In Defense of the Wirikuta

Version en Español 

DECLARATION IN DEFENSE OF THE WIRIKUTA.

Issued by the Wikárika People from the three states of Jalisco, Nayarit and Durango represented by the Waut+a community -- San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlán and its annexed community of Tutsipa – of the municipalities of Mezquitic and Bolaños Jalisco; Tuapurie – Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán municipalities of Mezquitic, Tatei Kie – San Andrés Cohamiata municipality of Mezquitic, Jalisco Jalisco; Uweni Muyewe – Bancos de San Hipólita municipality of Mezquital, Durango and the Wixárika Union from the States of Jalisco, Nayarit and Durango.

RECOGNIZING that the Wixárika People since time immemorial have made the pilgrimage to the sacred land of the Wirikuta, recreating the long journey that our ancestors made during the creation of the world to arrive at the place where the sun was born in the semi-desert area of the Real de Catorce.

CONSIDERING that our prayer in Wirikuta is that all and every living being on this planet maintains life, and that our ancient Wixárika culture is maintained and does not disappear, in order that the key elements of knowledge and the candles of life that give meaning to our identity as Wixárika People are renewed.

ANALYZING the fact that the North American Free Trade Agreement and regulatory laws that have been derived in order to favor the operation of this neoliberal agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada, have only accomplished the deepening of the war of extermination against our native peoples, by way of legal statutes such as the Mining Law that has lead to the situation in which our sacred land in the Real de Catorce Desert is now is the object of 22 concessions granted by the transnational First Majestic Silver Mining Company based in Canada, which makes a total of 6,326 hectares of that has been conceded which include our sacred land.

OBSERVING that the sacred springs where we collect our blessed water are found within the basins of the silver veins to be exploited, running an eminent risk of cyanide poisoning and the drying up of large quantities of water that would be used by the mining industry, in other words the water supply, in agreement with the National Water Commission, will find itself in a level of overexploitation and the capacity for recuperating the water is very low.

CONSIDERING that the damage will irreversibly affect 16 population centers that are found inside the concession area belonging to 6 Ejidos in the zone, as well as numerous localities in low-lying areas that will suffer the negative effects imposed on the water sources (drying up and contamination), such as is the case of El Mastranto, San José de Milpitas, Estación Catorce, Santa Cruz de Carretas, Los Catorce, Las Relaciones, El Barranco, El Garabato, Vigas de Coronado, San Juan de Matanzas, among others, making a total of approximately 3500 people who would be affected. .

EVALUATING that the mining project of First Majestic Silver violates the rights that we have as a recognized people in the 169 Convention of the OIT; and violates the rights established by the Program for the Management of the Wirikuta Nature Preserve, that encompasses almost 70% of the mining concessions and that the Wixárika form part of the Administration Council; and fails to adhere to the laws established by the General Law for the Prevention and Handling of Dangerous Waste; does not respect the statutes of the General Law for Ecological Balance and Protection of the Environment; and the Environmental Law of the State of San Luis Potosí; the Law for Consulting with Native Peoples of the State of San Luis Potosí; as well as an important number of applicable Official Mexican Regulations.

REACHING A CONSENSUS on a generalized position by the Wixárika by way of analyzing the problem during the General Regular Assembly of the Community of San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlán and its annex of Tuxpan of the municipalities of Mezquitic and Bolaños carried out on September 3rd, 4th, and 5th of the present year; The Extraordinary Assembly of Bancos de San Hipólito Mezquital, Durango which took place on September 4th and 5th of the current year; the Elders Council Meetings of the community of Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán which took place on September 5th in the locality of Las Latas and on September 11th and 12th of the year 2010, carried out in the locality of Pueblo Nuevo1; Meeting of the Interstate Union of Ceremony Centers which took place in the community of Uweni Muyewe on September 11th and 12th of the present year; In the First Forum for Dialogue about Mining in Wirikuta with the network in defense of Wirikuta Tamatsima wa’há carried out in Real de Catorce on September 18th of the present year; The Meeting to ensure the respect of the PACTO DE HAUXA MANAKÁ carried out today at the municipal headquarters of Mezquitic, Jalisco.

WE DECLARE THE FOLLOWING.

We manifest our profound rejection of the mining project of the transnational company First Majestic Silver in the Real de Catorce desert, given that our sacred sites are an invaluable patrimony and of incalculable value to us, our children, grandchildren and all of the descendents of the Wixárika.
We demand the immediate cancellation of the 22 mining concessions currently held by the transnational and the application of an immediate moratorium so that no new permission is given for the exploitation or exploration in the Real de Catorce Desert or in any location that circumvents our sacred sites.

We communicate our profound preoccupation for the inhabitants of Wirikuta concerning the contamination and drying up of their drinking water, the increase in repertory and gastronomical illnesses and even cancer given the poisons used in mining and the effects of chemical residues, we invite them to inform and organize themselves so that they will not have to accept the unlawful imposition that will bring about the destruction of their land that was left for them by their grandparents and that they will leave for their children.

We demand that the country of Mexico immediately implement effective strategies that bring a better quality of life to the inhabitants of Wirikuta, that the be proposals be in harmony with the environment, and not destructive as is mining in which the humble laborers are put between a rock and a hard place by offering them work in exchange for the destruction of their patrimony.

We respectfully ask the municipal authorities of the H. City Government of Real de Catorce not to expedite any municipal permits for the construction or the use of land, as the General Secretary of the H. City Government in Real de Catorce drew attention to during the forum for dialogue which took place on September 18th in Real de Catorce, the Wixárika People and an important number of municipal people that no not want the mine.

