1 12 26 https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/19348addcaad0aa0abab3eef8e32d669.pdf fec3203c33313d1784ce8dcf907dbf56 PDF Text Text ED I TORIAL n light of the recent Fourth Womcns World Confere1tcc In Beijing. and the intemational aucntioll thnt is l>ei11g focused on womcns issues, we dedicate this Issue to Indigenous women. in the context of the Beijing conference nnd the International Decade or Indigenous Peoples cclebnlled by the Umted Nations. Indigenous women rOISC the or VOIC· es froon oil nauons. peoples. org.>.nizations. n11d communities 3nd call for the respect or Mother Ennh. hfe. territory. S<!lfdetermonation, and communal intellectual rights Through th1s calling. lndig,enous women also seek to gather forces for a better conscrvouon of Indigenous philosoph}~ the ethical, ~helle. and spiritual values contained In the \'lSton of our 3nastors. Women. ~long with giving binh to the new geocrauons, are the guardians and thoS<! responstblc for tmnsmittlng. devclopmg, nnd protecting the ,,.lues whtch ldcnufy us as peoples. This is why womtn have pb}'l:d such an tmponam role In histoncal struggles for life, although tl\,1l role is utmost never acknowledged. I In the llet)mg conference, despite the lomued a=ss for our vooees, we lndogenous wom<n mode n dcclnmtlolltO the mternmional community in which we e.'pressed our opposulon to all forms of social injusttce. and •11 types of violence and discrunm:UJon which aJTect our communhies. \\)t denounced the re-colonization and the thre:n to Lhe ccologicol equilibrium in our communities, which under the name or glob31iuuon. creates conditions for wenlthy n"tions to once a~,tnin 1m•nde our territories to exploit the resources that, thus fnr. we have managed to prese"·c. We spoke out against accords ond entuies such as GATT and the World Tmde o ,·gnnizntion {WTO), which help create the Instruments for the approprlntion nnd privntlzmion of our communal lntcllecwal J >fOJl<ny. We denounc-ed the "pirating• of ancestrnl resources by tmnsnnuonol companies in this age of ·ncolibcrahsm." Under such models. our value.• ond comnmnal exchange practices wllll><.>come a thJng of the past, substottued w'llh the greed required by the rules of the free Market. We are cvcu witnessing the appropriation of our genetic inhcrit:tnce, under the name of the Human Genome Oovershy Project In the mean ume. our rivers, the oir we bre.uhc. ;~nd the lond we live on are continuously fouled, leading to the slow death o( out Mother Eanh. In the: cffon to sustmn our families. we ha>-e had to tncorponue non·lndigtnOUS ways. but we strive to ~m:un in harmon}' wtth the em1ronmem. We choose ~onsclously to sllmubte those economiC octi\Ottts that strengthen our peoples. underst>nding that out communities depend mainly on lr.ldluonol systems of productiOn like fishing. hunung. famtl)•agnc-uhure, ond small cnfts enterprises. The moventcnt of Indigenous \\'Omen toda)' confronLS all $OilS of senous threatS as it places itself in the path of powerful nnd d~ructivc forces. It is uti:ent, considcnng the cttrrent sttualion. to develop better methods of communtcation between Indigenous women so as to cwrdinatc effective action.< in the defense of our peoplts. Along with this, our double. vital role ns reproducers and preservers of our people must be strengthened. Faced 'vith this histolical, trnnscen· dcmal nliSSIOn. we shou1d seek inspirnlion and wisdom m our ancestors ror our journey to the ncx1 millennium. \Ve should look for strength, coumge, and detennination m the future, which is the future of our communities. organiza· tlons, and our peoples. and their right to exist in dignity. In this issue, In which Indigenous and non-Indigenous women have conrributed anicles, we explore the \\'O}'S that Indigenous women have participated in the broader Indian movemcnLS in Latin America. the spcctnc org.1n1Zntions and programs that h:ove focused on women:S needs and activities. and. by means of interviews. the pomt of view of notive women thc:mseJ,-es; how they envision their role on n.111\·e and notional society, and the hardships they must endure when they try ond change those roles. SAIIC ll«vd of OtrectoTS Vol. 10 No.1 -3 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Editorial Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Board of Directors SAIIC Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title Editorial Item Type Journal Article Author Board of Directors SAIIC Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages 3 Publication Title SAIIC Newsletter ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English Abstract Note In light of the recent Fourth Women's World Conference In Beijing and the international attention that is focussed on women's issues this issue of Abyayala News focuses on women's issues that specifically concern indigenous women. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p3.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Editorial https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/c4a4d8f53647e8e2bd64870662a2a9af.pdf 34b0cab19aaae786aa3cda6e457e8c9c PDF Text Text INDI GENOUS WOMEN ORGANIZING _ _ _ _ __ ,_ The Right to Love and Politics: An Indigenous Activist's Perspective Eulalia Yagari Gonzalez. a Chami woman activist In Colombia. was elected as a member of the regional parliament of Antioquia on Marcil 8. I 992 (/ntemational Women's Day). In this interview, she speaks to us of her life and hardships as an Indian woman activist. Eulalia is convinced that the struggle of Indians in Colombia for land. culture. and autonomy must be conducted on many different fronts simultaneously. Her struggle is not only relevant to Indigenous communities but to all oppressed people in Colombia. particularly women. (~~ w~ Eulalia Yagari Gonzalez Why did you agree 10 be an Indian candidate for the senate elections? eforc I ar\Swcr your question. let me just say thnt the political par· B lidpntion or Indian women is nothing new. We ha-·e always been in,·olved in pollucs rn the sense that we\-. always defended our interestS, our rradrtron, our culture. our fellow men as wdl as our whole people and our land We fought for 500 )UIS until our valetS wen: nnally heard. Now Colombia has a new constitution. A cenain sector or the lndran population, Blacks, and other ethnic groups have united in a political alliance, which will not only defend Indian interests and nghts. but also those of Black people. the lower classes--in fact all marginalized groups. When they were looking for c:andidatcs and they noticed that I'd been politlc:ally active for tweh·c years and was <:<>mmlttcd 10 the rights of women. children and our entire people. they c"- me. Actually I only agreed 10 the candrdatun: after they opproaehed me for the rhrrd ume But as an Indian woman I don' just wnntto fight for the interests of Indian women. I also want 10 fight for the rights of all women in this society, the workers. the campesinas, the Black women who have always been discrimmated against umU now, the women of other ethnrc groups like the Gypsies-l»sically all women who an: pohurnlly ond SOCt311y active m this counrry. But when I demand their rights I don\ jusc wont to make supem· cia! political spoechcs. No. If I get elect· ed to the Stnote, I'll fight for quite specific proposals and proJetiS promoting the social development of women: the right 10 prenatal c:are, ror recognition of womens panlclpauon. and power for women to achieve their right to work and decem jobs. not Just jobs that are almost ~yond physical endurance. What could Indigenous women achieve in tht Stnate if they wtre elected? We could Stan by tmplementmg evetythmg the new <:<>RSIIIULion has assured us ol. We must form alliances with othtr progressrvc forces. with spe· dfic groups on the left, but also on the right. We'll see what the politicians will actually do. Of course, In the election campaign, they pz-omised all sons of things. Personally I don' have any rllusions about what I can do for the Colombran people, firstly brcausc I'm awan: of my limtlatlons and secondly brcause we don\ l!.tve the finanoal means. We havr lllr 100 little power in the state to n:ally chong< 50Ctety. All I can do is simply devote oil my Slrtngth and intelligence 10 the wk in h:tnd. I'll also use my feminine cunning. becnuse in all honesty, we women are very cunning. Women nn: capable of n grcot deal. its just thnt we' vc always been undermined. Our rights were taken away from us and we were underv~1l~ ued. Women were there for sex. childrearing and maybe the odd bit of poll· tics. We never had nny more space than that- So we're well-placed 10 flin with our bodfes, but also with our lnttlli· gence, our dtSCtmzng noture and with our cunnmg. We have m:tn)' abrlities we can use 10 change thiS sociel)\ As an Indian woman, I can\ spcok such high I'J:t(a Yala News �INDIGEN O US W 0 MEN ORGANIZING along the street together. And there$ no time to keep the family together or bring up the children properly. Who are your children growing up with? class Spanish as a big politician. but that docsn\ mean I have no right to be heard. Despite all my limitations, I imend to fight in the senate-albeit cautious1y, because the senate is a completely new ball game for us. I ha,,c a difficult relationship with him. We love each other but o~tr political struggle in this quagmire of violence and war makes it impossible for couples to live in peace with one another. We' re not the only ones in this position in Colombia. Hundreds or us women. You just said you only let yourself be nominated as a candidate after the third invitation. Why were you so hesitant initially and why did you accept in the end? Basically I never wanted to get imo big politics. I've been pushed imo it. The work in the senate seemed to me like the struggle of a little fish r.1ced with a shark. And besides. this work means giving both In)' daughters to someone else to look after. I've also got a partner whos politically active as well . Vol. 10 No. 1 lnditm women, campesinas. women from the popular moven1ems. workers and trade unionists aren't able to have happy relationships with their partners. Conunitment to the cause takes away the ability and time for love. R elationships often break ''P· because there$ a lack of opponunity for the joys and pleasures of love. affection and togetherness. Sometimes we're only at home for one or two days and often only for one night . There's no time to sleep with each other or even just stroll With relatives. But of course an aunt or granny can'o replace a mooher. You can't just switch ernotional tics. Traditionally, we Indian woman always have our children with us. Indian children grow up differently from other children. From binh we carry children around with us. In many communities they're only weaned when they're fo1 ·e or six. I suckled Marcela for four years. Because of my work I had to wean Patricia after two years. I think this long and close relationship early on helps Indian communities to develop a strong sense of solidarity. We may well have political differences, but we still feel ourselves to be Indigenous people. Today our children. the children of the popular leaders, are growing up with traumas and psychological problems -as a result or the perrnanent state of war. They have no home. no parents who love each other, they don't feel protected ao\d they don't have a good education. Lots of children are constantly in day-nurseries. We leaders and women at the head of the popular movemems sometimes find ourselves on our own in the end. not because of the political work in itself, but because itS being conducted in;\ war situation. You're a membe r of 1he Antioquia Organization of Indigenous Peoples (OIA). What type of women 's l>rogram do you have in the OlA? 