So the UN has declared that now indigenous people have their own legal provisions in the international system. The subject the didn't address though is - what is indigenous? After what point of habitation do people become indigenous? 40,000 years? 20,000 years? 3,000 years? Take Israel v. Palestine - who's more indigenous?

Excellent point!

Wow, they passed a non-binding UN declaration! All by themselves! I'm so proud. And you know what, a non-binding UN resolution recognize theoretical yet undefined rights is exactly what's gonna turn things around for indigenous people.

This is just more narcissistic political masturbation. It helps rich yuppies sleep better while exploiting the developing world.

A total and unmitigated waste of 22 years of debate!

Also, I think this idea would have seemed a lot more clever if they'd come up with it before Manifest Destiny.

Sadly I think in an age when these people are bound to the nation non-binding seems to be the best the UN can cough up. It ain't the united NATIONS for no reason.

Either way, giving indigenous people some token "rights"* after they have all been colonized seems a lot like closing the barn doors after the horses are already dead.

(*Rights cannot be redeemed for cash value. Not applicable for the residents of the US and its outlying territories and dependencies, or any other sovereign nations. See package for details.)