We clarify that we will use all the resources necessary to stop this devastating mining project, making use of national and international legal resources that are in our favor as well as non-violent actions of civil protest that are necessary.

SINCERLY

“For the Comprehensive Meeting of the Demands of our Communities of the Wixárika People.”

Given at the Municipal Headquarters of Mezquitic, Jalisco

On September 23, 2010
Traditional and Agrarian Authorities of the Wixárika People

On behalf of the indigenous community of San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlán and its annex Tuxpan of the municipalities of Mezquitic and Bolaños, Jalisco.

Santiago López Díaz
Traditional Governor of the Waut+a

Mauricio Hernández Castañeda
Traditional Governor of Tutsipa

Ramón González López
President of the Office of the Commisioner

José Ángel Díaz Serio
President of the Security Council

On behalf of the Indigenous community of Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán, municipality of Mezquitic, Jalisco.

Jaime Carillo Carrillo
Traditional Governor

Juan Ávila De la Cruz
President of the Office of the Commisioner

On behalf of the Indigenous community of Bancos de San Hipólito municipality of Mezquital, Durango.

Santos De la Cruz Carrillo
President of the Office of the Commisioner

On behalf of the Indigenous community of San Andrés Cohamiata municipality of Mezquitic, Jalisco.

Mauricio Montellano De la Cruz
Traditional Governor

On behalf of the Wixárika Union of Jalisco, Nayarit and Durango.

Eleuterio De la Cruz Ramírez
Union President

Jaime Carrillo López
President of the Security Council

Witnesses

Ramón Bañuelos Bonilla
Municipal President of Mezquitic, Jal.

Fredy Medina Sánchez
Municipal President of Huejuquilla, el Alto Jal.

Ing. Guadalupe Flores Flores
State Delegate of the CDI Jalisco and Colima.
José de Jesús Navarro Cárdenas
Inspector of the CEDHJ

Tirzo Navarrete Rodríguez
Director of the CCDI Mezquitic

Roberto López López
Regional Coordinator of the CEI.

  

ROK HOP by BUZZ WAPPER and MONKEYMARC

MonkeyMarc  and uncle Kevin Buzzacott brand new hit!...ok ok, it is a great way to have your say anyway.

let's help uncle Kev  on his fight against  cancer by downloading this track.

uncle Kev is an Arabunna indigenous elder from northen South Australia who has been strugling for the recognition of the culture, roots and land rights for all indigenous nations in Australia.

His legacy on the awareness of the impacts of uranium mining and the deterioration of traditonal sacred lands along with the promotion of a nuclear free Australia  is well knwon in and out of Australia

Let's help uncle Kevin on his fight against cancer.

just hit download!.

thanx!

HA (Water) !!!

The Yurata is about to finísh the water projects.

Thanks to the support and consciousness of the friends of the Yurata, who through Warehouse 21, raised the funds to supply potable water to the Yurata.

The project was divided in four stages.

1.- Extention of the Yurata into a larger area of land, where they could plant crops, build a school and an artesian well to provide water to the Yurata.

2.- Secure clean, intall pipes and storage for the spring near the Yurata.

3.- Pump station and pipe system to transport the water through the land of the Yurata to the main area where the Kalihueys, housing and kitchen are located.

4.- Construction of the artesian well to ensure potable water for human and animal consumption.

We are finishing the fourth phase sooner than we anticipated; we had predicted for economic reasons that we would finísh phase 3 in October or November of this year.





Thanks to the effort and work of everyone and in particular of those who raised and contributed funds for our projects; it is possible for us to have water and reinforce other projects (garden produce, a medical clinic, planting, nutrition).





Now we are beginning with the school for 15 girls or children, in a multi-grade format, with a system of traveling schools.

We hope soon to be able to have a bilingual Wixarika-Spanish teacher.

We also would like to thank those that helped us with the December raffle, because with what you raised, we are going to build the school.





People who would like to support us with school materials, resources, building materials, please send us an e-mail at enlace@yurata.org so that we can inform you the best way to send your assistance.

People who are interested in supporting our clinic for natural and traditional medicine, please also get in touch with us so that we can make arrangements.

We know that we have a lot of work to do, but we also know that we are moving ahead quietly, slowly, but surely.


Thank you to everyone for your support and for helping grow bigger the little root that we are.






suerte y animo

Our word-world news effort

This is our effort to bring the news that come to us from friends, groups, communities and indigenous nations that share their news, processes, struggles, projects with us. 

some of the news are in spanish I'm feeling lucky?  here's the link to all our news.

our translation is made by a friend of us and she is doing a great job and we don't want to clog her help by translating all our news, but we try as much as possible to have translated what we consider most important.

if any of you want to share news with us please send them and we will translate them.

if there is people who feel like helping in translation send us an email.

we are trying to update this area and some news are lost but check from time to time and send your news.



thanx.



suerte y animo.







here to spanish news page I'm feeling lucky!

Parliamentary declaration from Europe

 Parliamentary declaration from Europe about the repression of the indigenous and trade unionist movements in Colombia

European Parliamentary, Strasbourg, October 22 2008 


Parliamentary declaration about the repression of the indigenous and trade unionist movements in Colombia

 

We, the undersigned MEPs, have been informed about the repression perpetrated against the indigenous demonstrations taking place since October 12th in different Colombian regions, and the murder of 27 indigenous people, the disappearance of many more and the injuring of others. We have also learned about the repression against the sugar cane workers movement which begun in September.

 

We want to express our deep indignation about these serious violations of indigenous and trade unionists' rights that should not go unpunished.