'vVe don\ have a specific womenS program which renects the fact that very few women are in leadership positions. Crlstiania is an Indian community where many politicians like to have a finger in the pie. Women have achieved a lol of political space but many arc nol in a position to take on politic.~! functions. In n1y opinion we need a new policy for liberating women. but I don't mean a policy like the ones introduced here from Europe and Nonh America. 11 �IND I GENO U S WO ME N The cultures and societies arc totally different there. My positive image of women is not just limited to Indian women. I feel that women in general are amazing. lovely creatures. Women-Indian and black women. French, Cubans. Soviet Ctli· zens, Chinese women-all women are the most beautiful people in the world. On the other hand, some women who used to suffer and were repressed and put up with being beaten. have managed to liberate themselves. But what happened? They now act like they're on another planet and behave just like men. I know its great to feel free at last. But do we really want this type of freedom? I don't think so. I want liberated women to strive for something different. Women must change the course of this universe. But to do this we're going to need all our willpower. How do yo u defend yourself agains t machismo? Well, I've had to put up with all kinds of stuff. There are foolish, uncouth types who shout at you and don't let you Gnish speaking. So you ha,•e to grit your teeth and 5a)' to them: 12 O R G ANIZ I N G "listen, you may be physically stronger, but I've got more inside my head. And if we're seriottsly fighting for the s.'me cause. then no one just gives orders and no one just obeys." On the political circuit I've put up with some difficult situations. If they're uaveling whh n woman as a meanber of a delegation. the men are right in there trying to go to bed with her. And afterwards they've got nothing better to do than talk about it and then it becomes the latest gossip. "Oh, so you went to bed with her, as well? And what was she like?" After that the woman is Ut\ished politically. A friend of mine was done for because 15 men claimed to have slept with her. And they laughed themselves stupid over it. ThatS machism.o in its purest form. As a woman involved in polirics. you still have to deal with stuff like that. But we can1 wage this struggle the husbands all their lives without even realizing it. Don' t you think that's g radually changing? Certainly there are women who thlnk the same way I do and are workIng towards a different educational policy. But its not just a question of dis· cussing things with men because men :\5 individuals and the system which represses are not one and the same thing. Men are also our lovers, our friends and our brothers. The problem is that in Colombia and in the whole of Laun America there are still far too few men who :l.Cknowledge our true worth. What \V"ill you do if you don't get into the senate? I'll work in the communities again. I have a piece of land I'll cultl\oate. I enjoy same waY. eve1ywhere. You have to go tilling the soil. sowing, harvesting. I'm about it differently when you're dealing actually a campesina. I used to grow whh women who think of themselves coffee. I worked hard at it and carried as the slave at home and nothing else. heavy loads. But with the money I In this country there are still a lot of earned. I used to buy myself nice women who believe they can't ex·peri- clothes. I'd happi.ly do that again. '1l ence any sexual pleasure because that's simply a man's prerogative. Many allow Map1e<l from OlmfW)CJ'G< Gaby (<d), themselves to be repressed by their l.<Jtrdooc I.AB mtd Montldy Re\1ew """'· 1992. KllPf""' Acya Y News ala � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Right to Love and Politics: An Indigenous Activist's Perspective Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Eulalia Yagari Gonzalez Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title The Right to Love and Politics: An Indigenous Activist's Perspective Item Type Journal Article Author Eulalia Yagari Gonzalez Volume 10 10 Issue 1 1 Pages 10-12 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English, Spanish English Abstract Note Eulalia Yagarf Gonzalez. a Chami woman activist in Colombia. was elected as a member of the regional parliament of Antioquia on March 8. 1992. In this interview she discussesf her life and hardships as an Indian woman activist. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p10-12.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Chami Colombia Indian woman activist Yagarf Gonzalez Eulalia https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/376369e9c13eb1c09a92de5c8dcc811f.pdf beb1190f48133fc690232bdb8a669e14 PDF Text Text BR AZIL "Um Jeito de Ve-IQs:"• Old and New Representations of Indian Peoples in Brazil by G/lton Mendes his brief :miclc does not seek to trent " new set or informative. facts on Indigenous peoples in Brazil. nor even to undenake an exhaustive onalys•s of unknown aspects of the sodol hves of lndtgenous people. Nor do I rep~nt the \'Otce and poh· llcs of lndl3n people. I wish to problemati=e two ospects that I consider tmpona.nt; one, the politiCil suatcgies adopt.ed by lndtgenous orgamza<ions to confront the new challenges In contemporary Bm:il. the Other. • brief frame of the actual economic rtalities by which they are nffecttd. T Background There ex1sts In llmzU. approximately 200 Indigenous peoples and e.1ch pre· sents a set of p;lrtlculnrities with respect to its customs. L1nguage, and sod<>-polit· ical SIY\Icturcs. They vary In population; The maJOrity are munericnlly small sod· eties (almost :llwa)'$ COI\Sldered. indr.idually. to have been more populous m the jXISI). reduced to a few hundred or at times hardly • few doun pen;ons. The at'C35 they inhabit v.ll')' m stu and. in some cases. have already been officially demarcated. The v.1SI majority, hov.-ever. rem.1in barely deUneated and many more hllve nOt even been identified or recognized by the federnl government. This means that Indigenous peoples in Bmz\1 live In <-onstnnt lnse<-urity in relation to one of the mOSt essential resources thllt they h.we ahva)'$ possessed; the land! Gillem MMdts is an agronomist in Mato Grosso, Brazil. He has worked cxl<nsivdy "'lh tht Enaw<nc·Nawc and rcantly compltttd a two-month tnremsktp "itlt SAIIC. Indian peoples Inhabit cm;ronments where they have nlwnys existed in singular ways. set!tng and interpreting the world in wa)'$ that an: spectOc to each. They have CS~abllshed a very intimate and COntinuous re.lntion with their surroundin&-. which lt'.1ds us (or should lead us} to qutSitOn the rational. dichotomous. ond genenc vision of mankind ond ruuurc. d1:lrnctCnSIIC of 'Western socoety•: on one side humankind and itS lntereSIS, on the o<her. n>~urc, stnUc, rt\'taling itself through phenomena... Indigenous peoples are seen and represented In a fom1 that is almost always ne~ive, both in the elnbomtion of dis· courses-which nre n1so pmclicc5-{l5 i_ n people's consciousness. as a consequence of the fonner. State policies ne.1rly alwnys fall with· in 1he realm of '\,-etfare." envisioning nati\'e communities as dependent on their protection and intti:uives. From this point of ,;ew. Indian people are seen as in a proc:= or prog~ve lntegrauon into nauonal socl<:ty, components of a claimed -unitary n.>~ion." The chun:h ,.;s;on. like that of many non-gO\..,m· mentol org.1nlzations (NG0s). is 001100 distom from this continuous provision of welfare nnd protection. :ll'vays in a way that fulfills its own interests. All this would tend towards another level of representnuon: the intemali%3tion of the national society~ cultuml values by native peoples theonsel\'f:S, often taking on the role of the •prote<:ted," subject to state politics and programs and actions originating from civil and religious enlillts. Yet ohis in no way impltes thm lndlm peoples do not consider themseh·es tndl\iduals belonging to a different society New Strategies of Organization? With completely different cultural realities from nationnl society and with low population numbtrs. Indigenous peoples in Braztl nrc foct-d with huge adversities in the realm of nnuonal poli· tics. For this ICilSOn, thnt they ha'" COn· mntly refonnulated tht fom\S of 1\lSistanee and stTllt•g•es to ,.,lonu thcor rights. theor mtei'CSIS.. theor demands. Here. 1t lS now l"lC«$531)' co mentton the fight againSI the revision of Decree 22191. whi<h reguloted the process of demarmtion of lndtgenous nnd 01hcr special lands. Presently. the stgnmg of Decree 1.77!> by president Fernando Henrique C:trdoso has unleashed a new national mobilization. 1 x:rhaps the largest ever, of entities devoted to the Indigenous c:ausc. This mobili:~'lion is calling for the revocation of this Decree. itself a fundamentally altered version of its predecessor as far os the secunty of lndian lmds are concerned. This SJtua· tion shows a C3p;lCity for pohncal catal· }-sis. including one wnh "mtcmanonal effectS." It is necessary to draw Bll<ntlon to one of the most relevant ospect.s of the Bmzilian reality which Is the conduct of many organizmions working In suppon of Indigenous peoples. These, in general, have taken on the role of mobilization and dissennnatlon of lnfomlmion on communities that are "dis.1dvantaged" in rdntion to the st:otc nnd distant from the urixln eemers nnd the political decisions. and those with limited contact 'vith national society. In many cases. these organizations imegrotc themselves thus creating a third coalition phase in which lndig<nous and non-lndtgcnous combme for a Stngle cause Md l'tpresentation. �BRAZIL Til.. cthmc dwet:Suy of lndion peoples m Bmal hos pert.lps been one of the mam fliClors for the generation of reststancc •mn::tll\"e:S because it has produced a dm-ct r<lauon of multiple loc:~l forces c-•pable or mobalizlng, internally and amcnsavcly as well, each panic-ular socacty. On tho other t.lnd. it's also 1mponant to note th:l1 the new stnue· gies adopted have been similar to those used by the different social groups of national socict)'· Stmtcgics that, often, result m imcrnnl conOlcts and difficulues, and arc capable of clashing with the more trndiuonal expressions or the different natwc societies (sec Interview with jacar J~ dc Souza). A Brief layout of t he Economic Relations If cultuml dwersuy as reflected in the search for new possibilities for politacal organizauon of Indigenous people. an the eonfrommion ngJ~inst the interests of grou1>s or pet:SOns belonging to national society, the ~me i.s true leodmg Into the lntenor. supponed by federal intthuvu (along with scandalous conupuon). ~ c-ut thi'O<lgh tens or thowands of males of Cores~ and savanna. wathout the sllghltst prcocc-upauon for the dcstruC'lion they email. both for native peoples :md,their environment. In the end, nntuml rcsour<:es have been WMted, p.1nlcularly timber. and massive deforcstmlon hns followed the installation of rum! induStries. Many Indigenous groups. in the face of this stampede, were removed from trodiuonol orcas where natuml resources abounded and relocated in rcgaons completely unknown to lhem or alrtady dmlncd of thc same t J in the economic arena. Each panacular society presents a different history or economic rclotions with surro1mding societies. At the same time that some lndagcnous peoples ore cng.