Summary of Statement by NOELI POCATERRA to the Second Session of the
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the discussion on Culture.
NOELI POCATERRA, of the Consejo
Nacional Indio de Venezuela, said her culture and language were the
spirit and basis of her identity. It was important not to destroy the
creations of God and expressions of life. Culture and language were
the identity cards of indigenous peoples, giving them the opportunity
to have their own life. Their heritage and spiritual values had
enabled them to resist the colonialism that still existed today.
Indigenous peoples must not give up, but defend their sacred life on
earth.
She recommended prolonging the Decade for indigenous people, and urged
United Nations agencies, States and indigenous peoples to set up a
policy affirming the value of bilingual education. She also stressed
that full value should be given to traditional knowledge, which was
the key to the future.
Chief Arthur Manuel
Neskonlith Band Secwepemc Nation
Chief Arthur Manuel
Neskonlith Band Secwepemc Nation
Chief Arthur Manuel, from the Interior of British Columbia, Canada,
son of visionary George Manuel, calls for Indigenous unity. He
believes the Permanent Forum has a role to play in the globalization
dialogue with regards to trade issues and their impact on Indigenous
rights, in this interview by Felix Atencio
Excerpt: UN Press Release HR/4665
16/05/2003 Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Second Session
9th & 10th Meetings (AM & PM)
ARTHUR MANUEL, of the Assembly of First Nations, said he was deeply
concerned about the current state of the environment. The outcome of
the World Summit on Sustainable Development could offer a great deal
to the global community. He noted that many traditional laws addressed
a relationship with the earth, and with other people. He firmly
believed that many of the fundamental principles and values of the
past were as valid today as ever before.
Indigenous peoples could advise others on achieving effective
sustainable development, he continued. He applauded environmental
agreements that had been negotiated at the international level. He was
concerned, however, about the lack of involvement of indigenous
peoples in drawing up those agreements. He urged the Forum to
establish a clearinghouse of international agreements that had a
bearing on indigenous people.
Felix Antencio
representative of Red Continental de Medios de
Comunicacion Indigena
Summary of Statement by FELIX ATENCIO to the Second Session of the
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
FELIX ATENCIO, the representative of Red Continental de Medios de
Comunicacion Indigena, said that Indigenous Peoples needed access to
information. Civil societies in developed countries were concerned
about the control of information, and that concern was shared by
Indigenous Peoples. He was alarmed by the trend of standardizing
information - a raw form of racism that existed in many countries.
The communications media that did work with indigenous peoples faced
serious obstacles and that forced Indigenous Peoples to prioritize
among basic human needs and the right to information. No society that
aspired to the overall development of its people could allow such a
situation to occur. Access to information was of primary importance to
strengthen democracy, and the Permanent Forum should include in its
structure a mechanism to spread information to indigenous communities.
Tupac Enrique Acosta
Xicano People, Territories Aztlan
Tupac Enrique Acosta
Xicano People, Territories Aztlan
The Sacred Staffs of the Confederacy of the Eagle and the Condor
arrived at the United Nations headquarters on the morning of May 14,
2003 and were received by the traditional leadership of the
Haudenausaunee Confederacy. The Haudenausaunee, also known as the
People of the Longhouse, are here in New York along with Indigenous
Peoples from around the world attending the second session of the
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, an advisory body to the Economic
and Social Council.
Tupac Enrique Acosta shares the meaning of this event with Javier
Perez in a message about tradition and liberation. He interprets the
concept of sustainability from within the framework of ancient
knowledge and spirituality, and its importance not only for the
Indigenous nations of the Americas, but for all peoples of the world.
Juan Ramón, Mixteco de Oaxaca, México JUAN RAMON, Mixteco de Oaxaca,
México, que vive ahora en los Estados Unidos, comparte con nosotros su
preocupacion para la pobreza y otros temas. Juan Ramón es el
Trabajador de la Comunidad, Comité de Servicios de los Amigos
Americanos, Programa Fronterizo de E.U./México
Juan Ramón, Mixtec, from Oaxaca, Mexico now lives in the United
States. He shares with us his concerns about poverty and other themes.
Juan is the Community Worker for the Comité de Servicios de los Amigos
Americanos, Programa Fronterizo de E.U./Mexico.
Summary of Statement by JUAN RAMON to the Second Session of the
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
JUAN RAMON, of the Frente Indígena Oaxaqueno and Binacional of Mexico
and the United States, noted that more that 500,000 agricultural
workers in the region he represented were eking out an existence.