 

We consider as legitimate the claims of the indigenous people for the respect of their land and autonomy, for the survival of their 102 different peoples, of which 18 are in constant danger of disappearance and for the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources. Likewise we recognize the legitimate claims of the sugar cane workers for decent work.

 

We urge the Colombian government to order the police and army force to immediately stop the repression against the indigenous peoples' and workers' movement.

We express our rejection of the unfounded expulsion of three European citizens who were observing the current demonstrations.

 

We condemn the permanent use of the pretext of fighting against terrorism to repress the social movement in Colombia.

 

- Vittorio Agnoletto, Diputado europeo por Italia, Miembro de la Comisión de Asuntos exteriores del Parlamento europeo

- André Brie, Diputado europeo por Alemania, Miembro de la Comisión de Asuntos exteriores del Parlamento europeo

- Giusto Catania, Diputado europeo por Italia, Vice-presidente de la Comisión de Libertades civiles, Justicia y asuntos interiores del Parlamento europeo

- Gabriela Cretu, Diputada europea por Rumania, Vice-presidente de la delegación DAND del Parlamento europeo

- Bairbre De Brun, Diputada europea por Irlanda, Miembro de la Comisión de Desarrollo regional del Parlamento europeo

- Ilda Figueiredo, Diputada europea por Portugal, Miembro de la Asamblea bi-regional EUROLAT

- Claudio Fava, Diputado europeo por Italia, Vice-presidente de la Asamblea bi-regional EUROLAT

- Monica Frassoni , Diputada europea por Italia, Presidente del Grupo de los Verdes / Alianza Libre Europea

- Vicente Garcés, Diputado europeo por España, Miembro de la Comisión de Presupuestos del Parlamento europeo

- Ana Maria Gomes, Diputada europea por Portugal, Miembro de la Comisión de Asuntos exteriores del Parlamento europeo

- Pedro Guerreiro, Diputado europeo por Portugal, Miembro de la Comisión de desarrollo regional

- Umberto Guidoni, Diputado europeo por Italia, Miembro de la Comisión del Control presupuestal del Parlamento europeo

- Jens Holm, Diputado europeo por Suecia , Miembro de la Comisión de Medio Ambiente, Salud Pública y Seguridad Alimentaria

- Richard Howitt, Diputado europeo por el Reino-Unido, Vice-presidente de la Sub-comisión de derechos humanos

- Marie Anne Isler-Béguin, Diputada europea por Francia, Miembro de la Comisión de Medio ambiente del Parlamento europeo

- Eva Lichtenberger, Diputada europea por Austria, Miembro de la Delegación de Medio-Ambiente del Parlamento europeo

- Marie-Noelle Lienemann, Diputada europea por Francia, Miembro de la Comisión de Medio Ambiente del Parlamento europeo

- Alain Lipietz, Diputado europeo por Francia, Presidente de la delegación de relaciones entre el Parlamento europeo y los países de la Comunidad Andina y Vice-presidente de la Asamblea parlamentaria bi-regional EUROLAT 

- Caroline Lucas, Diputada europea por el Reino Unido, Miembro de la Comisión del Comercio Internacional del Parlamento europeo

- Mary Lou Mac Donald, Diputada europea por Irlanda, Miembro de la Comisión de Empleo y Asuntos sociales del parlamento europeo

- Helmuth Markov, Diputado europeo por Alemania, Presidente de la Comisión de comercio internacional

- Erik Meijer, Diputado europeo por Holanda, Miembro de la Comisión de Transporte del Parlamento europeo

- Willy Meyer-Pleite, Diputado europeo por España, Vice-presidente de la Asamblea parlamentaria bi-regional EUROLAT

- Luisa Morgantini, Diputada europea por Italia, Vice-presidente del Parlamento europeo 

- Tobias Pflüger, Diputado europeo por Alemania, Miembro de la Comisión de Asuntos exteriores del Parlamento europeo

- Miguel Portas, Diputado europeo por Portugal, Miembro de la Comisión de Asuntos exteriores del Parlamento europeo

- Miloslav Ransdorf, Diputado europeo por República Checa, Miembro de la Comisión de Asuntos exteriores del Parlamento europeo

- Marco Rizzo, Diputado europeo por Italia, Miembro de la Asamblea bi-regional EUROLAT

- Raul Romeva i Rueda, Diputado europeo por España, Miembro de la Comisión de Derechos de la Mujer e Igualdad de Género

- Esko Seppanen, Diputado europeo por Finlandia, Miembro de la Comisión Asuntos industriales del Parlamento europeo

- Eva-Britt Svensson, Diputada europea por Suecia, Vice-presidente de la Comisión de derechos de la mujer e igualdad de género del Parlamento europeo

- Claude Turmes, Diputado Europeo por Luxemburgo, Miembro de la Comisión de industria, investigación y energía

- Feleknas Uca, Diputada europea por Alemania, Miembro de la Comisión de Cooperación para el desarrollo del Parlamento europeo

- Gabriele Zimmer, Diputada europea por Alemania, Miembro de la Comisión de Cooperación para el desarrollo del Parlamento europeo

Warehouse 21 and Yurata project.

A team of dedicated people from New Mexico and Yurata have agreed to work together to improve the availability and sanitation of spring water for this community and the neighbors. The team consists of Bob Edgar, an engineer; Bonnie Larson, fluent in Spanish and friends of the
Huichol; Lauri Dickinson and Judie Rosner, Spanish speakers and experienced educators; Modesto Rivera, the spokesperson for the community; and Modesto’s four brothers, who will provide their labor. The community sees the availability of water and sanitary conditions as a priority.  