~ged m antense rommcrti:ll tmde, there are others tt.lt t.l'-c t.ld minimal contact "vnh ttn)' m~ke:t. Bel''-'ttn these two txucmes. there are those who arc eng;Jged an scasoml commercial tmde. Th.. decade of thc 1970s deeply marked the h\·es of Indigenous people an Bmztl m that. through the elaborauon of gigantic "development" projects and an the "interest of national security." the authorhminn state staked out a policy of occupying the Amazon . This opened two bloody wounds: the violem contact wnh peoples previously isolated. leading to partial or total e:xtemli· nation. nnd the IrresiStible incentive for milhons of persons to migrate \vith aim to sculc the "terms in.1bitadns" of the rcsouras. Thas t.ls resulted an untold hardship, :IS evidenced by the high rate of suicide tXJsttnt m groups like til.. Guamni-Kolowa Mony other peoples continue to suffer the consequences or these largescale projectS (doms, umber extmction. mines. roads, fnctories, fisheries. ngro· industries, etc.) estnblishcd around or even inside their territories. For many. Lhe only option left open is sc<lSOnal labor outSide or their indigenous arc•. selling their labor for ranches or in regional markets ot derisory rates. or migrntion to chaos. where they live in conditions of extreme poveny. Amazon. Diverse ev:lluations made of the ~lundrtds of panacular undenakang.s m til.. Amazon t.lvc followed ond Indigenous Sllll3110n tn Brll%11 a.rc pracconnnue <o follow the maJOr roads tically urommous an tt.lt these trends Vol. 10 NO -:-f t.lve m.1de tlung.s much worse: destroying tmduion:tl forms o( production, st.lrpcning "dependence· on outside aid. and !coding to environmental collapse. in thas context, today, perhaps more then ever. the question of Indigenous peoples' relation to the mnrkct (the genemlion of income, the management of natuml resources. nnd the mainte· nancc or 311 imcgml. mtional, balanced liJe in relation to the environment) ls more complex 1han ever. Contemporary Initiatives In the field of the indigenous economy have followed the trend of ancreascd sm.~ll-scale projects. Governmental programs (M imposed by mtemotional finance banks) ha,·e encoumge<! undertakings bclongmg LO the category of "SUS!ainable development" proJectS lndagenous organizauons themselves and suppon organizauons arc anell ned to favor economic activities tluu lncrcmcm production within l11digcnous areas: O<'tivilies Lhat seck to add value to products destined for specific markets; activities centered around the rntionaliz:nion and exploration or determined natural resources for a greater p.•rtlcipation of native communities In the production and organlz.11ion of work for commerce. The positive side or these decisions cannot be dtnied. just os the results art noL gnmdiosc and tmmedt3le. Time is being bought to be able, more cle:arly and dcodedl)\ 10 find CXI5lS tt.lt 3re proper and "mdependcnt." On the other t.lnd, one musl also lnquare if Lhis doesn\ COOSltlUtC a new politiCOll stmteg)• utilized by nationol society. geared lO\\'llrds itS own CC'Onomic imcrcsts, aiming at the incorporation or new markets. especially those held as "alternative." In the end. one must Onnlly nsk, to wt.lt extent these Initiatives constitme de fa.ao something new, or are they leading Indigenous people, once ag;Jin, into "modern· and sophisticated schemes of economic explouotion. 17 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Um Jeito de Ve-los:" Old and New Representations of Indian Peoples in Brazil Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Gllton Mendes Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title "Um Jeito de Ve-los:" Old and New Representations of Indian Peoples in Brazil Item Type Journal Article Author Gllton Mendes Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages 16-17 Publication Title Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English Abstract Note Indigenous organizations confront the new challenges in contemporary Brazil the and a brief frame of the actual economic realities by which they are affected are discussed Attachment Title Pages from Abyayala_v10_n1_p16-17.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Brazil Indigenous Politics Non-Governmental organizations https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/da7813addbb1cf8f40e01436d061717f.pdf 2634457c63e718c34bb5dc555b5d52cd PDF Text Text _ _ _ _ _ __,'-"- l,_,__,"---'- T E R M I N A T I 0 N S E_, F 0 E A N 0 T E RRI T0 RY The Survival and Revival of Native American Languages The disappearance of Indigenous languages. although a deeply disturbing and ever accelerating trend, has received little national or international attention. Under enormous stress from a variety of sources. the Native people of this continent appear unable to halt the rapid erosion that is washing away a central strand of human identity. Not only are languages disappearing. but with them unique world-views and philosophies. The negative consequences of this loss of cultural. spiritval. and intellectual diversity will become more apparent as the spiritual and intellectual barrenness of the modern world more fully reveals itself. By Alexander Ewen and Jeffrey Wollock The Problem T he study or Native languages, anthropological linguistics. was developed under lhe ass\.tmption that Indigenous languages were doomed. hs main task has been to record languages (or posterity. This is imponant. but it is not enough. Toda)' there is glowing resolve to put a brake on this process: the Indigenous culmres and their traditions are too import~nt. For their survival, the languages must also continue. As a stuffed and mount· ed specimen can give little sense or the live animal it once was, so dry texts and even t~pcs are no substitute for living languages. These are not museum pieces. they are themselves living libraries, windows on worlds that can· not be replaced. The loss or language diver.;ity is a global trend. It has been estimated that, at current rates, the 5,500 currently living langu.,ges will be reduced in a century or two to just n few hundred.! American Indian languages have been especially hard hit. Indeed, o£ the worlds languages that are considered nearly extinct, over one quarter are Indigenous languages in the United States. At the time of Columbus, at least 300 lndigen.o us languages were being spoken in what is now the United Vol. 10 No.1 States.2 Today there are only 148 and, of those. one third have fewer than 100 fluent speakers and are consi.dered near exlinction. More ominous. 32 native languages have 10 or fewer speakers and are in critical danger or becoming extincl within the next few years) The percentage of Native-language It is estimated that 80% of all Canadian and United States Indian languages are in a similar process or d)1ng out." Few national governments are doing anything effective to reverse these patterns. For example, the United States has a strong commitment to bilingual education, yet the manner in which it is speakers in the various communities taught is almost useless in preventi-ng varies enonllOUSl)< While over 350,000 Native people, or one in six. speak their language, almost three-founhs or these come from fewer thar\ a dozen Native nations or groups o£ nations. and more than a third of the Indigenous-language languages from disappearing. There are many Indian communities that have successfully resisted the glob· al trend. Some, such as the Hualapai and the Utes. have long had vigorous and effective language progmms. Recent speakers in this country are Navajo. While Indigenous languages are threatened in other countries in the Americas. nowhere is the problem as critical as in the United States. More languages are on the verge or ext.inction in this CO\IIllf)' than in the rest of the Americas COJnbined, and California More languages are on the verge of extinction in this country than in the rest of the Americas combined. and California alone has more threatened languages than any other country. alone has more threatened langttages than any other coumry. Moreover. even those languages that are not immediately threatened with ext.inction are in danger. For example, although Yakima has 3,000 spe.1ker,;, most or all o£ these are middle-aged or older. Without a comprehensive program to educate ymmg Yakimas, the language will soon suffer a massive loss of speaker.; as they begin to pass away. income from gaming and other new enterprises has made possible strong language revival progmms among the Oneidas and Menominee of Wisconsin. ln Canada, there is growing awareness or the seriousness or the issue and there have been strong commi\mcnts to lan.. guage revitalization from national Native organi.z ations such as the Assembly o£ Fir.;t Nations. 25 �SELF DETERMII'ATIOt< At<D TERR I TORY A Navajo WOill!ln elder. The N~ajo are one of the few lnd!Set!OUS cu1Mes in the United States that have retained their la119uage to thJ, day. Nc<e than one third of the Native la119uage 5Pe4kers in the US are Navajo. The Needs hard for b1llngual education on public All prchmiiUII')' fmding.> mdtcat.: schools, only to Ond tb.11 it IS tnade\Ylth N:u.ivc communiurs m tht UnHed that Nntl"e commumues tn the Umted qU3te lO stem the IO.S of speakers. Due to the L~k of re$0Un:e5 a\'allStot<> on mtenswe languas~ tc..:hms or Stntes. Canad2, and other p;trts of this reviv:tl: ond that there ore successrul hemisphere Ond the languoge rtl<nuon able to ruos.t NAdve communities, many modds of how to pro<:<<cl. M•ny ISSUe tO be OnC or thetr blg&CSI COn• or whonl RIC ~tntggling \VIlh ;\ host of Indian communities rcqutrc immtdlnte cems. The inablhty to p.15$ On the lon- other problems. l:onguage pmgr:mlS nn: n<'tl<>n. In the form of specially designed guage to the youth l' mnklng it mort us11o.tly not an <>i>lion. Most lnd1gcnous J>rogmms, if their languages ore to sur- :md more difrkult lO 1>:1<< on tradition;; people in this hemisphere have much and culture. or C\'et\ to loster the tradi- lower stundnrds of lhing than the survive. The inabtlity of the modem mmd to tional le~dersh1p necessMy to guide roundmg populntlOIIS and are often under~ouUld 1M wealth thm surrounds 11 lnd1:m communottes lnt<> the future. extremcl)r poor Many Native commu· I> every d.l)• molang 1M world n poorer The general consensus among those niues suffer pohti(';tl oppression, conpi.ICe A report ISSUed b)· the who work Wlth N;ul\.: people on theu unwd eros1on of their land bost, :md Worldwnteh lnstltute in 1992 wamed b>IX!' is that the ~ tll.ljOrit)· of Natn·e th~ demo! of their legal and cultur:ol that the consequences of C\tltun: loss communities would gladly org.mlzc or nglns • Effons to develop and provtdt an nmong tnb-•1 peoples would Include the parti<:ip;~te on lan~c reco'Cf)' prod15nppearonce of millions of plant and jects If they had the op11on. When eco- econOmiC b;ue to these Indian communmmnl spcdcs. which currcmly Hvc nomic opponuniucs prcS('nl them· nities Cllll hnve detrimental effeCls on under their protection.) One can only selves. Indian reurv(luons usually l~ng:n:\ges and, cuhurcs-.7 New economJ>Oncler the question: when the world Is begin a language rcvttahznuon pro- Ic devclopmtnt ncti,.ties such as the reduced to a single language. w11\therc gram. Many cornmum11cs, .such as the NQrth American Free Trnde Agreement be anything of value left to sayl Seneca and Ont>ndo~, h~w fought (NAFTA) c•n be expected to ha.·c a All of this indicates two th.ngs: thnt thc:rt Is> cntto1l need to be&Jn \\OOOnj: 26 �nta;.uw~ cfft-ct <>II Indian Lmgu;t.:<> on !>kX>a> "he"' •lmost 10'- or the pop- • ...., .. lncllgtlous.• Lan~ rt\1tolluuon as • com· p.u•mely ncv. clf•>rt, wnh few SU<· ._._,and m•ny f•llurco Program> arc n-qulrcd that con t.tkc onto •ccount the •f'<<lh< pohto.:.tl, <Uhuml, and <<O· n€1mK cucum,tan<t~ or N:tU\'t' .:om~ muntll<'- • hen ~~ Nathe people wllh cconorn~< 1\''<llli'Ct< often la<k the rn.tny diffcr<ru •kills needed tc> put f<>rwot<l • comprchrMovc progr.