ARTICLE 12 is one of the few remaining examples of native/indigenous land autonomy in the United States. This unique position should not be given or stripped away so hastily and irresponsibly. SLI-22-01 is a six-page document that threatens to destroy over forty years of historical indigenous land protection rights and is the last measure of identity distinguishing those of Northern Marianas Descent or NMD from the rest of the nation.
The CNMI does not have to look far into the past to realize how negatively this will play out for future generations of NMDs. The historical events that stripped Native Hawaiians of their land autonomy are felt throughout the Hawaiian Islands till NOW, and Native Hawaiians are PRICED OUT of the ancestral homeland that bears their name. Ask any Native Hawaiian or Native American, and they will say their land was STOLEN and SOLD to the highest bidder, without their input in its development or use. In my opinion, exercising oneâs real property rights
Among them were 20-year-old Trini Iguel and 28-year-old Keoni Hosono.
âFrom my understanding, Article 12 was put in place to protect our people, but according to [SLI 22-1], the initial reasons supporting the establishment of Article 12 are no longer consistent with the needs of the Commonwealth and its people,â said Iguel.
âWill there ever be a time when our people will not need protection? No. Our people have suffered through 500 years of colonialism. This has decimated much of our language, our culture, and our heritage. At this point, the only true connection that we have to our identity as Chamorros and Carolinians is the land.â
Senators hear pros and cons of amending Article XII mvariety.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mvariety.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
TINIAN resident Philip Mendiola-Long proposes the creation of an Article XII land registry under the Department of Public Lands for fee simple transactions.