This is a committed group of individuals that understands the importance of team effort, appropriate technologies, how to apply them, and the priorities of the community.

We need your help before November 1st for Yurata for two reasons:

1.We are planning with the community to hold meetings to hear their needs and share information, assess the latrine, build a spring box, improve the existing water delivery system as well as assess the second spring, owned by a Huichol ejido, as a long-term water solution. This would be an immediate benefit to the community. We need materials, supplies and tools.

2.The property on which Yurata is now located is only 25 X 50 meters. That is all they could afford. It is not really large enough for 35 people. There is a nearby property they would like to purchase that is for sale for US$7000. We can help them do that. If they can buy that property they will have a place to build a school room.

Donations are tax deductible Send donations made out to:

“Warehouse 21”
Huichol Project (on memo line) and mail to

Bonnie Larson
1901 Fort Union Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505

 For More Info. Contact, Bonnie Larson at:
 (505) 986-8150

 

SANTA FE EVENTS WAREHOUSE 21 AND YURATA PROJCET.

 

Fiesta de Música

Modesto Rivera Lemus (Ranchero and Huichol music).
Cipriano Vigil (Norteño) 
Marcos Cavalcante (Brazilian/Latin Jazz)
Thursday, October 9th at 7:00 pm
Warehouse 21 stage
Santa Fe Rail Yard next to Site Santa Fe
Minimum suggested donation of $10

Mexican Dinner Benefit 
Huichol Art Sale and music too!
Ed and Bonnie Larson’s Home
1901 Fort Union Drive
Santa Fe 87505
Saturday, October 11 @ 6:00 pm

AND
Bob Edgar’s Home
7510 Los Árboles NE
Albuquerque 87110
Friday, October 10, 2008 @ 6:00 pm

Suggested minimum donation for dinners is $10
For more information and to R.S.V.P. the dinners
please call Bonnie Larson at 505-986-8150



Send tax-deductible donations to
Bonnie Larson
1901 Fort Union Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505
 
Please make checks payable to 
Warehouse 21

And on the memo line write:
Huichol Project

Thank you so much! 

We can’t solve all the problems of the world but we can make a difference in the lives of the children and adults of the Huichol community of Yurata who greatly appreciate anything you can contribute.

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples

 

Adopted by General Assembly Resolution 61/295 on 13 September 2007  

The General Assembly,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and good faith in the fulfilment of the obligations assumed by States in accordance with the Charter,

Affirming that indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples, while recognizing the right of all peoples to be different, to consider themselves different, and to be respected as such,

Affirming also that all peoples contribute to the diversity and richness of civilizations and cultures, which constitute the common heritage of humankind,

Affirming further that all doctrines, policies and practices based on or advocating superiority of peoples or individuals on the basis of national origin or racial, religious, ethnic or cultural differences are racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally condemnable and socially unjust,

Reaffirming that indigenous peoples, in the exercise of their rights, should be free from discrimination of any kind,

Concerned that indigenous peoples have suffered from historic injustices as a result of, inter alia, their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, thus preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests,

Recognizing the urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights of indigenous peoples which derive from their political, economic and social structures and from their cultures, spiritual traditions, histories and philosophies, especially their rights to their lands, territories and resources,

Recognizing also the urgent need to respect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples affirmed in treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements with States,

Welcoming the fact that indigenous peoples are organizing themselves for political, economic, social and cultural enhancement and in order to bring to an end all forms of discrimination and oppression wherever they occur,

Convinced that control by indigenous peoples over developments affecting them and their lands, territories and resources will enable them to maintain and strengthen their institutions, cultures and traditions, and to promote their development in accordance with their aspirations and needs,

Recognizing that respect for indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment,

Emphasizing the contribution of the demilitarization of the lands and territories of indigenous peoples to peace, economic and social progress and development, understanding and friendly relations among nations and peoples of the world,

Recognizing in particular the right of indigenous families and communities to retain shared responsibility for the upbringing, training, education and well-being of their children, consistent with the rights of the child,

Considering that the rights affirmed in treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and indigenous peoples are, in some situations, matters of international concern, interest, responsibility and character,

Considering also that treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements, and the relationship they represent, are the basis for a strengthened partnership between indigenous peoples and States,

Acknowledging that the Charter of the United Nations, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,2 as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,(3) affirm the fundamental importance of the right to self-determination of all peoples, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,

Bearing in mind that nothing in this Declaration may be used to deny any peoples their right to self-determination, exercised in conformity with international law,

Convinced that the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples in this Declaration will enhance harmonious and cooperative relations between the State and indigenous peoples, based on principles of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, non-discrimination and good faith,

Encouraging States to comply with and effectively implement all their obligations as they apply to indigenous peoples under international instruments, in particular those related to human rights, in consultation and cooperation with the peoples concerned,

Emphasizing that the United Nations has an important and continuing role to play in promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples,

Believing that this Declaration is a further important step forward for the recognition, promotion and protection of the rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples and in the development of relevant activities of the United Nations system in this field,

Recognizing and reaffirming that indigenous individuals are entitled without discrimination to all human rights recognized in international law, and that indigenous peoples possess collective rights which are indispensable for their existence, well-being and integral development as peoples,

Recognizing that the situation of indigenous peoples varies from region to region and from country to country and that the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical and cultural backgrounds should be taken into consideration,

Solemnly proclaims the following United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a standard of achievement to be pursued in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect:

Article 1
Indigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(4) and international human rights law.

Article 2
Indigenous peoples and individuals are free and equal to all other peoples and individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity.