>m. M<lr<O\'t'r, cultur•l <h.tn~ IS """ so raJ>od •nd pen·~~l\t. thAt ne>> "•l~ to lml.l the mtcrc>t ,,[ >••un,t: pcoplt and c<Ju<are them nad to he de-.lopcd Tht bock of communiClhon amonll :-o;.,t>c communltlet h:as h.ndtr<d the r.... •ucc:.,.,ful m<><ltl< from ~'"Ill applocd m Othtr ""·" In,......, \\here languogc los. h•• rc"Chcd ~ cnucol lt,·d, go'·4:m"'"nt' and tn~uuuon.'\ put the emphAsis on rc~ordtng bn~· ralltcr th;on '"' rescuon~ thtm \luch mor. n-~>l'<h nc~ch to~ done M thl\ ossue to better sur<<)' nnd evol· ur11r the cum•ou •tntc of lonj~ungc retention amon11 North American lnd~.t.ns o.s well • to o«k out <uccessful ><>lull""" .. H oteet I Ooernoncl IIIH3l m '"thee global ... _ lo... ~houGh I ote of he cetcu· latoo tho numbOr of liVIng fonQuliQOI at 6,000. 2 Teetor (19761 U•VOI en OIHm<!IO Of 300 Na""" Amfonc3n ~-· It cont.oct 3 c.-. (lge4l ' ..... ,.,. 176 .... ~ .. nM!IY ··'""''·of w!IICII•9 .... .n the Uno•od s.~,·· 1n ""' - · on1y A<l•t""" dole to tl>oS number· there It no other countty w.lh mote than I 0 cni1CII1v enciM(Iera<l JM. ""'h •3 ...,.,.,.. fo, tt'ldrt 111/ttr~ndtk•,.. COftttJt.f , \fco.'l F"'t" Dl o 'lJool W ~ '-'ol4r..... JIO \\hl '>! ~r. lM~. ~"1: 10019. ~ Zl2·16S~ ,,, fcx. 2Jl. ~1J.I t- 11""110• a.c.,., •., M(•rent ree-cho<s u.M d-Hetet~l n• ct•t .. for delt'"'*"*"'Q - - • ........_ .. ••'O<"od Ot - ' f _,_ the<e 1 s - diKr_,. on the ~~gut-. The , ... of uoed on the~t on<t · ...., . _....,.. al fewer tholn · - hundred ~"""' elderly, cen be conotdorod near extonctoon. • Teeter 119761 o•t"""'" that 11411 ofel AIM•Iean lnd4n ~ WI. become ••ttonct ~ w.th .......... gene•••- or ~ (19931 cot..• Moct.-el Kreuu of tho UnM!< ..ty ol Alia... "' Footbonk1. 'For tho 187 lncl13n lnngungos 1uMvong In North Amonco OUIItdo ol M>tke Ktau" ..t•ncltee that 1•9 ol ! ' - are ~nd · Fen.. I 1993) ttateo !hot 110 of the 53 NatM> len· _ . . opokon "' Cencodo are • conaod.....,., <Jechnong or endMgored • -ker.. .,,..,.tv 5 According tO Brtocoe (1992). 'Up IO 5.000 ~ -~~ t2 ~ent of the r.ndw.. T'-Yclilfetl,_ the •est of .,._,. be<lcM.oe t'-Y M cloMf 110 .,. . . -- '" ' -·a -~t countnea duo••••t cut:~· l"he ..-port '-'<1 lll4t ~ . . .I*'P'- - · .a.o Vol 10 No.1 !l7 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Survival and Revival of Native American Languages Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jeffrey Wollock Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title The Survival and Revival of Native American Languages Item Type Journal Article Author Alexander Ewen and Jeffrey Wollock Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages 25-27 Publication Title SAIIC Newsletter ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English Abstract Note The disappearance of Indigenous languages although a deeply disturbing and ever accelerating trend has received little national or international attention. Under enormous stress from a variety of sources the Native people of the South American continent appear unable to halt the rapid erosion that is washing away a central strand of human identity. The loss of language will create negative consequences like, loss of cultural. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p25-27.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Disappearance of Native languages Indigenous languages Native Language Revival https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/c4ac743f93430cb0179afb9706002e6e.pdf c58992632fd7731d26e8c79e4b4993a6 PDF Text Text --- IH OIGEHOUS W O M EH 0RG A H IZIHG Empowering Native Women: New Initiatives to Reclaim Indigenous Women's Status in Central America Paying attention to women's roles as managers of territories and transmitters of cultural identity, we locus on two regions of Central America where small-scale Indigenous women's initiatives are encountering success at re-inserting women as dynamic members of their societies. By Laura Hobson Herlihy ndig~nous women's involvement with conservation. development, nnd human rights Ol'S"niz~tions h<1S given them new political and econom· ic power in the Honduran Mosquh•~ nnd an P:anama. Conser.'lluon dfons h•'• almost always focused on men\ role In <eonomic actnitits and thcar usc or naturnl resources. Howe"er. foeusong 3llCntion on the amponant role or women as managers or commu· nlty territories nnd transminers of Inn· guage and cultural Identity pro,•i<les ghmpscs of the emerging empowerment process that many lnchgenous women are presentlr experiencing In C.ntml Americo. In this onicle I pre· Sl'nt the case of the Masklto •nd A r~e and and re-valoriuuon of lnd.genoos womal's SUIIJJS is poosible Tawahko of Mosquitia and the Kuna, IIYOUSh their <1Ml QI9MIZObOO and i~ With conscvauon. ~ Embent, and Ngobe-Bugle Guayml an conservation, ~- and tunon lights (l(S«liZ&ions. PanatJU\. Kamokasna, and Wasporasnl. muJti-colored, b.1gs with • long shoul· Krausirpe. the biggest "lloge. has a der strop. A few ytars l~ter, MOPAWI population of about 400. Because (ew (Mosqultln Pawls,'\), a non-profit develMajao: A Women's Market in lndigcnous women In Mosquhia Slill opment agency In Honduras, took over Moskitla weave bags made from rainforest FITH's bag-making project and incor· I The Tawahka Sumu (population plants, I was surprised to ftnd Tawahka 700) live nlong the upper l'l.-aches of women weaving b;tg$ made from the the Rio Patuca in the Hondumn maJaO (Heliocarpus Ooneii-Smlthh) · Mosqultla. Hagh atop cleared n,·er tree. The women expWncd thot FITH b.lnh, houses cluster to form the ~I· lngts of Krausirpe, Krautara, Yopuwas, (Fede~6n lndlgena Tawahka de Honduras>-• legally rccogmzed laura 11obson Herlihy is a Ph.D. student lndagenous federation tlmt represents In sodo·culturol anthropoiOjp• at tlat the Tawahka people-tnltlat<d a local Unlver:<fty of Kansas. Sla< has worked market in the late 1980s to l)urthase with various Indigenous gr·oups fn their woven majao b:1 In order to be gs. llondums, an the Rio Platm1o Biospherr marketed in Tcgucignlp" as "book lks.!IVt of the Honduran Mosquifla, and b.,gs· or "purses." FITH representatives tn Panama. requested thot women w;:av.: smaller, 14 pomted It Into their "Formaci6n de Ia Mujcr· pr0f111m. which has helped ampi'O\e women$ soctoeconomac status in Mosquaua by pro\<ldang them w11h local aash-eammg opponunitaes. Markeung woven majao b.lgs is a posa· uve element m Tawnhka Sumu soci<t)'· Bag manufncturing Is not honnful to the rainforeSt envamnmcnt and it pro· vidcs a mechanism through which women pass down traditional knowl· edge to their daughters while, at the same tfme, providing Income for thetr households. In the process, the �------------------------~ N_D ,I G E N 0 U S ~~ ~ won1ens majao bags have become one of the recognizable symbols of their broader struggle for their own identity and cultural survival. Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve Just nonh and contiguous to the Tawahka zone is the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve. It was established under the United Nations Man and the Biosphere Program in 1980 to protect the natural and cultural heritage of this special part of Honduras. The Misldto. the largest Indigenous group in the reserve, lived in 19 villages with a pop· talation of 4,500. In Kuri, a small Miskito village (population 122) on the Caribbean coast~ Indigenous-held territories within the biosphere are passed down through the female line. Sisters built their homes around their motherS patio and reared their children together as one greater family. \Vomen inherited both coastal village and rainforest territories rrom their mother. known as Mama Almuh or Kulw. the powerrul grandmother figure, village elder, and head of the maniloca.l group. Miskito men lived away from the coastal villages for long periods of time. earning cash off-shore while divtng for lobsters and doing subsistence agricultural work up-river while Jiving on their wives' rain(orcst territories. \~lith the men gone. women passed down Miskito language and culture to their children m matrilocal residential groups. teaching them traditional kinship terms and women's activities. Indigenous Women's Congress in Panama Farther down the isthmus, in a broader and unprecedented way. Indigenous women in Panama recently organized an annual. national-level congress called "Mujer Incligena de Panamoi" with the help or non-governmental development organizations (NGOs). including UNICEF-Panama. the United Nations, and the Centro de VOiTo No. 1 W 0 MEN ORGANIZING Estudios y Acci6n Social Panamc1\0 (CEASPA). I auended the first Indigenous women's' congress in 1993. Nearly I 00 Kuna. Emberil, and NgobeBug.le Gu:.t)'mi women met over a weekend to discuss their common problems and goals in this Central Arnerican cou.mry. First, the participants analyzed the political, legal, social, economic, and cuhurnl involvement of Indigenous women in Panama. Next. they analyzed the histOry and status or women in each culture group. The objectives of the meeting were to promote the participation of \verar<l (EmberA woman). merv (Guaymi woman). and ome (Kuna woman) as one force. ~nd to formulate proposi· tions to be included in the "Plan Nacional de Ia Mujer: At tbe end of the three day meeting, the Kuna, Guaymi. and Ember;\ leaders proposed that the "Plan" should include. among other programs, education, health care, land titling. and work opponumues (including the marketing of ans and crafts) for all Indigenous people in A ~mq Nmuk 0< Kvk8, U1e grandmother figute and village that legislators enforce lhe demarc.11ion of the already existing Kuna and Emberil Comarca boundaries and for the removal of newly seuled colonis-ts within their limits. Newspaper Panam.:l. reponers recorded the event and these Beyond this, some Indigenous demMds in the national press. That the women in Panam<\ also hold loall and govemmem did not respond to all of regional political offices. Cella Mezua. them did not diminish the significance President of the EmberA "Congrcso of this event. For the first time in General." holds one of the most power- PanamaS histor)•. Indigenous women, ful indigenous political positions in the coming from different cultural identicountry. As Presidem of the Congreso. ties. ~cted together in unified opposiMezua presides over a council of lead- tion to the national government. ~1ezua ers who make important cultural. and the other Indigenous women leadpolitical. and economic decisions con· ers cominuc to pressure the governceming the Ember~. The daughter of a ment concerning their tenitorial and forn1er cacique (chieO. Mezua graduat- human rights. The Indigenous women~ ed from the national universit)~ became congress meets annually to discuss a local leader. and was then elected to these and related issues. regional leadership positions. Indigenous wornen in P~nanla and During the first Indigenous Honduras are aware of the 1mpacts womenS meeting in Pcm~ma. Mezua colonialism. incl\tding "Modenlization.. called out for justice and decried the and .. VVestemizmion,. which have his· governments taking of a Ngobe torically subordinated them. Their Guaymi mans life, and for their use of organized resurgence and self-valorizatear gas against pregnant Indigenous tion. as well as their involvcn1cm with women who had recently demonstrat- territorial conservation, their own defied in Panama City. She also called for nition or "'development ... and collecti\r e the national legislature to approve the human rights. are hopeful signs that l. w recognizing the Guaymi Coma:r~a they will ensure a fmure for their larga homeland. likewise, she demanded er societies for years to come. ~ 15 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Empowering Native Women: New Initiatives to Reclaim Indigenous Women's Status in Central America Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Laura Hobson Herlihy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title Empowering Native Women: New Initiatives to Reclaim Indigenous Women's Status in Central America Item Type Journal Article Author Laura Hobson Herlihy Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages 14-15 Publication Title Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English Abstract Note It is important to pay attention to women's roles as managers of territories and transmitters of cultural identity,Focusing on two regions of Central America where small-scale Indigenous women's initiatives are encountering success at re-inserting women as dynamic members of their societies. