutions and companies, who strongly influence the lives of these peoples, is of special importance.

Action Group Native Americans & Human Rights e.V. is expressly mandated by indigenous organizations to act on their behalf, and helps these peoples in their struggle to gain self-determination and recognition as sovereign nations. The activities of Action Group Native Americans & Human Rights e.V. occur in close co-operation and mutual exchange with the Indigenous peoples themselves, because only by personal and close contact with the Indigenous peoples effective work can be assured.

These contacts are intensified through numerous visits of Indigenous representatives here and through own travels to North America, to research on location on the interests of the peoples concerned and their current situation. Only a wide spectrum of information builds the necessary foundation of our work. But the Action Group organizes and supports such action not only to inform the public, but also to issue political pressure on the responsible authorities, institutions and companies (e.g. »Leave Uranium in the Ground« tour in 1988). The current living conditions of North American Indigenous are very similar to those in the »third world«. Even the reservations provide only poor economic opportunities and the symptoms are nearly the same everywhere: malnutrition, weak medical supply, low school education, high unemployment rates and high suicide rates. Traditional subsistence economics are threatened by the exploitation of resources which lie underneath many Indigenous lands. These resources are being plundered for the benefit of the industrialized countries and so point out to our own responsibility, which is why we consider this another task for us.

It is another reason why Action Group Native Americans & Human Rights e.V. endeavours to protect the foundation of survival of Indigenous Peoples und to support them in their struggle to prevent the destruction of the environment. A very important factor in doing so is the support of genuine Indigenous projects, which can offer Indigenous economic safety and independance. Another aim of such projects is the preservation of the diversity and liveliness of Indigenous culture, which ensures their own cultural identity.

The range of activities of Action Group Native Americans & Human Rights e.V. covers a lot of different areas. Among them are campaigns here and on location, policital movements, cultural support and public relations work.

Members of the organization participate in campaigns on location, such as demonstrations against the nuclear bomb testing conducted on the Nevada Test Site and the resulting destruction of the land of the Western Shoshone (1989) or the Lubicon blockade in Canada 1988. Big Mountain Action Group organizes and participates in protest campaigns in Germany und throughout Europe by demonstrations or similar events, e.g. against the forced relocation of the Dineh (1986) or blockades against low-level flights over Innu land (1991).

In 2000 the Actiongroup initiated a project in cooperation wit the Red Cloud family in Pine Ridge to start to raise a buffalo herd. Which now encompasses more than a dozen buffalos.

Political campaigns include discussions with politicians, ambassadors or representatives from corporations that mine resources on Indigenous land, but also attendance at congresses (e.g. International Water Tribunal, Amsterdam 1992) and extend to inquiries in state parliaments, the German Bundestag or the European Parliament. For this the cooperation with other European or international organizations is a key factor for us. To further such cooperation Action Group Native Americans & Human Rights e.V. conducted a conference of European Indian support groups (Euromeeting) in 1990, which was attended by representatives from 14 countries. International cooperation is a prime prerequisite for our work. This is why members of Action Group Native Americans & Human Rights e.V. are always present in the corresponding bodies of the United Nations, to support and further the causes of Indigenous peoples there. The aim is to achieve recognition of these peoples' rights by the International community.

Besides the policital support we feel it is necessary to further the cultural independance of Indigenous peoples, and therefore we participate in exhibitions and other events which increase understanding for the multiplicity of cultures of North American Indigenous. An example is the concert tour of Mohawk singer Don Patrick Martin. In this context of a connection between politics and culture Action Group Native Americans & Human Rights e.V. published the book »Go Beyond« by Dakota poet Tom LaBlanc as well as a collection of stories by Indigenous writers from 15 countries called »Voices from the Earth« (»Stimmen der Erde«). By our publication LaBlanc was introduced to the European book market. Further publications include the peotry by Lance Henson (Songs in the Enemy’s Language) and “Words from the Edge” containing poems by Cheyenne Lance Henson, Maori Aprirana Taylor, Meitei Memchoubi and Sami Marry Somby.

Among the most important activities is public relations. Members of Action Group Native Americans & Human Rights e.V. research at home and abroad on their own expenses to inform the public about the situation of Indigenous Nations through lectures and events (some with Indigenous delegates), but also through appearences on television and radio shows and of course through articles, interviews and reports in the press.

Special importance has the quarterly journal Coyote that the organization publishes. It is the one and only quarterly in German speaking countries that focuses exclusively on Native Americans.