UAN General Assembly

🌍 The Unified Voice of Over 300 Million Indigenous Peoples Worldwide

The United Ancient Indigenous Enlightened Nations – General Assembly (UAN-GA) bridges ancient wisdom and modern governance to foster a harmonious, sovereign, and sustainable global Indigenous community. Established in 2003 under the Charter of the United Ancient Indigenous Enlightened Nations.

Comprised of 160+ Member and Observer Indigenous Nations, serving as the chief deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UAN.

Key Focus Areas

Indigenous rights and sovereignty
Traditional ecological knowledge
Cultural preservation and heritage
Sustainable development practices
Peaceful consensus building

Functions and Powers of the General Assembly

The Assembly operates through traditional Indigenous governance principles while engaging with modern international frameworks.

Decisions on important questions—such as those on peace and security, admission of new member nations, and budgetary matters—require a two-thirds majority
Decisions on other questions are passed by simple majority
Emphasizes consensus-building circles over formal voting
The Assembly adopts its own rules of procedure and elects a Chief Speaker and 21 Elder Advisors for each session

Core Functions and Powers

Legislative & Advisory Role

Makes recommendations on international Indigenous issues and acts across all governance pillars: political, economic, humanitarian, social, cultural, and spiritual.

Powers Under the Charter Include:

Approving UAN budget and financial assessments
Electing members to the Elder Council and other organs
Recommending the appointment of the Secretary-General
Recommending principles for peace, security, and cultural protection
Discussing and advising on any matters within the Charter

Indigenous Forum

Engages over 300 million Indigenous peoples from 5,000+ communities globally, promoting sustainable development rooted in traditional ecological knowledge.

Assembly Activities:

Annual UAN Summit with ceremonial and council sessions
Year-round traditional governance meetings
Initiating studies to promote political cooperation
Development and codification of Indigenous international law
Realization of Indigenous rights and fundamental freedoms

Decision-Making Process & Structure

Voting Structure

Each of the 160+ Indigenous Nations has one vote. The Assembly emphasizes consensus-building circles over formal voting, following traditional Indigenous governance practices.

Voting Requirements:

Two-thirds majority required for major decisions
Simple majority for other questions
Consensus-building preferred approach
Cultural protocols integrated into decision-making

Credentials & Protocols

The Credentials Committee is appointed each session to verify credentials and cultural protocol compliance of Indigenous representatives.

Official Protocols:

Blends international diplomacy with traditional Indigenous governance
Ensures cultural authenticity and dignity
Emphasizes sovereignty and ancestral knowledge
Indigenous Delegates Handbook issued annually

Main Councils of the General Assembly

The Assembly’s six councils each handle agenda items aligned with their specialized areas:

Council for Indigenous Trade & Economic Cooperation

Some critical issues, such as land rights and cultural sovereignty, are handled directly in the plenary sessions.

Regional Structure & Subsidiary Organs

Regional Circles

Used for elections and consultation, with the Chief Speaker rotating among these circles based on traditional protocols:

Subsidiary Organs

The Assembly may establish subsidiary organs as deemed necessary:

Elder Councils
Cultural Preservation Commissions
Traditional Governance Committees
Spiritual and Healing Circles
Working Groups for Specific Issues

Special Sessions:

Emergency sessions may be convened for urgent Indigenous rights issues, cultural crises, or environmental threats.