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p14-15.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Federation lndlgena Tawahka de Honduras Moskitia Panama Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve Tawahka Sumu https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/797c976c1a29f509083be0f45dd26274.pdf 3afbab296cf7a94204cd549fbae9788d PDF Text Text IHDIGE HO US W O ME N 0 RG AH I Z I H G Profile of an Indigenous Woman Organizer ,~~ .W~ "aria de Jesus Hernandez Yalderas 1 It is important to let Indigenous women speak for themselves. whether in a political context in their respective cultures and communities. or in the pages of the joumals and magazines that speak of them. In what follows next. Maria de J esus Hemtmdez Valderos. a Nahualt woman in M exico. pro· vides us with a glimpse of the activist world of Indigenous women. Surmounting the difficulties historically placed on her, Maria embodies the enduring spirit of Indigenous women across the continent. Can you ltD us your name and where you art from? y name is Marla de jesus Hern~ndez Valdems. I participate in a women~ org.1nization called Campeslna Women~ Union or jel!Cll. in San luis P010Sf. Mexico. M Art you Nahuatl? Yes. we speak N•huatl. In how many communities do you work? V\le work in nine communities in the munidpaliLy or jeha. When and how was the women'S organization born! The womens org:ullz.~tion was born when our cQmpaneros. who have an organization called Ia lgualdad de jelica (Equality ofjeliC<I), were able to see that they weren\ able LO progress. that their orgru11zaLion would not work \\ithout the suppon of women Bec:ause of this. rhey named us Lht "right arm of the Cooperatlva de In lgualdad de jelic.1 (llqualiLy of jelica Coopemtive)." From that point on. they saw thnt it was importam that women participate. and 8 The chores o( the woman. . The home has •I ways been left to us: that IS. 3ltendcd. The imponam thmg wns that to take care of the home. to gather Orewe were very motivated abom panicl- wood, wmcr, and care for the children patlng In a meeting. Before this. we also. I am finding out that this happens had never auended a meeling. It was everywhere. the Om ume that we women left 1he house. 1lll full of em01ion, ~nd carrying Do you also work in the fields? Yes. some of the women work In the our ehlldr.n. fields, nnd many of us dedicate our· Were the hus bands bo1hercd that the selves only to the f.1mily. women were holding meetings? Well, at Orst the women's meelings What do you grow in the fields? were held with compailerll$ who nlready In the fields we produce mostly were panicipating. Thnt was how the Colfee. and some vegetables o~go1nlzatlon began. later. invlt2tiOilS wen: made to the 01h~r women who Is there much that you don~ produce also w:tntcd 10 participate. because lht land is not good? The land IS good but we have Wh01 "re you a.b le to achieve through noticed that It is much be.uer for colfee. the women's organizations? Very liule of com and beans is cuhlvat· \Vc ~~nm women to be recognized; ed. that we also pantcipale and that we be heord. M•ny times when women speak Ha,·c you oil been in contact wllh the in a nlttllng. the men don\ p.1y auen· women of other communities? non. Wt wam to g;>in suppon for us, Yes. Yes. We 3"' panidpaung m a coordinating group. We are panlctpal· the women. together, org,1nired. ing jointly. men and women. There, at Whnt :trc some of the aclivhies usually the regional level. we talk nbom womens sltuntlon and special needs. done by women in yollr community? we called for the first muung. Vanous women from several commumues �I~OI G EH OUS What is the coordinati ng group's name? h ts C~lled COCI P (1.3guasteo Potosma Indigenous Org~nization Coordinating Body). And )'OU have time to wo rk in the w ome n's o rganization? Well. I don\ have a lot of ume, but l make some. My children still depend a lot on me. as well as my husband. They are all still little! Are all o f you Nahuatl in the coordinating group? No, we :ue Nahuntl and Mames also. Arc y ou working closely with women in Chinpa.s? Up until now we haven't had much eonta<:.t, no. But d o yo u think it's important to be in touch with them? Yes. we would hke to be commumcating. We don\ hear much about the work that thcy'R domg. We would lik~ to be jnfonned so our organization here can take on some of the responsibtlhy nnd show that we can help them lron1 here. Why cont:u.::t women of 01 her countries? his irnl>ortnnt because t hat way we find out how women live at the national and imerna.tional level as well. Do you have children yourself at home? Yts. I have four children. Vol. TO No.1 What is you !>OSition in the organization? The women sdcctcd me ns the Women~ Union Treasurer. So you handle a lo t of money? Well not so much but .. ! What are some projects you b.ave be:en hwoh•cd ''rith? First we managed to get o popular soup kitchen there m the mumctpality of Jilitra that is called "Fior del Caft: a small goods store thntls m one of the communities. and • nixramal (com for tonillas) mill. WOMEH 0R G AI'IIZ I ~G Do you also retoJn your R ligious practices? People arc sttll very Catholic in large pan. but we also ha'"e other ~s in which people participate. but they are much less practiced than the Catholic group. So you don't retain any of the Nahuatl ceremonies . like offerings to the Earth? As Nahualts, we always make arches and offerings. The arches arc made !rom a branch. a stick and they are decorated with p<llnulla. and xtmparurchilr nowers. That is Nllhuatl tradition. There are also dances in wluch we participate. during the patron S3tnts celebrations. Th1s was bemg ldt behtnd but at the momem we are .s«.ng tMt it is important because 11 promotes the rebinh of the culture. Do you wish to send out a message Is coffee produced in the mouncains or in the plains? ln the mountains. to women of o1hcr countries, of other cultures? We are also participating in alternative medicine and in various bakeries. a.ll the women that have not yet joined Do you s till use your traditional m edic ine? Well. tn large pan that was being left aStde. but we w•nt to ptck up traditional mcd1cine again. Well . I would simply like to say. to a women's organization. I Invite you from this corner of 1.3guastecaPotosina, to particip.1tc and for us to begin leaving fear aside. Th." is what inhibits us most. But. yos. I invite you to participate in an o~nt.z:auon. It is d.ilrlCUit but we have to do wh•te--tr JS possible to panle~pate. Thank you. 'J 9 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Profile of an Indigenous Woman Organizer Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Maria de Jesus Hernandez Valderas Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title Profile of an Indigenous Woman Organizer Item Type Journal Article Author Maria de Jesus Hernandez Valderas Volume 10 10 Issue 1 1 Pages 8-9 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English, Spanish English Abstract Note Maria de Jesus Hernandez Valderas, a Nahualt woman in Mexico, provides a glimpse of the activist world of Indigenous women looks like. She discusses the difficulties that have been historically placed on her. Maria embodies the enduring spirit of Indigenous women across the continent. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p8-9.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Hernandez Valderas Maria de Jesus Indigenous women Mexico https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/ce93b8334af5034e919856cb327e09ff.pdf 8ec2104ca9e1328883a0a75f91e29834 PDF Text Text HDIGENOUS WO MEN 0 R ~ IZING Two Watershed Encounters for Indigenous Women in Mexico The National ANIPA Women's Conference and National Indigeno us Forum recently held in Mexico constitute two examples of how Indigenous women's particip ation is Increasingly crucial for a global Indian identity. By Maya Santilmarla he hogh level of p.1niciJ"'tion of fndonn women, 19 invited guests and that the autonomy of thepurblos Indios is Indigenous women in the twelve "dvisors rrom J ndi,nn COtllnlUili· the path towards the initlation or a new Znpatista Army of N:ulonal tie.s and womenS organizauon.s relauonship amongst ourseh~. with Liberation (EZLN) has inspired and thJVughout Mexico J"'nkiJ"'tcd in the the Mexican SlOt~. wnh other Mexicans. encoumged other lndogmous women to Working Table "I of the Peace and between mtn and women... Within take p.1n in the Cl\1lbn struggle in Dialogues. "lndogenous Rights and this framework of autonomy, we Mexico. Recognizong 1heir imponance Culture; between the EZLN and the Indigenous women demand our full as the base of their culture ond Lhc Government in San Andrts Sacam participation, and th.•t no interml or givers of life, a fund.1mcmal role whoch Ch'en, CluaJ"'S. txtcmal condotion Impede 11." is g"·cn httle value in socoety. The women who J"'niopattd as rtpThe document also demands a reIndigenous women from many difTerem rcscntntlves of the1r commumues and negotiation of NAFTA and the reform of regions of Mexico have decided to mise organizOlions in the dialogues. among article 27 to its original revolutionary their voices after 503 ycors of silence in them Tzotzil, Tzetzal. Tojolabal. spont, which st.ned t.hatth<: temtoriesof order to rescue theor dignity and defend Chinanteca. Chol, Mixleca. and Natlhu Indian peoples are "1na.lienable. not the rightS of Indian peoples. women, preJ"'rtd their lbl of demands negotiable, and indispensnblc.- and The need to analyze nnd understand despite language and cultural bamers. which was altered against the will of the particular situation of Indigenous Through the two phases of their work, most Mexicans for the purpose of J"'$5women has caused them to make spac<'S from October 18th to the 30th of tng NAFTA. Among their dcmonds was for thetnsch'<S where they can discuss November, they drafted an cbbotate also the nght of women to own and their problems, needs. nnd intc~ document which signaled the tnple dis- inherit land, the redistribuuon of land During the closing of the last year and cnnnnation tlmt they suffer as based o n the criteria of susoainability, the opening of the new. two encounters: Indigenous people. as women. and as access to nhcrnmive technology. of Indigenous women were held m the the poor when h comes to health, edu- Increased and 1mpro"cd educational, highlands of Chiapn.<: the workong tnble cation, nutrition, housing, and recre- cuhurnl. he.1hh, production, labor, and on "Silu.1lion. Rights and Culture of ation. social ,veJfart SCI'VICCS, as well ns the end Indigenous Women· In the dialogues The EZLN:S female delegation of the PRJ-dominated (Institu tional between t he EZLN and the demanded, among other things. that Revolutionary Pany) State, and the tran· Government, the Nnuonal ANIPA Convenuon 169 of the lmemallonal stuon towards a true democrncy. Women'!