Article 3
Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Article 4
Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing their autonomous functions.

Article 5
Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State.

Article 6
Every indigenous individual has the right to a nationality.

Article 7
1. Indigenous individuals have the rights to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty and security of person.
2. Indigenous peoples have the collective right to live in freedom, peace and security as distinct peoples and shall not be subjected to any act of genocide or any other act of violence, including forcibly removing children of the group to another group.

Article 8
1. Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture.
2. States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and redress for:
(a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;
(b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources;
(c) Any form of forced population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights;
(d) Any form of forced assimilation or integration;
(e) Any form of propaganda designed to promote or incite racial or ethnic discrimination directed against them.

Article 9
Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right to belong to an indigenous community or nation, in accordance with the traditions and customs of the community or nation concerned. No discrimination of any kind may arise from the exercise of such a right.

Article 10
Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. No relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible, with the option of return.

Article 11
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.
2. States shall provide redress through effective mechanisms, which may include restitution, developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples, with respect to their cultural, intellectual, religious and spiritual property taken without their free, prior and informed consent or in violation of their laws, traditions and customs.

Article 12
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to manifest, practise, develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies; the right to maintain, protect, and have access in privacy to their religious and cultural sites; the right to the use and control of their ceremonial objects; and the right to the repatriation of their human remains.
2. States shall seek to enable the access and/or repatriation of ceremonial objects and human remains in their possession through fair, transparent and effective mechanisms developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples concerned.

Article 13
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems and literatures, and to designate and retain their own names for communities, places and persons.
2. States shall take effective measures to ensure that this right is protected and also to ensure that indigenous peoples can understand and be understood in political, legal and administrative proceedings, where necessary through the provision of interpretation or by other appropriate means.

Article 14
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning.
2. Indigenous individuals, particularly children, have the right to all levels and forms of education of the State without discrimination.
3. States shall, in conjunction with indigenous peoples, take effective measures, in order for indigenous individuals, particularly children, including those living outside their communities, to have access, when possible, to an education in their own culture and provided in their own language.

Article 15
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories and aspirations which shall be appropriately reflected in education and public information.
2. States shall take effective measures, in consultation and cooperation with the indigenous peoples concerned, to combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination and to promote tolerance, understanding and good relations among indigenous peoples and all other segments of society.

Article 16
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to establish their own media in their own languages and to have access to all forms of non-indigenous media without discrimination.
2. States shall take effective measures to ensure that State-owned media duly reflect indigenous cultural diversity. States, without prejudice to ensuring full freedom of expression, should encourage privately owned media to adequately reflect indigenous cultural diversity.

Article 17
1. Indigenous individuals and peoples have the right to enjoy fully all rights established under applicable international and domestic labour law.
2. States shall in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples take specific measures to protect indigenous children from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development, taking into account their special vulnerability and the importance of education for their empowerment.
3. Indigenous individuals have the right not to be subjected to any discriminatory conditions of labour and, inter alia, employment or salary.

Article 18
Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures, as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous decision-making institutions.

Article 19
States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.

Article 20
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and develop their political, economic and social systems or institutions, to be secure in the enjoyment of their own means of subsistence and development, and to engage freely in all their traditional and other economic activities.
2. Indigenous peoples deprived of their means of subsistence and development are entitled to just and fair redress. 

Article 21
1. Indigenous peoples have the right, without discrimination, to the improvement of their economic and social conditions, including, inter alia, in the areas of education, employment, vocational training and retraining, housing, sanitation, health and social security.
2. States shall take effective measures and, where appropriate, special measures to ensure continuing improvement of their economic and social conditions. Particular attention shall be paid to the rights and special needs of indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities.

Article 22
1. Particular attention shall be paid to the rights and special needs of indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities in the implementation of this Declaration.
2. States shall take measures, in conjunction with indigenous peoples, to ensure that indigenous women and children enjoy the full protection and guarantees against all forms of violence and discrimination.

Article 23
Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development. In particular, indigenous peoples have the right to be actively involved in developing and determining health, housing and other economic and social programmes affecting them and, as far as possible, to administer such programmes through their own institutions.

Article 24
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices, including the conservation of their vital medicinal plants, animals and minerals. Indigenous individuals also have the right to access, without any discrimination, to all social and health services.
2. Indigenous individuals have an equal right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. States shall take the necessary steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of this right.

Article 25
Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard.

Article 26
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired.
2. Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use, as well as those which they have otherwise acquired.
3. States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and resources. Such recognition shall be conducted with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the indigenous peoples concerned.

Article 27
States shall establish and implement, in conjunction with indigenous peoples concerned, a fair, independent, impartial, open and transparent process, giving due recognition to indigenous peoples’ laws, traditions, customs and land tenure systems, to recognize and adjudicate the rights of indigenous peoples pertaining to their lands, territories and resources, including those which were traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used. Indigenous peoples shall have the right to participate in this process.

Article 28
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to redress, by means that can include restitution or, when this is not possible, just, fair and equitable compensation, for the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used, and which have been confiscated, taken, occupied, used or damaged without their free, prior and informed consent.
2. Unless otherwise freely agreed upon by the peoples concerned, compensation shall take the form of lands, territories and resources equal in quality, size and legal status or of monetary compensation or other appropriate redress.

Article 29
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands or territories and resources. States shall establish and implement assistance programmes for indigenous peoples for such conservation and protection, without discrimination.
2. States shall take effective measures to ensure that no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples without their free, prior and informed consent. 
3. States shall also take effective measures to ensure, as needed, that programmes for monitoring, maintaining and restoring the health of indigenous peoples, as developed and implemented by the peoples affected by such materials, are duly implemented.

