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

Indigenous Peoples Discuss Draft American Declaration

Panama City, Panama (UCTP Taino News) - At the 3rd Indigenous Leaders Summit of the Americas delegates received an update on the status of the draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The morning panel included June Lorenzo (Laguana), Azelene Inacio (Kaingang), and Luis Toro of the Organization of American States. The panel was moderated by Grand Chief Ed John of the Assembly of First Nations.

Luis Toro noted that the OAS officially adopted the recommendation presented by the Indigenous Peoples Caucus to advance the negotiations. As a point of consideration, Toro highlighted that considering the low number of actual meetings the negotiations can be seen as progressing. He also informed the group that "while there is funding to hold at least two more negotiation meetings this year , there is no word on next year's budget."

"Indigenous Peoples want to establish a mechanism to implement the rights of Indigenous Peoples within the system of the OAS" stated Azelene Inacio (Kaingang), an indigenous representative from Brazil.

Inacio also noted that Indigenous Peoples participation in the negotiations is dependent on State sponsored funding. "While States say they support the full participation of Indigenous Peoples in this process, the funding mechanism is still voluntary."

In light of the recent adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples panelists addressed the need for an American Declaration as well as the importance of the OAS document to not fall below the established UN standard.

"We have a large amount of Indigenous Peoples in the Americas who care for a large land mass extending throughout the region" stated June Lorenzo.

"The Americas are ahead of other regions in the world with regard to preparing a regional declaration on Indigenous Peoples" continued Lorenzo. "We have a regional judicial system - the Inter-American Court on Human Rights - which has actually heard cases concerning Indigenous Peoples".

"There are articles in the draft American Declaration that are not found in the UN Declaration such as an article on Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation."

UCTPTN 04.15.2009

Indigenous Summit Begins in Panama

Caribbean indigenous delegates at the 3rd Indigenous Leaders Summit of the Americas being hosted in Panama. From left to right: Roberto Borrero (Taino), Chief Allan Leow (Lokono), Margaret Williams (Kalinago), Chief Charles Williams (Kalinago), and Roger Guayakan Hernandez (Taino). UCTP Photo.

Panama City, Panama (UCTP Taino News) - The 3rd Indigenous Leaders Summit of the Americas opened today with a blessing from Gilberto Arias, a traditional leader of the Kuna Peoples of Panama. Arias asked the Great Spirit, Baba and Nana, Mother Earth, to assist the delegates who arrived for the meeting from South, Central, and North America as well as the Caribbean.

The morning session included remarks from Mr. Betanio Chiquidama representing the Kuna Council; Ms. Beverly Jacobs on behalf of the co-chairs; His excellency Jose Miguel Insulza, Secratary General of the Organization of America States; and Her Excellency, Patricia Langan-Torell, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Panama.

After the opening, co-chair Beverly Jacobs of the Native Women’s Association of Canada introduced the planning committee and technical team, including Chief Ed John (Tl’azt’en) of the Assembly of First Nations; Celeste Mckay (Metis/Canada); Albert DeTerville (Saint Lucia); Roberto Borrero (Boriken Taino/Puerto Rico); Damon Corrie (Lokono/Barbados); Carlos Chex (Mayan/Guatemala); Hector Huertas (Kuna/Panama); Azalene Kaingang (Kaingang/Brazil); Jaime Arias (Kankuamo/Columbia); Chief Wilton Littlechild (Cree/Canada); Ellen Gabriel (Mohawk/Canada); Violet Ford (Inuit/Canada); June Lorenzo (Laguna Pueblo/U.S.A.); Ben Powless (Mohawk/Canada); Lea MacKenzie (Canada); and Irene Lindsey (Canada).

After the introductions, an overview of the previous summits and the 3rd summit work plan was presented by Hector Huertas (Kuna) and Grand Chief Ed John.

The purpose of the 3rd Indigenous Summit is to provide an international forum for discussion of indigenous leaders on a range of policy issues related to the work of the Organization of American States and the themes to be addressed during the 5th Summit of the Americas.

The theme of the 3rd Indigenous Leaders Summit is “Implementing the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas for Present and Future Generations”.

UCTPTN 04.14.2009

Indigenous Peoples Global Summit on Climate Change

Anchorage, Alaska (UCTP Taíno News) - The Inuit Circumpolar Council is hosting a Global Summit on Climate Change that will bring together indigenous delegates and observers from April 20-24, 2009 in Anchorage, Alaska.

The purpose of the summit is to enable Indigenous peoples from all regions of the globe to exchange their knowledge and experience in adapting to the impacts of climate change, and to develop key messages and recommendations to be articulated to the world at the Conference of Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.

Among those represented at the meeting will be a delegation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples from Watikubuli (Dominica), Barbados, Suriname, and Borikén (Puerto Rico). Each delegate will prepare a report based on experiences in relation to climate change from their local area and these reports will form the basis of a larger regional presentation.

UCTPTN 04.11.2009