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Source: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/indigenous-sovereignty-movement-called-zionism
The Indigenous Sovereignty Movement Called Zionism
(Tablet) Joseph and Laralyn Riverwind - Ateret Shmuel of Indigenous Bridges, a nonprofit organization that builds bridges between Jewish people and other indigenous cultures worldwide, states: "We define an indigenous nation as a nation [that] has an ethnogenesis within a specific land space. So they came into existence as a people within a specific land who have historical ties to that land that predate colonial contact." History recorded in Jewish writings over the centuries, as well as in the continuous accounts from neighboring nations, both friend and foe, attest to the existence of the Jewish tribes, their ties to the Land of Israel, their origin in ancient Judea, their international commerce dealings, the devastating chronicle of wars, diplomatic relationships between countries, stories of kings, scholars, historians, and the existence of a powerful kingdom. Enemies of Israel purport that Jews are colonizers, not indigenous to the Holy Land. Our question is: Where are the Jews indigenous to, if not Israel? Another question: Does every people-group around the world have a place to which it is indigenous except the Jews? Of course not. The word Jew comes from Judah, son of Israel (Jacob), a patriarch for whom the nation is named - long before Judea was renamed "Palestine" by Roman conquerors. We recognize the Jewish people as the indigenous people of Israel. Moreover, Israel is the prime example of hope for other displaced indigenous tribes worldwide. Israel stands as the original land-back and decolonization model. An ancient tribal people, the Jews, have been restored to the place of their origin, to the locations of their sacred places. This is the dream of any indigenous person: to return home to the land of their ancestors, to the origin place of their traditions, customs, beliefs, and language. Zionism is the essence of being indigenous. Israel stands as a beacon of hope not just to Jews around the globe but to all indigenous people. Chief Joseph RiverWind and Dr. Laralyn RiverWind are co-founders of the Indigenous Embassy of Jerusalem.