A/HRC/21/47/Add.1 country. All such decision-making should incorporate awareness and close consideration of the Declaration’s terms. Moreover, the Declaration is an instrument that should motivate and guide steps toward still-needed reconciliation with the country’s indigenous peoples, on just terms. VI. Conclusions and recommendations 85. Indigenous peoples in the United States – including American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian peoples – constitute vibrant communities that have contributed greatly to the life of the country. Yet they face significant challenges that are related to widespread historical wrongs and misguided government policies that today manifest themselves in various indicators of disadvantage and impediments to the exercise of their individual and collective rights. Existing federal legislation and executive programmes 86. Many acts of Congress and federal programmes that have been developed over the last few decades – in contrast to earlier exercises of federal power based on misguided policies – constitute good practices that in significant measure respond to indigenous peoples’ concerns. Especially to be commended are the many new initiatives taken by the executive to advance the rights of indigenous peoples in the last few years. The need to build on good practices and advance toward reconciliation 87. Relevant authorities should take steps to address the concerns of indigenous leaders that, in certain respects, federal legislation protective of their rights is not adequately implemented and that federal programmes are not adequately funded or administered. 88. Further, the federal executive and Congress should respond to initiatives promoted by indigenous peoples for new or amended legislation and programmes, in accordance with the international human rights commitments of the United States. 89. Despite positive aspects of existing legislation and programmes, new measures are needed to advance reconciliation with indigenous peoples and to provide redress for persistent deep-seated problems. Federal authorities should identify, develop and implement such measures in full consultation and coordination with indigenous peoples. 90. Measures of reconciliation and redress should include, inter alia, initiatives to address outstanding claims of treaty violations or non-consensual takings of traditional lands to which indigenous peoples retain cultural or economic attachment, and to restore or secure indigenous peoples’ capacities to maintain connections with places and sites of cultural or religious significance, in accordance with the United States international human rights commitments. In this regard, the return of Blue Lake to Taos Pueblo, the restoration of land to the Timbisha Shoshone, the establishment of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Park, and current initiatives of the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service to protect sacred sites, constitute important precedents or moves in this direction. 91. Other measures of reconciliation should include efforts to identify and heal particular sources of open wounds. And hence, for example, promised reparations should be provided to the descendants of the Sands Creek massacre, and new or renewed consideration should be given to clemency for Leonard Peltier. 20