Threats to the environment in the region were exacerbated due to the
use of pesticides, which workers were forced to use with no safeguards
or warning about the poison they were using. Workers then jeopardized
their families, since they carried contaminants home on their
clothing.
He proposed that the term "documented and illegal workers and
minorities", as it referred to practices and humane treatment in the
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migratory
Workers and Families, be replaced by "those who had been forced to
leave their homes and emigrate" due to political or other inescapable
reasons. Pressure should be applied to the United States to recognize
and sign all conventions that they had not become party to. Several
countries that were major recipients of immigration had already signed
such conventions.
Summary of Statement presented to the Permanent Forum
DANIEL DOMINGO LOPEZ, of the Proyecto de Desarrollo Santiago, PRODESSA
Plataforma MAYA, said the wealth of knowledge present in indigenous
communities could prolong the life of the planet. The fundamental role
of education was to safeguard that knowledge.
Education was not only a question of coverage, but content, which must
include the culture of indigenous peoples. An attempt must also be
made to ensure that there was no misinterpretation of indigenous
culture and way of life. He recommended that the Economic and Social
Council increase the Forum’s budget so that it could address the
educational needs of indigenous people. Also, UNESCO should organize a
world forum on the education of indigenous peoples, and include
indigenous experts in regional meetings.
Summary of Statement from María Eugenia Choque Quispe, Centro de
Estudios Aymaras de Bolivia to the Second Session of the Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues during the discussion on Economic and
Social Development.
MARIA EUGENIA CHOQUE QUISPE, Centro de Estudios Aymaras de Bolivia,
said her people had been shunted aside and hit hard economically,
falling far short of development aspirations. Fortunately, no
one was suffering from hunger, since the group’s lifestyle was based
on solidarity, justice and fairness. She urged national and
international bodies to promote and foster production and market
access for foodstuffs in her region.
She stressed that indigenous people must be direct players and actors
participating in their own development, which would ensure their
cultural identity.
STATEMENTS BY INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATIVES
DECLARACIONES DE LOS
REPRESENTANTES INDIGENAS
Victoria
Tauli Corpuz - Executive Director, Tebtebba Indigenous Peoples'
International Centre for Policy Research and Education
United Nations
Economic and Social Council
E/C.19/2003/NGO/2
Distr.: General
17 March 2003
Item 4 of the Provisional Agenda
New York, 12-23 May, 2003
Mandated areas
Statement submitted by non-governmental organizations in consultative
status with the Economic and Social Council
Naciones Unidas
Consejo Economico y Social
E/C.19/2003/NGO/2
Distr. General
17 de marzo de 2003
Espanol
Original: ingles
Tema 4 del programa provisional Ambitos del mandato Declaracion
presentada por las organizaciones no gubermentales reconocidos como
entidades de caracter consultativo en el Consejo Economico y Social.
Summary of the Statement presented to the Second Session of the
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the discussion on Human
Rights by Sinafasi Makelo of the Bambuti Pygmies and Adolphine Muley
of the Batwa Pygmy Community of the eastern Democratic Republic of the
Congo.
SINAFASI MAKELO, representative of the Bambouti Pygmy Community of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo said that throughout the world,
Indigenous Peoples were suffering many different kinds of
discrimination. Today, his people had no land, no recognition and no
rights. They were expelled from the forests from which they had made
their living. They were no longer able to gather honey and traditional
plants or to hunt for food. Today, his people were disappearing,
culturally and physically. Human history had talked of cruelty,
massacres and genocide; his people had been hunted down, killed and
even eaten. The horrors of those atrocities had shocked the entire
world. Under the pressure of international indignation, those
responsible had set up their own tribunal to "try" the perpetrators,
which, of course, had found them innocent.
What was needed was an international tribunal. The memory of those
that had suffered must be honoured. He recommended that the United
Nations support the establishment of a plan to ensure the survival of
the Bambouti people.
ADOLPHINE MULEY, of the Batwa Pygmy Community, said that the rights of
the Batwa people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had not been
recognized, nor were they respected by the State. She highlighted the
failure to recognize the right of equality for the Batwa people. They
could not participate in elections, nor could they register the birth
of their children. They were not involved in public administration in
any way, and were denied the right to education. The Batwa had been
dispossessed of their lands, and their economy, which had been based
on the forests, no longer existed. They survived by begging and were
regularly exploited by other groups. The majority of the Batwa people
could not read or write and they had no access to health care. The
culture of the Batwa was disappearing and no steps were being taken by
the Government to preserve that culture. Women were being raped, and
her people were being hunted down, massacred and even becoming the
victims of cannibalism.
Audio: Espanol/Spanish y/and Wayuu
DBN
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