DOCUMENT: kanak.txt C O N G R E S P O P U L A I R E SECRETARIAT GENERAL POPULAR CONGRESS CENTRAL SECRETARIAT OF COORDINATION P.O. Box 2496 Noumea New Caledonia Tel: (687)41.56.11 - 41.12.69. Fax: (687)41.13.51. SOLEMN DECLARATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AUTHORITY FROM THE KANAK PEOPLE We, the Kanak people, Gathered at this first Popular Congress of 24th September, 1992 in Kumo Drehu, affirm our existence, which takes roots in our cultural identity and our own customary values. We reaffirm our attachment of the Kanak people to our cultural identity, giving tribute to the memory of our ancestors, the source of our strength and origin of our common heritage. Recognising that our ancestral customs are alive and that our elders have known they must pass on traditions and their wisdom, from generation to generation to the present, proclaiming the fundamental principles of our cultural patrimony to the generations to come. Therefore, we establish a Kanak socialist independence on the basis of our own cultural values. To continue the struggle to defend until the end our customary identity in order to achieve its recognition. We proclaim that the Kanak people, the only and legitimate indigenous people in this country, are equal in rights to all other peoples of the world. We declare that the Kanak people are the sole legitimate owners of Kanak land and of all its natural resources. Therefore, in the name of the Kanak people, we, today, establish sovereignty throughout all Kanak territory. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- :: :: A service provided by :: :: The Center For World Indigenous Studies :: :: www.cwis.org :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Originating at the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Olympia, Washington USA www.cwis.org © 1999 Center for World Indigenous Studies (All Rights Reserved. References up to 500 words must be referenced to the Center for World Indigenous Studies and/or the Author Copyright Policy Material appearing in the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive is accepted on the basis that the material is the original, unoccupied work of the author or authors. Authors agree to indemnify the Center for World Indigenous Studies, and DayKeeper Press for all damages, fines and costs associated with a finding of copyright infringement by the author or by the Center for World Indigenous Studies Fourth World Documentation Project Archive in disseminating the author(s) material. In almost all cases material appearing in the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive will attract copyright protection under the laws of the United States of America and the laws of countries which are member states of the Berne Convention, Universal Copyright Convention or have bi-lateral copyright agreements with the United States of America. Ownership of such copyright will vest by operation of law in the authors and/or The Center for World Indigenous Studies, Fourth World Journal or DayKeeper Press. The Fourth World Documentation Project Archive and its authors grant a license to those accessing the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive to render copyright materials on their computer screens and to print out a single copy for their personal non-commercial use subject to proper attribution of the Center for World Indigenous Studies Fourth World Documentation Project Archive and/or the authors. Questions may be referred to: Director of Research Center for World Indigenous Studies PMB 214 1001 Cooper Point RD SW Suite 140 Olympia, Washington 98502-1107 USA 360-754-1990 www.cwis.org usaoffice@cwis.org OCR Software provided by Caere Corporation