~ Conference. Workers Orgamzallon (011'). and other The process of actually puumg imemational J"'ctS signed by Mexico. be together their ancestral demands in a documen t representing Women and the Peace Dialogues made legally effective. and that they be joint translmed to all of the Indian languages Indigenous women in Mexico pro\'ed With the will to dtalogue with the for distribution to the communities. an lnvaluab~ e.xperiencc. Among other government about thcll' demands as Convention 169 of the OIT is one of the things. it provided a venue for the new prlncopallegaltools that lnd1an peoples relationships and organization between Maya Sanramaria wrlres at~d researthes have to defend t heir nghts to self-de ter- Indian leaders through the leadership of primarily in the region of Chiapas and has mmauon. and the basis of the claim to the EZLN. The govemmem commission follo.,·td the Zapatbta uprising sin<e it Autonomy of lndilln peoples. They (COCOPA), In contrasl. dod not ranfy began In 199-1. She a1w prl>\ides ttchni<al demonded that b.1SCd on th~ accords, the women's document and did not prtassistance for the women's T~tottil t.he necessary reforms be made to the sem the least Intention of negotiating tt Weaving Cooperative h1 San Crist611<11 de Federal Constitution. so that It Include f~ndnmental chonge. It Stated that h las Casas. Sht is pYC$cntly working on an the free exercise of the autonomy of \\'Ould not constder the discussion of exhibit on Zapatista womtn in MinntSO<a lndoan peoples. "\~¢ women nunifest conceptS such os "outonomy," "religion.- T 6 A~D Y ola News �INDIGENOUS WOMEN ORGANIZING '"self·dtttmlin-ation ... or "new constitu· lion." National ANIPA Women's Conference The first women~ encounte-r of the National Plum! Indigenous Assembly for Autonomy (ANIPA) 'vu held in San Crist6bal de las Casas from December 1·8, 1995. Two hundred and sixty rep· resentatives of 65 Indian and womenS organizations from 30 Indian nations and 13 States of the Mexican republic gathered in Chiapas to "speak our word, talk about our rights, uses a.nd customs, and discuss the propos.•! of autonomy for our communities, whhin a vision of gender." The national \VomenS Conference came at the culmination of a series o£ women$ workshops and regional con· rerenees galv;mized by the Zapatista uprising that have sought to J>rovide spa.ce:s of reflection and discussion about the issues confronting Indian women. In addition, many women feel the urgency to further organize and cry out again. t the military presence in their s communities-not jl.tSt in Chiapas. but across Indigenous regions in Me.xico-and what this presence means for their families and their communities. Jm·ited by the Organizing Commission or the ANIPA and the womenS organiz.'ltions in Chiapas such as K'inal Ansetik, j'pas joloviletik, and the women~ commission or CONPAZ, the participants of the encounter dis· cussed 1hc legal lniliath>e 1hat is In progress for the creation of Au1onomous Pluri·cthnic Regions (RAP). Many of the women involved in the autonomy initia· tive have e'pressed that the proposal does not include the autonomy or women within their society, nor their desire to have specific rights as women, and thai 1hey have no1 been taken into consideration during the ¢reation of the proposal. In the two days of discussion the women took the time to talk about the political and social situ~uion in their vil· la&es. communities. and homes. They Vol. 10 No.1 Women of San Andres Sacamch'en de los Pobres befO<e the first dialogues. analyzed their lives as children, as 0\0thers. and as wlves. They gave a new name to their struggle, that of '"autono· my: and made the concep1 theirs. one that thC)' could now take b.1ck to their communities and share with other women. In attempts to do away with the societal factors that oppress them as Indigenous women, the panicipams discussed their rightS, which they trans· fated into Spanish as "cus10ms." They expressed their desire to do away with all the "bad customs" and nourish the "good customs" in their socict)'· "There are customs that can be counterproductive or contrary to the dignity or liberty of women... snid julitm:t G6mez, Mixteca and representative of the Editorial Center of Indigenous Lhemmrc in Oa.xacn. juUana considered it hnport:lnt to recognize that ..somelimes. we women are the ones transmit· ting bad custotns with the education we give our children," and that "the change should begin "ith the educntion of women.· The amcndmen1s proposed by the women for the initiative t<) form autonomous regions were dmf1ed into a document and presented to the general council of the Autonomous Pluri..ethnic regions during 1he forth reunion of the ANIPA, which took place on the same grounds for the three days immediately following the women's ANIPA confer· ence. Many of the women delegates Sta)•ed for the general assembly, making this the highest auendanee of women at an ANIPA meeting. During the ANIPA meeting. they asserted that, ..1 \uwnomy is a set of mtintdes and fomls of rcsis· tance for the prcserwnion of our customs. languages. and traditions. and to reject the resources the government gives us. because many times they divide I.IS.The women at the conference atso re,• iewed a document ..-mnen by the EZLN's advisors and guests in San ""'s approved by the ANIPA. The initiative for Amonomy and the womenS proposal were then to be presented at the National Indigenous Forum which had been convoked by 1he EZLN . The propos.1ls and demands made by the women who worked and panicipat~ ed in these encounters ""II ultimately be sent 10 the Congress and Senate for leg· islation on Women's Rights. It is impor· tam to recognize that these spaces where women have, as an option tO war and for 1hc cons1ruction of peace, debated their problems concerning their culture and rights signal an importanL change in the political process in Mexico: namely. thm 1he process of democmliuuion can no longer occur without their true liberation as \VOmen. ~ Andr~s. which 7 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Two Watershed Encounter For Indigenous Women in Mexico Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Maya Santamaria Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title Two Watershed Encounter For Indigenous Women in Mexico Item Type Journal Article Author Maya Santamaria Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages 6-7 Publication Title SAIIC Newsletter ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English Abstract Note The National ANIPA Women's Conference and National Indigenous Forum held in Mexico constitute two examples of how Indigenous women's participation is increasingly crucial for a global indian identity. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p6-7.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Global Indian Identity Indigenous women Mexico https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/18659f14403d01c92d8c74e96be6d99c.pdf 82b8ccc28cb02a36458a5261e564a57a PDF Text Text --R I GHTS HUMAN Cocaleras Take to La Paz! A 350-mile March to Demand Human Rights in Bolivia bolll five hundred QuechuaAymara women organized a 350-mile march from the Chap.1re (a coca (Erychroxylum coca) producing area) to La Paz. Bolivias cap· ita!. The women marchers entered the capital on january 18, 1996, thirty days after having left from the upper reaches of the Amazon basin. Their main purpose was to demand that the Bolivian governmenl of Presidem Sllnchez de Lozada respect and enforce human rights in their home region, since abus- A es against the women and their families. also known as cocaleros. have increased recently. It was the first time organized 1ndigeoous·peas.·ml women From lhe coca areas marched to La Paz to discuss coca-related policies that affect them and their comm1.1nitics. Coca: Spiritual, yet Demonized Coca, the raw material for the production of cocaine, is a native crop to the area. It was first made illegal by the Vienna Convention of 1961. However, due to strong Indigenous resistance (coca holds ancient spiritual and cultur· al value for the Indigenous peoples who cultivate it), Bolivian officials agreed on a depenalized status. Ritual consumption and cultivation or coca has been allowed since that time by the Vienna Convention of 1988. However, due to the uncontrollable status of cocaine exports and consumption abroad. gov- ernments have demonized coca leaves. condemning the product and pressing for eradication. Surprisingly. here in the US, the well known writer 'A~IIiam F. Buckley Jr. recently reactivated the debate over legalization or dntgs in the jou.rrt.•l National Review. The fact is that consumption or dntgs in general, and not only or cocaine. has been steadily rising in the US and Europe. A possible answer, Buckley stresses. lies in legalization. (William F. Buckley Jr.• "The War Vol. 10 No.1 on Drugs is Lost" National Review, Vol XLVIU No.2, February 12. 1996: 34-48). War on Drugs or People? In the same way that the War on Drugs is perceived by policy makers as a failure, above all in the US, Indigenous peasants are not convinced by the long line of ~hemtuives to coca cultivation. Chapare Indigenous peas.•nts indirectly answer to foreign demand-the "consumption side," in rhe US and Europe. whic-h is almost never discussed. From the point or view of states, coca harvests must be condemned as the main regarding the implementation or alternative development projects in the area. The Women'S Cocalera March received massive suppon from: the pub· lie. A)o11ara leader Cristina M:\rquez. who represented the COS (Bolivian Workers Union) during the march. said the "women are clearly struggling against the neoliberal model" led by President Sanchez. Ximena lturralde and Lidia Katari, first L"ld)' and vice President CArdenas' wife. respo::ctively, agreed tO analyze the demands of the cocaleras in order to better understand their situation. providers of raw material for cocaine UMOPAR: Spreading Terror in the Coca Regions US embassy in La Paz has cominuall)' processed outside their domains. The pressured the Bolivian govemment for complete eradication or coca fields. However, there has been a general fail· ure to demonstrate the economic viabil· ity or altemative development projectS, or alternative agriculture. Ox:altros are trapped in a never-ending profit cycle A sharp condemnation or UMOPAR, a specialized anti-dn•g anned "nit. was voiced by Quechua leader Silvia 1.azarte. "For us [cocalerasl there is no life,justice. peace nor tranquillity in the coca fields... we continue to suffer sys· based on coca harvests that continue to about this. • she stated. This coincides with a recent Human Rights Wacch Americas report which analyzes the human impacts of the War on Dmgs: "The resources possessed by Bolivian tematic abuses. v~l e want you to think guarantee their income. and thus their survival. As part or the march. the cocaleras clearly addressed the fact that crimina.lization or coca has spelled disaster for antinarcotics forces are too few: too few the Indigenous peasants of Chapar:e. men too poorly equipped are being The state militarized the area. which asked. on the one hand, to battle wellthey denounced as a violation of their entrenched drug traffickers funded by human rights. In addition. the women immense profits. On the other hand, ma.rchers demanded the cessation or they are being asked to control the eradication of coca fields. compensation thousa.n ds or poor po::ople who labor at for Indigenous po::asants who were killed the lowest end of the drug production or have been physically disabled due to pyramid ... This law enforcement effon. police bnuality in the area, government moreover. is conducted in the absence support for initiatives seeking viable of institutions and traditions that hold altematlvc development, lcg.1.l protec- public agents accountable for their own tion for union leaders who represent adherence to laws protecting civilians Indigenous peasants in the coca areas, from abuse." (July 1995. Vol. 7. No.8. page 38). ~ the decriminalization and commercial· ization of coca leaf nationally and internationally~ and government account· ability for agreements signed in 1994 (Compiled with information from the &>livian National Newspaper; Presencia) 31 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Cocaleras Take to La Paz! Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title Cocaleras Take to La Paz! Item Type Journal Article Volume 10 10 Issue 1 1 Pages 31 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English, Spanish English Abstract Note Five hundred Quechua Aymara women march 350 miles to La Paz, Bolivia to demand that Bolivian president, President Sllnchez, enforce human rights in their home region. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p31.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Bolivia Human Rights Quechua Aymara women Sanchez de Lozada Gonzalo https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/55ff5a6f3c32c8320d4f73e51fbf2d64.pdf 1bc78a5bf256ced16958afd426af32df PDF Text Text 0RGAHIZATIOH AHD COMMUHICATIOH Forging Unity, Zapatistas Call for Indigenous Forum ith more than 300 delegates, 250 guests. and mtemation· al obst"~rs and reponers. the Natoonal Indigenous Forum took place on Janunry 3·9, 1996. In S.1n Cristobal de Ins<"=. in an area called the Valley of Jove! The event WllS called by the EZLN {Zap:uista Army of Nntlon:•l Libenttion). the Commission for Pacification {COCOPA), and the Plural lnd tgenous Assembly for Autonomous RcgtOI\S {ANIPA). 1\venty four Zapatislll commanders, four of them won>en. participated In the Porum by chatting the Working Conunissions. The orgamznuonal fmme of the Forum revolved around th< objecttvcs of the controversial "Peace wllh Dignhy and Ju.suce· ncgouauons between lhe go,·crnmem of Prestdent Ernesto Zed!llo nnd the EZLN oceurring in San Andrt!.< l.1m!inznr. Chiap.1S. '!'here the parttes reached ngreements on the first theme or lnd•g~nous Culture and Rights on January 18. W Pre,;ou< to the Forum. the EZLN consulted ""h its more than OM<! hun· dred adviSers out of whtch '10 are Indigenous people. The Forum was di.;ded into six Working Commi;slons: I. Community and Autonomy. Indigenous Riglu.s 2. indtgcnous Culture 3. Indigenous Educ:nion 4. Condiuon, RighiS, and Culture of Indigenous Women 5. indtgenous Peoples and Mediums of Commumcuion 6. Political Repre.scmation and PaniC!palion lndtgcnous Peoples It was the n.,.t 11me that the Zapatisto> met ";th Indigenous repre· scmativcs from most or t he 57 indigenous notions m Me.<ico. numbcrmg today appro.umatCI)• 14 mtlhon In the Rcsoluuons, most of the delegates expressed strong support for Autonomous Indigenous Regions as w.:ll ~ the need 10 ha'-e • ptrm:~nent forum to discuss lndtgcnous issues. or Another resol ution that came out of the Forum was to demand that the go\'cm· mcnt a.n d congress rctnSiale ~rttcle 27 of the Consmution •n order lO ensure that communal lands won't be sold to out· stdcrs. Al.so, the Forum proposed 10 change sc,·cml other an1cles of the Consmution wnh aim to cre~tc a pluri· nauonal state adapted 10 the many pueblos that hvc m Mexico today. ~brgarita Guntrrtz. lil>nhu from the Stole of Htdalgo and one of the coor· dmalors of 1\NIPA. spoke I><>Silively of the event. "ThiS is a great Forum bceallSC n has united gr:ISSrOOis Indigenous Reprtsenlllti\'\'5. and engag· ing In dialogue with the F.Z~N com· manders helps 10 have an understand· tng of the cultures nnd problems we are foong. Al.so, the !'ttct that m the EZLN women have full paniclpation is very poshivc. We haw to make an i memnl revoluuon first whtch Is to allow wom<n to paniClpate fully m all dcct· s•on-making procr:sscs. • .... Peace Accord Signed by EZLN and Mexican Government 'The EZLN and the Me>elcan state agreed oo a prebmlnaty I peace agreement oo Februaty 16th ln the Chiapas town of San Andres Larrainzar. It was agreed that lncftgenous rights must be stated in the coostitutlon: lhat Indigenous poltllcal participatioo and representation be V>lide1y b<ood· ened: lhat justo:e be gu~~ranteed to lndtgeoous peoples: that Indigenous cultural expre$$ion be supported: and that Indigenous pe<>ples receive support for the creation of their own educational systems. . The peace agreement ~ afte< the roundtable negotiation from Janua.y I 0· 18 In San Andres Sacamch ·en de los Pobres. where the two factions agreed to re·define the relationship bet...veen the state and Indigenous peoples. or estOOWI p<indples and componeots for the construe. lion of a "new soc181 contract." tn whiCh Indigenous peo· pies participate ss full members of society. all within the context of a "profound reform of the state.· or 34 By far the most slgn!r.cant advance of the negotia· lions are the modtficalions to the Mexican constitution. namely the recognllion of Indigenous peoples' right to self-determination and autonomy. This comes after an lnltJal stance of complete rejection of the even the men· 1100 of the word • self·deterrmnatton. • However. due to pol•lical pressures. the need to re·establlsh M exico's Image of stability as seen from abroad. and a negotiat· ed definition of the nature of autonomy, the government conceded. What is the nature of the ·Autonomy· granted to Indigenous peoples after this Initial round of agree· ments? Autonomy was declared at the • communal" level. which ts a far c.y from the lndtgenous vtsion of dlslincl and proper territonal.lurfdlcal. and political enti· ties. This point will no•doubt be contested in negotiat· lng sessions to come. Attya Yaia News � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Forging Unity, Zapatistas Call for Indigenous Forum Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title Forging Unity, Zapatistas Call for Indigenous Forum Item Type Journal Article Volume 10 10 Issue 1 1 Pages 34 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English, Spanish English Abstract Note The Zapatistas group held a massive gathering where the Forum revolved around the objectives of the controversial "'Peace with Dignity and Justice" negotiations between the government o£ President Ernesto Zedilio and the EZLN ocuring in San Andres Larrainzar, Chiapas. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p34.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Chiapas Zapatistas Zedillo Ernesto https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/3fb578e4d9fb5a6a748ff61d31d02738.pdf 609184f36d0a8172efa8135024b02776 PDF Text Text HU MAN R IG H T S Nimia Apaza, Kolla Lawyer Challenges Argentinean Health Minister Nimia Apaza, an Indigenous Kolla lawyer in northern Argentina <General Coordinator and L<Jwyer for the Ju}ciy Native Council of Organizations), challenged Argentine social welfare minister Herminio Gomez regarding his explanation of infant mortality In the S usques Province. "Infant mortality IS not a cultural p roblem. • she asserts, "it Is not true that mothers do not care for their children and that they let them die." For Apaza. it Is "the clash of cultures that is killing our people; Western culture comes overwhelmingly. bringing so called 'superior and better ideas· than our traditional culture... • How does Minister G6mez think !ha t infam morulhy rates In Susques. during the first months of 199.5, are linked to the fact that mothers do not mke Lheir d•lldren to the heahh center$? e presented an isolated case, possibly due tO special clreum~•nces In bel. the act\dcmic calendar In Susques. whoch was ontt from summer until May. was ch.111ged from March to December. The previous ca~ndar h.'ld 3 \ogle: on May, gr.uing cycles change. and Lhcrcfore amm:ds need to be token fanhcr awa)' to find fodtkr MOther.< that do not h.wc older children an: forctd to coke younger ehiidccn :dong. If chcy do no11a.ke thdr animali co gr.tze, noc only will one child die. but 1he entire famil)' will sufkr btcause they wdl llOI ha"" food for the next )oear. duces a grc:u imb.1bncc. Susqucs. llmros (mules) ""re used to tr.msport Indeed, is the s.'lt plateau of jujuy. This saltLO the lower ''alleys to trade for com. is io say that it has liule pot:tble water Nowadays. '""'I'OS arc oonsidcrcd dannnd its "egcmtion Is b:>sically " small gerous on che hlghwoys. The police forperennial bush cal~d T'ola (Batcharis bid them on the roods. so then: 1S no To/a). rola proteets chc topso~l •~?•nst bartering, nor com. On che other hand. Slrong " inds and reproduces with hule chert: are less gmzing at\!1\S and bcnsts of mlnfall. whkh once created • st.1ble burden ore dying. Prople ore aware of source of gmz< for IL1mas. The problem thl$ probltm ond thO)' ore ll')11lg 10 Sllv" I> th.11 today. soU erOSlon has decreased che llama and sheep 11\Stcad or toling the :tmO\tnt of T'o/a in !he area. them to Survlve. Ecologic<~l collapse h.'IS caused descr· Before. fomilies 115('<1 to own large tifiCII!Ion or the highlancls. T'ola h.'IS been herds of onnnJls and now they h..-..,~ used as a fuel m the school kitchen fur- 1hnn Oftccn or cwenty heads. In a ~1':1\e­ n\\Ces because there is no money avail· glc droma of survival, our people "blc for other fomu of fuel. Homdo learned I<> ll\'t under-nouriShed Under Mcrcado. an 3grunon>lsl. wamcd us cl><SC strenuous circuii\SlanttS. the lllOSI al>Out the e<»log•cnl Cl)nsequenct.~. but affected arc the children 'vho '"111not wns not hcord by the 1 0011 authot'ltics. wh~nd high altitude weather aild suf1 he rruth is that our people tmdotlonally fer from bronquittS. pneumonia, 1111d ha"= T'ola for domesuc usc. but only whooping cough. mke what~ needed. nvolding the disruption of the no.ural equilibrium. t How has the school system dcv<~.lu cd How chen do you e."pl<tln Lbc growth chc uaditions of your people! of infant monolity rncrs? C:m yo" describe for us the trndhion· Tc"ttchrrs wuh good intcmions teach It is the clash of 1'\lhurcs th~t is nl diet in Susques? our children to cat evctything avail•ble. killing our people. When I speak about Our diet tmdilionally depended on but because or the gen<rJl de\oalu:uion of cultures. I assume that there is not one rom-~d mnls, such as.. Chilean our culture, 11 is undci'Siood chat tom· supcnor culture. nor that ours is tnfen- (breakfast). ulpada, to<1adns (snacks). b.1sed foods belong to poor p•:ople. So e>r. The concept that o ur troditions and ll<dapun;a, hal<~t>i, tultX>. caldQ, majM. and when children return home. they n.o cu>torns art b.1ckward has made this plcant.:s (lunches). an<lu (desert). and longer w.mt to e;u trnduional foods. and dlsh and 011\-asion W CIIUS<' of nL,lnU• chlcha (com hecr). To chtS basic dice we p,1r<.n1S do not have the means 10 purninon and lnfnnt mortaluy. added 'P!Inod, fa••a bc.lns, and potntoes. ch3.<e processed foods. For example, supplemented occasJOilally with ch4/ona noodles arc available, but contain llulc llow has Western culture nffecl<d (llama me.") n111ntion.11 v:duc. The superior ,,.lue put on processed food is whnc is rousing the Susqucs' The p<:oplc of the cit)' don\ under- Can )'OU c..'plain che trad.itional eco- malnutrition of our people. stand that our people live \vithin' nature nomic pancn1s of exchange in tltis ond that no one is superior. Mankind is a.rc:ol (£x<upts oj on mter"'"' by .11oriona oot the king of O'l.'