Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 8, 1 October 1984 — Council of Indigenous People Reviews Hawaiian Overthrow [ARTICLE]

Council of Indigenous People Reviews Hawaiian Overthrow

An international organization of indigenous people is being asked to conduct an impartial investigation of American involvement in the overthrow of the Hawaii^n government in 1893 and the subsequent role played by the United States in Hawaii. This proposal was scheduled to be eonsidered by the World Council of Indigenous People (WCIP) during its fourth General Assembly held in Panama City, Panama, Sept. 23-30. The body represents native groups from 35 countries and is one of three non-governmental organizations with a voice in the United Nations.

According to OHA Trustee Rodney Burgess, the newly founded Pacific Region Council of WCIP gives the Hawaiian people, for the firsttime, representation in a formal international organization. Burgess told Ka Wai Ola O OHA: "There will be a lot happening in the international arena as it relates to the Hawaiian people."OH A's involvement in WCIP, Burgess said, is part of its effort to bring the illegal overthrow of 1893 before an international tribunal.

In addition to himself, Burgess said, the Hawaii delegation to WCIP consisted of fellow OH A Trustee Hayden Burgess and Francis Kauhane of the Big lsland. The WCIP Pacific Region Council was formed in June during a meeting in Canberra, Australia. In addition to Hawaii, members include East Timor, West Papua, New Zealand, Australia, Micronesia, French Polynesia and New Caledonia. At the Canberra meeting, the Pacific Region Council adopted a resolution ealling for "an impartial investigation or inquiry into the right of the people of Hawaii to determine their own destiny, the responsibility of the United States in the overthrow of 1893, the liability of the U.S. for the state of affairs of the native Hawaiian people, and the many other controversies whieh resulted from the landing of Amenean troops and oeeupation by American forces upon the lands and people of Hawaii . . ." Burgess said the full WCIP General Assembly is being asked to support this proposal and to present the investigation results to the UN for action.