Pieces of paper have defined the rights of Native people for centuries: Treaties and the U.S. Constitution.

A new paper defines the rights on a global scale. The United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights is yet another document that spells out the rights of Native people.

The declaration was passed recently by the U.N., but opposed by the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The countries have large groups of indigenous people, and their opposition was based on territorial control.

"The statement by the world's nations is that the rights of indigenous people cannot be interfered with," United Tribes Technical College President David Gipp said.

He spoke about the declaration as part of First Nations Day on Friday during a panel discussion hosted by the state Indian Affairs Commission. Gov. John Hoeven made a proclamation that Oct. 5 is First Nations Day and November is Native American Heritage Month.

The purpose of the day is to recognize the role of American Indians in North Dakota and the nation and to understand their role in the future of the state.

Hoeven encouraged cooperation among the tribes and state. He pointed to the passage during the last legislative session of a bill the provides funding for non-Native students at tribal colleges.

North Dakota has been recognized by tribal leaders and others in the American Indian community for its relationship with tribes. It is up to Native people to come to the table as equals, members of the panel said.

"I have observed one of two kinds of people who get involved when it is a Native American," Rep. Merle Boucher, D-Rolette., said. "The first situation is when they are angry and frustrated because they are being ignored and cheated and taken advantage of. Unfortunately, the response is defensive. It becomes very difficult for the situation to go forward. The second situation is essentially with their hat in their hand. They plead and ask to do something about it for them. Unlike the defensive response, it is a condescending position. We want respect and equality."

The declaration on indigenous rights treats Native people as equals, Gipp said. Understanding a person's rights is important when making strides toward equality, Boucher said. The American Indian population is the largest minority group in North Dakota, and it makes the smallest number of claims by a minority group to the department of labor. The Department of Labor handles enforcement of labor practices as well as the human rights division and housing discrimination act.

"There are already things North Dakota is doing," Department of Labor commissioner Lisa McEvers said. "It is positive. It affirms the indigenous people are equal and independent."

She compared parts of North Dakota Century Code regarding discrimination and human rights to the U.N. declaration as examples of how these rights are already in place.

"The declaration gives host country and tribal nations a benchmark," Gipp said. "It is a great opportunity to work together."

Other participants in the panel Friday were Three Affiliated Tribes chairman Marcus Wells Jr., Rep. Dawn Charging, R-Garrison, and United Tribes Technical College Director of Research Cheryl Long Feather, who also is a columnist for the Bismarck Tribune.

Now that the U.N. declaration has been passed, it is up to Native people to give it life. Long Feather related a Lakota mindset her grandfather taught her through a question she poses to classes and other groups of people. She first asks people to think back to being children, and imagine coming home from school with a little brother in tow. She continues that there is a piece of cake left in the kitchen and she asks people what would they do.

"The No. 1 response is they would push the little brother out of the way and eat it," she said. She continued that giving the cake to the brother and letting him decide what to do with it ranks fourth, behind splitting it and keeping the biggest piece or sharing it.

"If you live Lakota, you make tougher choices," she said. "The proper thing to do is to give it to your little brother and he'll share it if that's what he wants to do."

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)