Congressional Hearing a First on Indigenous Peoples of Africa
Critics of an Ethiopian dam they say threatens the water supply
of Indigenous tribes traveled halfway round the world to request
a hearing in Washington, D.C., succeeded. Their hearing is set
for May 12, in the second of a series of meetings hosted by the
U.S. Congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on the
rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide. And in a congressional
first, the second meeting is dedicated solely to the Indigenous
Peoples of Africa, and in particular Kenya and Ethiopia. “The
meetings are an unprecedented airing of issues of essential
justice by the U.S. government for Indigenous Peoples,” said
Jerry Reynolds, a consultant to the Fredericksburg, Virginia-
based First Peoples Worldwide. “Indigenous Peoples in Africa are
just emerging into the social consensus of several African
countries after their very existence was denied for decades.”
The groundbreaking decision by several African states to include
Indigenous Peoples for