Assyrian Indigenous peoples in the Middle East have had half their population massacred or removed over the last century.
Assyrian aboriginal peoples are descended from the first peoples of Mesopotamia, inhabiting a region overlapping what is today called Iraq and Turkey. They speak a form of their original traditional language, which is a combination of Aramaic and Akkadian.
They have been fighting for land rights and autonomy for the last century, against impossible odds. Unfortunately, their lands are rich with oil, and this puts them in the middle of the war-mongering machinations that are currently tearing our world apart.
This began earlier last century with the British insisting that oil rich Assyrian lands fall within Iraqi boundaries, rather than those of Turkey.
Assyrian indigenous people have petitioned international organizations and governments numerous times over the last century, and have continually been denied sovereignty.
They have retained customary links to land, language and culture, despite horrific genocide and dispossession that has removed half of their population in recent history. The homeless nation of Assyria has its own flag (pictured).
Since 2005, a few international governments (surprisingly including Australia) have been speaking out in favour of Assyrian autonomy. However, Assyrian indigenous land rights and autonomy are still far from being reality.
Some Kurdish indigenous peoples have actually been granted native title on Assyrian traditional lands.
The Kurds, Assyria's neighbouring indigenous peoples, are the largest indigenous group in the world, numbering around 30 million. They have suffered dispossession and genocide similar to that of the Assyrians.
The copyright of the article Assyrian Indigenous People in Aboriginal Rights is owned by Tyson Yunkaporta. Permission to republish Assyrian Indigenous People must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Aug 21, 2006 8:25 AM
Robin Fowler
:
It seems that this region has always been locked in turmoil. This land that these poor people inhabit is so valuable to so many people, and for all of the wrong reasons. This is the cradle of civilization, and no one seems to be a bit interested in preserving that fact. If it weren't for the original inhabitants of this land, where would we be?
Aug 23, 2006 10:37 PM
Tyson Yunkaporta
:
"cradle of civilisation" is a very subjective notion - depending on your cultural viewpoint this could be any of a hundred places - africa, greece, israel, etc.
even the word "civilisation" is problematic. perhaps if we could all agree on a more inclusive definition of this word, there may be less strife in the world.
this world all in knots.
Jan 20, 2008 11:07 PM
anyta papa
:
WHAT?!?! you logged in, took the time to read the article and then came up with this rebuttal? All you got out of this article is to argue over the definition of a word? An entire race of people is being systematically eliminated and this seems to be the world's view on the subject: It's okay, just change your definition of civilization, change your language, change your name, change your religion and then you'll be just fine. The people who are killing you will embrace you with open arms and then we will all be included in their "inclusiveness" What ever your definition of civilization is, it doesn't change the fact that the Assyrians were in those lands before anyone else! We want the right to be exclusive, just like everybody else. It's a basic human right, to have an identity and a place to call HOME.
