Indigenous Rights Group organizes

The Indigenous Rights Group has begun organizational work headed by former Speaker Oscar C. Rasa and other members of the Northern Marianas community. As of this writing, over 3,000 people have registered as members of the local organization. It is a purpose-driven non-partisan group focusing on educating local governance of their inalienable rights to a greater degree of self-government.

Personally, I admire their dedicated efforts to renew the indigenous community’s understanding of its right to self-government, reconnect them with their ancestral past and rights, including time-honored traditions revolving around the land and the sea; overcome the legacy of neo-colonialism and the old assumption of white supremacy and to find a way of life that is both modern yet true to the traditions of the indigenous people.

The emergence of this group was prompted by the apparent negligence of elected public officials (over the last two decades) to hold the United States responsible to its commitment. That commitment is an inherent provision of law (48 USC Section 1801). It mandates the federal government to provide “for a progressively higher standard of living” for the people of these isles. But most local leadership must have been snoozing, acquiescing the sale not of items on the shelf, but the store itself.

Given the obvious shortsightedness of new federal laws on labor and immigration, the regressive policies will annihilate whatever is left of an already dismal local economy. It will do nothing but force a quick drop to 42 percent of current investments and destroy pending investments in the horizon.

A glimpse of the history of the Covenant agreement is rich with supportive statements of proponents during negotiations and hearings in the ’70s. The late U.S. Congressman Phil Burton came out strongly (regarding policy changes under the agreement by the U.S. Congress) that any shift must be made in favor of the CNMI. This was re-echoed by former Alaskan Senator Murkowsky.

There’s vision inherent in his (Burton’s) statement fully wary of the fragility and dangers of a helpless people (U.S. congressional representation-deprived) being whimsically subjected to punitive policies. The recent approval of federal takeover of labor and immigration is a glaring example of a punitive policy that has placed current investments at bay while forcing future investors to drop anchor outside our shores.

It should be understood that the CNMI is not just another territory. Its relationship with the U.S. is unique. If the CNMI were a territory then such provisions as “land alienation” wouldn’t have been included nor would such issues as “mutual consent” be made part of the accord. Obviously, those who have ventured treating these isles as a territory have a lot to learn in terms of the history of the Agreement.

The Agreement is the foundation upon which greater degree of self-government awaits improvement and strengthening of our democratic institutions. The political maturation process may be slow, but it must be allowed room to grow. The Agreement isn’t the final pit stop in improving upon our relationship with the federal government. In brief, it is the first step or new beginning in the long march toward greater effective home rule.

The Indigenous Rights Group’s agenda transcends any and all political persuasions. It’s a focused effort to educate our people of their “inalienable rights” to self-government inherent in the Agreement. This should foster clarity of understanding of the need, especially from the other side of the Pacific divide, to exercise due diligence in any and all proposed policy shifts.

My friend from up north wanted to know why the contentious feud between the feds and these isles. I wasted no time declaring, “It’s a power ego trip enveloped in the show of the tyranny of the majority. They must have forgotten the common denominator being the governance of these isles.” The common man suffers the consequence of half-cocked policies. I can’t fathom the arrogance and failure of detractors. Well, so much for “…and crown they good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.” He remains guardedly hopeful for better days where synergistic working relationships turn reality.