Indigenous Leaders to Provide Plan of Action to 5 th Summit of the Americas

Panama City, Panama – Indigenous leaders from across the Americas met April 14 - 15, 2009 in Panama City, Panama to take part in the 3rd Indigenous Leaders Summit of the Americas (3rd ILSA). The meeting provided an opportunity for Indigenous leaders to conduct discussions on issues related to the work of the Organization of American States (OAS) and, particularly, the work to be conducted during the 5 th Summit of the Americas to take place in Trinidad and Tobago, April 1719, 2009. The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) cohosted the event with the assistance of the OAS and various Indigenous organizations throughout the Americas.

During the meeting a Declaration and a Plan of Action were developed to promote the aspirations of Indigenous Peoples and to outline actions necessary to accomplish these goals. As noted by NWAC President Beverley Jacobs, “The [3 rd ILSA] Plan of Action provides achievable actions for states to undertake in order to ensure that Indigenous Peoples’ rights are implemented in their respective countries. The goal of ensuring that our human rights are respected and protected can only be achieved if nation states commit to take action.”

The Plan of Action outlines key activities for states to ensure the implementation of Indigenous rights related to six areas to be deliberated during the 5 th Summit of the Americas. A delegation of 10 Indigenous leaders will attend the 5 th Summit of the Americas, including NWAC President Jacobs and, on behalf of the AFN, Grand Chief Edward John. The delegation will meet with OAS State Ministers and will bring forward the 3 rd ILSA Declaration and Plan of Action at a meeting on April 17 th , 2009 leading into the 5 th Summit of the Americas. “The Plan of Action is the key component of our message to the State Ministers of the OAS and it is my hope that these leaders will take our recommendations back to their respective states and promote their implementation,” said Grand Chief Edward John, “Implementation of our human rights is one crucial step toward alleviating the human rights violations that we face.”

The ILSA take place every four years. Other items discussed during the two days included: the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, environment and resource management, intellectual property, culture and heritage, and sustainable human development, economic empowerment and trade.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada is an aggregate of 13 native women’s organizations and is the national voice of Aboriginal women in Canada. The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations in Canada.

Caribbean Indigenous Leaders Declare Solidarity with Naso Nation

Naniki Reyes Ocasio (Boriken Taino) meets with Naso Nation Grand Chief Valentin Santana and other community members at the 3rd Indigenous Leaders Conference in Panama City.

Panama City, Panama (UCTP Taino News) – During the final session of the 3rd Indigenous Leaders Summit of the Americas on April 15, delegates were unpleasantly surprised to learn about the relocation of the indigenous Naso Nation in Panama. The Naso are currently living without adequate shelter as a result of a police action following their protest of the construction of the Bonyik hydroelectric dam, which is threatening their ancestral homelands.

Traveling from the night before, several dozen weary Naso including elders, women, and children made an impromptu appearance at the summit where indigenous leaders from across the hemisphere were gathered. The Naso requested time to present their case as the summit delegates were finalizing a declaration and plan of action to be lobbied the next day at the 5th Summit of the Americas in Trinidad. Presentations were made by Naso youth and Naso traditional leader Valentin Santana.

According to reports as recently as 30 March 2009; over 100 heavily-armed Panamanian policemen entered Naso territory and destroyed 30 homes. As a result of this action nearly 200 Naso including 65 children were forcibly evicted from their own community on the San San River in the Bocas del Torro area. Eight children were hospitalized for exposure to tear gas. The Naso Tribal Nation is comprised of approximately 3,500 persons living in 11 tribal villages.

Although new reports claim that the police have now been withdrawn, the eviction order against the Naso has not yet been lifted. According to a recent communiqué from Cultural Survival, the original order was issued by local official Aracelys Sanchez. She has now been replaced by Jorge Gamarra who has promised to lift the order. Cultural Survival (a U.S. based NGO) has been supporting the Naso with an international campaign to bring awareness to this issue.

Kalinago Carib Chief Charles Williams of Dominica was enraged to hear of the injustices the Naso have been enduring over five centuries after the arrival of Columbus to the New World. Chief Williams reminded those gathered that "This is why we are here, to raise our voices in solidarity with all our suffering indigenous brothers and sisters".

Following Chief Williams, the President of the United Confederation of Taino People, Roberto Borrero (Taino) expressed the solidarity of Taino and Arawak Peoples to the Naso. He also proposed that a donation from the summit delegates be presented to the Naso. Borrero further suggested that the summit delegates give up one of the light meals prepared for them and provide it instead to the Naso contingent.

Borrero concluded his remarks with a proposal that the situation of the Naso be included in the final documents of the session. His proposals were unanimously accepted by those gathered in the plenary.

Chairing the emotional session was Hector Huertas, a representative of the indigenous Kuna Council of Panama. Huertas assured those gathered that he would follow-up on the situation and inform the wider community as to any developments in this case.

Damon Corrie and Roger Hernandez contributed to this article. (Photos: R. Hernandez)

UCTPTN 04.16.2009