Tonya Gonnella Frichner (Snipe Clan, Onondaga Nation), Vice Chair of the Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development, and Founder and President of the American Indian Law Alliance, has been selected as the North American Representative of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Her three-year term will extend from January 8, 2008 until December 2010. As stated, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is an advisory body and subsidiary organ of the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss Indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
Ms. Frichner is committed to the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly, stating that, “This document is built on the sweat and tears of Indigenous Peoples, and when adopted, it will provide hope and optimism for meaningful change for our Peoples throughout the world.” Tonya will also continue to serve as an advocate for the rights of Indigenous women and girls.
Citizen of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, Tonya Gonnella Frichner is an attorney, educator, advocate, and recognized leader, whose excellent and dedicated work on behalf of Indigenous Peoples’ rights radiates throughout North America and beyond, into other areas of the Indigenous world. Her more than twenty years of focused work on Indigenous rights and issues, including the protection of our lands, territories, intellectual properties, human rights, and cultural survival, have at all times exemplified the unique qualities of an international advocate and diplomat of outstanding merit and distinction.
Shaped by her Onondaga people’s history and culture, and then perfected through two decades of frontline work at the United Nations and other international fora, Tonya was born and raised on her people’s traditional territories in what is known as the state of New York. Her life has been guided and defined by the rich international advocacy heritage of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, as well as by the excellent oratory and critical thinking skills she learned directly from her mother and family, and her chiefs and clan mothers whose ancestors were the first Indigenous Nation to execute a treaty with the new United States in 1776. This legacy has impressed upon Ms. Frichner the power and efficacy of an Indigenous presence in international relations, and also the critical significance of treaty rights and obligations between Nation states and Indigenous Nations. Tonya holds this unique knowledge base and understanding of the essential historical role of treaties paramount in her relationships and thinking. Clearly such a perspective will be of great benefit to her new role in the UN Permanent Forum and she well qualifies to be the North American Representative.
The Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development is a 30-year-old Indigenous Peoples’ identity-based, non-governmental organization whose mandate is to support the sovereignty and self-determination of Native Peoples and Nations of the Americas. As our Vice Chair, Tonya has helped to shape and develop the policies and program directions of our organization. She has also greatly assisted our work opening doors of and building understanding with philanthropic communities, lending her voice, both nationally and internationally.
Nominated for this esteemed position by the Seventh Generation Fund, Tonatierra, and Indigenous Women’s Network, during her candidacy Ms. Frichner received overwhelming support from throughout the continent of North America by a diversity of tribal Nations and community organizations.
Christopher H. Peters
President and CEO
Seventh Generation Fund
PO Box 4569
Arcata, CA 95518
http://www.7genfund.org
(1)(707) 825-7640
(1)(707) 825-7639 fax
Ms. Frichner is committed to the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly, stating that, “This document is built on the sweat and tears of Indigenous Peoples, and when adopted, it will provide hope and optimism for meaningful change for our Peoples throughout the world.” Tonya will also continue to serve as an advocate for the rights of Indigenous women and girls.
Citizen of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, Tonya Gonnella Frichner is an attorney, educator, advocate, and recognized leader, whose excellent and dedicated work on behalf of Indigenous Peoples’ rights radiates throughout North America and beyond, into other areas of the Indigenous world. Her more than twenty years of focused work on Indigenous rights and issues, including the protection of our lands, territories, intellectual properties, human rights, and cultural survival, have at all times exemplified the unique qualities of an international advocate and diplomat of outstanding merit and distinction.
Shaped by her Onondaga people’s history and culture, and then perfected through two decades of frontline work at the United Nations and other international fora, Tonya was born and raised on her people’s traditional territories in what is known as the state of New York. Her life has been guided and defined by the rich international advocacy heritage of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, as well as by the excellent oratory and critical thinking skills she learned directly from her mother and family, and her chiefs and clan mothers whose ancestors were the first Indigenous Nation to execute a treaty with the new United States in 1776. This legacy has impressed upon Ms. Frichner the power and efficacy of an Indigenous presence in international relations, and also the critical significance of treaty rights and obligations between Nation states and Indigenous Nations. Tonya holds this unique knowledge base and understanding of the essential historical role of treaties paramount in her relationships and thinking. Clearly such a perspective will be of great benefit to her new role in the UN Permanent Forum and she well qualifies to be the North American Representative.
The Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development is a 30-year-old Indigenous Peoples’ identity-based, non-governmental organization whose mandate is to support the sovereignty and self-determination of Native Peoples and Nations of the Americas. As our Vice Chair, Tonya has helped to shape and develop the policies and program directions of our organization. She has also greatly assisted our work opening doors of and building understanding with philanthropic communities, lending her voice, both nationally and internationally.
Nominated for this esteemed position by the Seventh Generation Fund, Tonatierra, and Indigenous Women’s Network, during her candidacy Ms. Frichner received overwhelming support from throughout the continent of North America by a diversity of tribal Nations and community organizations.
Christopher H. Peters
President and CEO
Seventh Generation Fund
PO Box 4569
Arcata, CA 95518
http://www.7genfund.org
(1)(707) 825-7640
(1)(707) 825-7639 fax