Article 30
1. Military activities shall not take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples, unless justified by a relevant public interest or otherwise freely agreed with or requested by the indigenous peoples concerned.
2. States shall undertake effective consultations with the indigenous peoples concerned, through appropriate procedures and in particular through their representative institutions, prior to using their lands or territories for military activities.

Article 31
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. They also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.
2. In conjunction with indigenous peoples, States shall take effective measures to recognize and protect the exercise of these rights.

Article 32
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for the development or use of their lands or territories and other resources.
2. States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free and informed consent prior to the approval of any project affecting their lands or territories and other resources, particularly in connection with the development, utilization or exploitation of mineral, water or other resources.
3. States shall provide effective mechanisms for just and fair redress for any such activities, and appropriate measures shall be taken to mitigate adverse environmental, economic, social, cultural or spiritual impact.

Article 33
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine their own identity or membership in accordance with their customs and traditions. This does not impair the right of indigenous individuals to obtain citizenship of the States in which they live.
2. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine the structures and to select the membership of their institutions in accordance with their own procedures.

Article 34
Indigenous peoples have the right to promote, develop and maintain their institutional structures and their distinctive customs, spirituality, traditions, procedures, practices and, in the cases where they exist, juridical systems or customs, in accordance with international human rights standards.

Article 35
Indigenous peoples have the right to determine the responsibilities of individuals to their communities.

Article 36
1. Indigenous peoples, in particular those divided by international borders, have the right to maintain and develop contacts, relations and cooperation, including activities for spiritual, cultural, political, economic and social purposes, with their own members as well as other peoples across borders.
2. States, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples, shall take effective measures to facilitate the exercise and ensure the implementation of this right.

Article 37
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the recognition, observance and enforcement of treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements concluded with States or their successors and to have States honour and respect such treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements.
2. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as diminishing or eliminating the rights of indigenous peoples contained in treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements.

Article 38
States in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples, shall take the appropriate measures, including legislative measures, to achieve the ends of this Declaration.

Article 39
Indigenous peoples have the right to have access to financial and technical assistance from States and through international cooperation, for the enjoyment of the rights contained in this Declaration.

Article 40
Indigenous peoples have the right to access to and prompt decision through just and fair procedures for the resolution of conflicts and disputes with States or other parties, as well as to effective remedies for all infringements of their individual and collective rights. Such a decision shall give due consideration to the customs, traditions, rules and legal systems of the indigenous peoples concerned and international human rights.

Article 41
The organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations shall contribute to the full realization of the provisions of this Declaration through the mobilization, inter alia, of financial cooperation and technical assistance. Ways and means of ensuring participation of indigenous peoples on issues affecting them shall be established.

Article 42
The United Nations, its bodies, including the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and specialized agencies, including at the country level, and States shall promote respect for and full application of the provisions of this Declaration and follow up the effectiveness of this Declaration.

Article 43
The rights recognized herein constitute the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world.

Article 44
All the rights and freedoms recognized herein are equally guaranteed to male and female indigenous individuals.

Article 45
Nothing in this Declaration may be construed as diminishing or extinguishing the rights indigenous peoples have now or may acquire in the future.

Article 46
1. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, people, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act contrary to the Charter of the United Nations or construed as authorizing or encouraging any action which would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States.
2. In the exercise of the rights enunciated in the present Declaration, human rights and fundamental freedoms of all shall be respected. The exercise of the rights set forth in this Declaration shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law and in accordance with international human rights obligations. Any such limitations shall be non-discriminatory and strictly necessary solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for meeting the just and most compelling requirements of a democratic society.
3. The provisions set forth in this Declaration shall be interpreted in accordance with the principles of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, equality, non-discrimination, good governance and good faith.


 (2) See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.

 (3) A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.

 (4) Resolution 217 A (III).

Declaration of the Continental Summit of Native Peoples

Declaration of the Continental Summit of Native Peoples



Declaration



In defense of Water, Land, Air and Life



At the beginning of the 21st century, the promise of Modernity has been left unfulfilled. The world is far from being a harmonious place. People have tried to dominate Nature, but the current state of Nature demonstrates to us that the wisdom of our oldest communities cannot be ignored by economic interests or by distainful arrogance. Global warming and the scarcity of water, which have been denounced by native peoples for centuries, are now acknowledged as a fact by the United National International Panel on Climate Change.



It follows in our perspective, that as native peoples of the American Continent, from Alaska to Tierra de Fuego, we would like to make the pronouncement that governments, businesses, the media, scientists, technology experts and the society as a whole need to stop the road we are taking in order to intentionally restructure a vision of Mother Earth and her natural and human resources.



We believe that it is urgent to give voice and participation to native peoples and communities, as well as to the youth of our communities who are those who will have the responsibility to carry the torch into the future. We, ourselves, have equal responsibility to teach the world community about the necessity of recuperating the past and our traditions as a way to take charge of the present. It is in the ancestral wisdom of native civilizations that we can find the balance between Nature and human development.



In support of these ideas, the Continental Summit of Native Peoples has allowed us to come together as equals, capable of unifying our voices and actions in order to present the following to the world community:



Declaration Concerning Global Warming and the Scarcity of Water



Wherever possible, we will find:



I. A Common Vision
1. To take our traditional wisdom and understanding as profound knowledge. No one respects that which they do not understand. We need to show who we are, the strength of our culture. Only in this way will we understand our rights, understand and admire what we have. In our own identity and tradition, in our ancient rituals lie the possibility of a life of dignity accompanied by sustainable development.

