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Supporting Israel Means Supporting Indigenous Rights

The Tribal Case for Israel

Under the common-sense definition of Indigenous set forth in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the only living people who are uniquely indigenous to the land of Israel are Jews. The evidence of Jewish indigeneity in the land of Israel is as obvious as the presence of ancient mikvot (ritual baths) and ancient Jewish coins that have been discovered all over Israel, and the Arch of Titus in Rome, which depicts the siege of Jewish Jerusalem. Read more HERE.

Setting the Record Straight on Jews and Indigeneity

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) recognizes that that there are generally accepted principles that are inclusive enough to accommodate the diversity of Indigenous Peoples around the world. These principles include:

The self-identification of individuals who are accepted by their community as a member.
Historical continuity in a territory prior to colonial or settler contact.
Strong linkages to the land.
Distinct political, economic, social, cultural, linguistic, and religious beliefs.
A commitment to maintaining the group’s Indigenous identity.

It is abundantly clear the Jewish People are indeed Indigenous to the historic Land of Israel. Read more HERE.

A portion of the Arch of Titus, depicting the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

Are Jews Indigenous to the Land of Israel?

As an indigenous activist—I am a Métis from the Paddle Prairie Metis settlement in Alberta, Canada—there is one question I am most often asked by the public, one that can instantly divide a community due to its intense and arduous subject matter. Yet, regardless of the scenario, each time I hear the words, “Are Jews the indigenous people of Israel?” I’m inclined to answer not only with my heart but with the brutal, honest truth, backed by indisputable, thousands-year-old historical and archaeological fact: yes. Read more HERE.

The media is the primary lens through which the Canadian people learn about the world. Accordingly, HRC is dedicated to ensuring that news coverage provided by Canada’s media – whether print or electronic, and whether national, local, academic or alternative – reflects the highest journalistic standards of excellence in news, information and investigative journalism, and is informed by Canadian values including democracy, freedom, liberty and the rule of law.

In a world filled with "fake news", we must keep ourselves informed. Visit Honest Reporting HERE.

HonestReporting Canada is an independent grass-roots organization promoting fairness and accuracy in Canadian media coverage of Israel and the Middle East. With the assistance of our over 45,000 members from coast to coast, HRC monitors the media, recognizes excellence and exposes inaccuracy and bias in Canadian reporting on the region. HRC members work together to examine the role journalists play in shaping the news, subjecting news reporting to rigorous and methodical investigation, and preventing distorted coverage. In short, we are in favour of honest reporting.

The main focus of HRC is to monitor Canada’s mainstream media outlets and report on significant lapses in ensuring accuracy, context, fairness and objectivity.

10 Ways to Have Conscientious Conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The past weeks have seen a steep increase in antisemitism related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. To be sure, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always engendered strong emotions and differences of opinion and such disagreements are naturally heightened at a time of crisis. Injecting bigotry into any conversation, analyses, policies, reporting — whether antisemitism or Islamophobia — only exacerbates conflict. Invoking antisemitic tropes and myths can be harmful to all of society by allowing hate to become corrosive, and intolerance to go unchecked. This can foment bias and lead to more violence, distort reality, and derail otherwise productive conversations, undermining our ability to resolve the issues that can end the conflict.