This is why we search to rediscover our own knowledge, the interchange and complementary relationships with other peoples and urban areas, the continuity of our traditions for the coming generations, the possibility of accessing new knowledge and technology, as well as widening the expression of native thought and political participation.

2. We come together as one each day that we activate our thoughts in a united way, giving life in this way to our actions, putting forward our prayers in order to raise our total level of energy with the willing help of the entire planet.

3. We must stay in contact, to create working networks and to bring motivated people together. We must work to unite communities, to create the mindset of living cooperatively together with respect, a sense of humor and happiness to accompany us, erasing the “egos” that separate us from others and from the Universe.
II: The Current Devastation
1. The land where native communities live has suffered a profound deterioration accompanied by the loss of traditions and independent native government. The dissolution of communitarian life and corruption has brought with it a profound deterioration of our lands, rivers, mountains, forrests, and springs that form part of our everyday life.

2. As native peoples we condemn the rights that the rich exercise in order to pollute, even when the pollution takes place as part of paid agreements, as this money is used to stain the land, the air, and the water, to chain the land to death and peoples to loss of their roots and the environment.
3. The effects of climate change and the scarcity of water are Mother Earth’s response to the lack of respect shown to her. We must, in order to avoid this disrespect, form a multi-lingual leadership deep-seated in the knowledge of our roots, our languages, with the capacity to understand others in a world more and more interdependent.


4. As native peoples we remember the biodiverse world that has been protected and respected in the traditions of our peoples, guiding life in our communities. In contrast, where predatory forms of science and trade have been allowed to take control, biodiversity has disappeared, condemning vast zones of land to impoverishment and loss of quality of life. This is why the reinforcement of entire native communities is obligatory to human survival.
5. Equally necessary is that non-native communities must reflect this committment: for example, universities can collaborate in order to have better knowledge of native procedures, which will create closer collaboration and understanding.

6. Economic interests, guided by the search for profit, and when not participating with native communities, convert into enemies of the peoples, of Mother Earth, and of humanity. This is why petroleum has been exploited in a way that does not recognize sacred lands, contaminates water and land, stains the air, destroys the forrests, creates over-salinated water, and erodes the forrests, impoverishing our communities, marketing life, creating low-paid labor, sowing uprootedness, introducing drugs, alcohol, prostitution, and finally forcing the population to leave.
7. This “modernization” is a false concept that mucho too often conceals the conversion of life into an economic resource and destroys the fundamental teachings of life and condemns humanity to a desastrous present and future.


8. Native peoples make theirs the cry of the land and tell the world that the lack of respect for water has become one of the main threats to life on the planet. The merchandising of water, for consumption, for irrigation or for electrical production, is bringing this sacred liquid to a short and terrible end the same as petroleum and gold have faced.
III. Proposals
9. For the struggle against climate change and the scarcity of water we propose:

a. To form a Continental Congress of Native Peoples that will assume the coordinating work, support and evaluate the care of Mother Earth. Their conclusions must be taken to the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change.
b. To promote the development of a continental legislative body in defense of Mother Earth based in ancestral wisdom and to promote the concrete defense of natural resources in the long run. A law in the defense of the entire Mother Earth must accompany all that involves and affects the environment.

c. To obligate governments to end the criminalization of all the brothers and sisters who are persecuted and condemned for defending Mother Earth.
d. To mobilize citizens for the purpose of raising the consciousness of these issues in the public as a whole, sensitizing the media, making politicians take responsibility for assuming the defense of Mother Earth according to the universal principles of native peoples. To this end, we will promote putting into action public policies that will stop the deterioration of Nature, and work so that urgent political action is taken to stop environmental predators.
e. To create yearly meetings such as the one promoted in August of this year in Mexico City.
f. To teach indigenous world views in universities
g. To award grants to indigenous intellectuals and doctors.
h. To present in conferences in schools and public places.
i. To train learned people as intercultural facilitators so they will be able to serve as intercultural translators.

j. To incorporate indigenous ceremonies into the national anthem and the raising of the flag.
k. To assure that governments take joint responsibility in the realization, promotion and growth of Mother Earth Day.
I. To demand that those with public power, especially legislative assemblies, support the manifesto of indigenous peoples by making their own corresponding plans of action, where in joint manner we will define a scaled plan of action to satisfy the demands of native peoples.
10. To widen knowledge of the forms of cultivation that respect that Mother Earth cannot be reduced to an economic instrument, but is the womb that takes care of all of us. The seeds that we use, the chosen methods of cultivation, the respect for water, the use of natural nutrients, the communitarian distribution of harvests, the appreciation made to the Earth for her contribution to our health, and the protection from commercialization of the right to sustain one’s self with food, these are all requirements of a relationship with the Earth that will recover respect for her. The protection of land must create geographic areas where native communities can develop lives of dignity and sustainability.

11. To revoke all of the concessions and permition given for projects that harm our security, health and the environment.
12. As indigenous peoples we want our holistic concept of health to be valued, not only in order to give voice to this knowledge in decision-making, but also to diagnose health problems. Concepts of holistic health such as those that the Mapache culture demonstrate to us indicate physical, mental, social balance, and are inspired by the forces that rule our universe. The Nien, the spirits of places, must be respected. This is why we understand that poverty is the enemy of our being because when there is poverty, the balance is broken and people lose quality of life and their lives reach a point of breakdown.

13. To resist, to oppose, to be; to fully be and in this way to sow our works and way of life and our perceptions into our surroundings.
14. To ensure that it is immediately proclaimed that the large aquafiers of the planet be made zones in which speculative, commercial, and industrial extraction is prohibited, unless it is scientifically demonstrated in an open, public and democratic fashion that these reserves have not been over-exploited nor contaminated by the development of such projects.

15. To ensure the joint participation of governments and our multi-lingual leadership in order to define, implement, and evaluate government programs which are developed fundamentally to increase the value of indigenous peoples and at the same time to open their eyes to the urgency of re-thinking the ways we have treated Mother Earth.
16. The use of vegetation-based fuels has its advantages, among them the fact that they are not toxic, they are biodegradable and non-flammable, and they also emit less contamination into the atmosphere. These benefits also occur from the use of recyclable recepticles such as corn, tusa, maxan or banana leaves.
Nevertheless, there are at least three problems that need to be considered: firstly, what is relevant in facing the climate change is to reduce all consumption of fuels; secondly, the increase in the demand for grains must not bring transgenetics into use; and thirdly, the use of corn and soy as agro-fuels (which is a more adequate term than “bio-fuels” because fuels do not give life) must consider that they increase the prices of staple food items needed by the population for sustenance.
17. As native peoples, we defend the use of medicines, which are based on traditional healing plants, as well as our nutritional and cultural soverienty, and our communitarian self-management. All of these elements cannot be separated. Because of this, we as indigenous peoples proclaim with urgency the necessity of biological and cultural diversity in our communities and in Mother Earth as a whole.
18. We, as indigenous peoples remember the essential importance that childhood has on our future lives. To this end, we proclaim for children the participation in all social, spiritual and cultural activities. Indigenous culture has made children the bearers of the entire culture, the caretakers of the air, the water the Mother Earth, and they must be given special, sacred attention. We must teach our children our native languages, impart to them the advantages of bilingualism and the preservation of our languages in danger of extinction.
19. We, as native peoples, denounce as well, the hypocrisy of recognizing in speech the rights of our peoples, but constantly denying these same rights in practice.
20. It is a profound desire of indigenous peoples that the road towards unity of our hearts is in the name of a shared spirituality. From Alaska to Tierra de Fuego, native peoples manifest the same respect for Mother Earth, for Father Sun, for the Sacred Fire, all of which makes what we share much more relevant than our differences.
21. As native peoples, we want to take things from Nature in accordance with our necessities, and not abuse the use of resources so that we have in this way the balance of Nature and people. The balance that Nature requires can be achieved through teaching the values and principles of native peoples.

22. We call to the National Congresses of all nations to promote the creation of social-environmental protection laws that recognize the rights of citizens and peoples to have adequate and timely information.
23. We understand that balance is necessary to guarantee survival. A balance will achieve the equity and help needed to maintain an equilibrium between Nature and humanity. If not, the lack of balance will translate into the outbreak of war, protests, lawsuits, plague and disease.
24. We demand a law be made to prohibit the patents of medications and medicinal plants that are illegally usurped from native peoples and given to other countries.
25. Women, the bearers of live, are at one with Mother Earth. They deserve as such our respect and care. They are the seeds of life and must be considered as such.
26. We, as native peoples, declare to be the owners of our traditional knowledgeable practices in technology and science to resolve the problems that concern humanity in matters of health, ecological productivity, and the awareness of sustaining Nature, since we have them and practice them and we offer them to humanity.

27. We, as native peoples understand the moral alternatives of different policies. With our own fundamental principles and values we propose that we should be a parallel and consulting body to official actions on the problems of pollution, loss of biodiversity, and the deterioration of water. Our ancestral technology has the knowledge to provide intelligence and harmony to Mother Earth and how to pay tribute to and harmonize with Mother Earth.

To this end, we propose to live in accordance with our ancestral calendar events in order to reestablish our view of the cosmos and modernize our language. We propose in like manner the use of correct names and forms in respect to recuperating Nahuatl names, which have been usurped by the invading peoples. The same must occur for the names of our streets and places that now have names that do not mean anything to us.
28. We are in solidarity with the people of Colombia who are immersed in an armed conflict, in a civil war that directly affects the integrity of life and of indigenous territories. We demand a cease-fire and an end to the armed conflict in Colombia. We denounce before the world the crimes against humanity and the ecological devastation caused by the unlawful fumigation of crops on indigenous lands and zones of high diversity such as “la sierra nevada” and “el putumayo” where the poisons have fallen mercilessly on forrests, fields and people.
29. We demand the recognition of indigenous doctors, that their knowledge be respected and that they are not required to have university degrees nor academic studies in order to carry out their work, in this way helping to avoid the continual stealing of their knowledge.
30. In addition, the youth of native peoples declare the will to organize themselves in all of the Continent, using this united platform in order to be valued as the inheritors and keepers of tradition. The youth demand to not be criminalized for being poor, that public agencies revitalize rural life to help keep the new generation from emmigrating to the cities where a life waits for them that is other than that of the traditions of native peoples.
31. We, as representatives of native peoples, manifest our profound thanks to Lic. Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, the Mayor of Mexico City, for his help, sensitivity, and openness to make possible the holding of the “Continental Meeting of Native Peoples.” We recognize the spirit in the defense of freedom of the government of Mexico City and their pledge to ancestral and traditional cultures. You receive from us our best hopes for the realization of these government works. We, the representatives of native peoples that have attended the “Continental Meeting of Native Peoples” meet in Mexico City on the 29th of August of 2007, freely sign this Declaration.

 

for audios here    (spanish only)



We want to thank   joan MacLean and Bonnie Larson for the translation of this document.