-'IIOn; we arc nil part Our poople obtn.oncd com through Corbctjal, '>illo pcrmJ,<fon from "~<k(r El of II, When nature is destroyed I! pro- Inter-communal barcering systems. Patriota. Ltt Paz Nov 11 -17, 1995) H 32 A'r:lta Yalo N~ � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Nimia Apaza, Kolla Lawyer Challenges Argentinean Health Minister Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title Nimia Apaza, Kolla Lawyer Challenges Argentinean Health Minister Item Type Journal Article Volume 10 10 Issue 1 1 Pages 32 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English, Spanish English Abstract Note Nimia Apaza, an Indigenous Kolla lawyer in northern Argentina (General Coordinator and Lawyer for the Jujuy Native Council of Organizations), challenged Argentine social welfare minister Herminio Gomez regarding his explanation of infant mortality In the Susques Province. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p32.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Argentina Infant Mortality Gomez Herminio Nimia Apaza https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/728ecbc86cf08efc6c99351cd8614054.pdf ab8763995d3925383bc78cc7a184e4b7 PDF Text Text --------------------------------~~ N DIG EN 0 U ~ S~-~ O M E~ ~~~~ N~~Q R_G A _N I~ I ~~ ~~ ~c ~ Z~ N G Absent Visions: A Commentary on the Women's Conference in Beijing year more than 28.000 women nication hampered the preparatory comi· rom 185 countries met to auend e Founh World Conference of Women, from the 4th to the 15th of September. in the city of Oeijing, China. This conference was organized by the United Nations in order to receive the input of women from all parts of the world to influence the Platform of Action, nental meeting in Ecuador where some 150 women from 24 nationalities and communities met to elabor.:~te their pro* posals to be sent to Beijing. The meeting took place later than planned, and as a result the Indigenous women's' proposals were not received in time to be submitted in the final document or the Platform of a document on womenS rights, which Action. U was on the United Nations' agenda. The limited preparation and panicipation or Indigenous women in the conference is due to many factors beyond the control of the Delegation of Lmin American Indigenous Women. Unfol1llll.1lcly, as other sources have said, the organizational Structure and the agenda of the confer· ence did not offer equal conditions of participation to lndigenous women. From the beginning. there was a lim· ited Oow of information between Indigenous and non-indigenous women. The fonner had liule access to contacts. infom1ation, and financial resources. From the level of the United Nations to the non-governmental organiuuions, space was not granted them as organized people. This was one of the biggest complaints that came out of the Meeting of Indigenous Women of the First Nations of Abya Yala, held from july 31 to August 4. l99.5. in Ecuador. The location of the conference made it hard for Indigenous women to attend. Only 30 Indigenous women arrived, an abysmal number (consider the number of Indigenous nations in the Americas). Getting funds to cover the ~'OSIS of the Oight was a great difficult)<Thus. in spite of the huge interest they expressed to aucnd this event. they were once again not able to panake in decision making processes that will affect their lives. As stated above, the same financial factors and lack of suppon and commuVol. 10 No. 1 ln spile of these lim_ itations. their pro· posals were presented in writing to the conference. Their document presented the vision of Indigenous wonwn or Abya Yala. emphtlsizing the challenges of selfdetennination and the survh'lll as a dis· tinct peoples. Among others. the Declaration of Indigenous Women in lleijing put forward the following propos· als and demands: (1) Recognize and respect our right to sclf-detemlinatton; (2) Recognize and respect our right to our territories and de.vclopm.em, e:du~ cation. and health; (3) Slop h\tma.n rights violations and all forms of violence against Indigenous worn en.: (4) Recognize and respect our cui· tural and intellectual inheritance and our right to control the biological di\oer· sity in our territories; (5) AsS<tre the political panicipation of Indigenous women and amplify their er. emphasized the economic problems that affect women, the globalization of the economy, and international womenS rights-terms and concepts that few Indigenous women h..·we experienced directly. Another issue was the Indigenous \~~men~ Delegations concern over the agreement in Beijing that an investig.uion · occur on Indigenous knowledge of health and management of naturol resources. Indigenous women want to take pan in the study and not only be its objects. They recognize the nece.<Sh)• of their panicipation so that the study include the Indigenous vision. If one analyzes the theme of "human rights· in the Beijing proposal. it becomes clear that Indigenous women envision these ' rights' differently. Indigenous women do nol see them· selves as competing with men. They have a more integral vision of them~ selves-not as individuals. but more as pan of a community. In situations where women work in the formal economy. the resulting rnemality is a competition belween women and men. for most indigenous women, work is something shared in a community. and not a competition. Thus, the right of equality between Indigenous men and women is inseparable rrorn this systen'l of production where the concept of capabilities and their a<:cess to rcsourc.;:s. . dualily predominates, meaning that Essentially. the document stressed ma_ and worn.an complement each n Indigenous tcnitory as a key for the e.xis· other in what they think. do, and say. Jndigcnous womenS lack or particitence of Indigenous peoples. it also touched on intellectual propeny rights, pation was a significant weakness in which the women felt should be respect· lleijing. It illustrates the necessity for us ed. it also called for the ratification of to devise new smucgies so that our International L.1bor Organization (ILO) vision can become an integral compocConvention 169 along \vlth other decla· nenl of lhe broader womenS mo\r rations on the rights of Indigenous peo· ment. a presence to be recognized espe· pies. The Plan of Action of the World dally during watershed encounters like Conference of Women in Beijing. howev- the Beijing conference . .., 13 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Absent Visions: A Commentary on the Women's Conference in Beijing Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title Absent Visions: A Commentary on the Women's Conference in Beijing Item Type Journal Article Volume 10 10 Issue 1 1 Pages 13 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English, Spanish English Abstract Note 28.000 women from 185 countries met to attend the Fourth World Conference of Women, but there were many factors that caused the imited panicipation of Indigenous women. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p13.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Beijing Fourth World Conference of Women Indigenous women https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/452deb7b60e4489040d8d7c20ccd4124.pdf f257d6c5f9c8a8d15ca4e85ef164fa9b PDF Text Text OR G ANIZ A T I ON AND COMM U NICA T I ON • URACCAN Offers Degree 1n Indigenous Rights ''For more than five centuries others have spoken for us. Today we want to begin to speak with our own voices on this October 12. when we commemorate once more the histof}' of resistance of Indigenous peoples of the American Continent and as we launch a Degree Course in Indigenous Rights in our own university ..- URACCAN, the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua th that invocation 10 the more than 500 )'Cars of ndig-enous resistance on the W: American Continent, Dr. Mirna Cunningham, Rector of the new univer· sity URACCAN, began her address inau· gurating a degree course in Indigenous Rights-a speech that showed that this new post-secondary educational institution in Nicaragua is dedicated to take the forefront of the struggle to defend and extend the lights of the Caribbean Coast peoples. Above all. URACCAN wi1t be innovative and open to serve the real needs of the Caribbean Coa.~t mosa· ic of minority peoples-Miskito, Sumu, Rama, Gar!funa. Blacks-who have been historically marginalized and oppressed by the Nicaraguan state. It will also rein· force the autonomous status of the Caribbean Coast area of Nicaragtta by fo1m1nglocal cxpens in the fields of nat· ural resource management who can prevent the exploitation of coastal resources by outside forces. The degree course in Indigenous RightS. inaugurated in Bilwi {Puerto Cabezas), capital of the RAAN (North Atlantic Autonomous Region), is sup· poned and financed by a coalition com· posed of the internal budget of URAC· CAN, the Nicaraguan state. and International NGOs. It is a Bachelor level diploma that will be recognized as a basis to enter Master or Doctoral level degree courses in Nicaragua. The URACCAN Depanmem supervising this course is headed by Yuri Zapata; cours· es will be taught by Dr. Hazell.au1 3 well known Miskito leader and lawyer. · we are merely demanding," Cunningham assened, ·a fundamental Vol. 10 No.1 right for Indigenous peoples and ethnic communllles of the Caribbean Coast...our systematic and effective par· ticipation in the development of our own educational program." The national educational system and national uni· versities, she says. have ""no roots in our culture and thus kannotl respond to the urgem problems of our communi· ties." Mirna Cunningham is well known as a continental Indigenous leader. In 1992 she presided the work of convok· ing and assembling the Third Cominemal Encounter of Indigenous. Black. and Grassroots Resistance. held in Managua. She is a member of the Nicaraguan Parliament representing the Pucno C•bezas (Bilwi) region. She is also one of the principal architects of the autonomy process that led the Sandinista government in l987 10 enact the Autonomy law, a Constitutional provision that recognized autonomous status for the north and south Caribbean Coast regions. Indigenous peoples on the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast face severe marginaliz.11ion. Unemployment in the RAAN is now around 90%. and for the RAAS (South Atlamic Autonomous Region) it is 70%. The Atlantic Coast area has the highest levels of monaUty for early matemit)< Three out of every four unemployed persons are women, and there is an increase in rape and abuse brought about by social decom· position and drug consumption. Francisco Cambell. who rccemly travelled to the US in search of funher support for the program. spoke eloquently of URACCANs historical place in the lives of the Black and Indigenous peoples of the coast. "The Autonomy Process was the greatest historical shift from the liberal. nationalist ideology that to be Mestizo and Catholic is the only legitimate fom1 of belonging and ident it l' Now. the peoples of the region 5a)'. 'We will bttild our university." The establishment of an Indigenous Rights curriculum will further the autonomy process in the Atlantic Coast region by giving local peoples the educational training necessary to build the juridical framework for the reclaiming of the native economy and political system. In addition, the progrnm will do this in a way that respects the various cullllral expressions present on the Caribbean coast Uilit)' in diversity."' which must also integrate the cosmovi· sion of the Black Caribbean community. 1t will also decentralize the whole prcx:ess of education, taking smdents into coast~l communities for work~ shops, seminars, and open-ended, participatory sessions. The course, howev· er, is offered only on the Bil" ; campus, which will favor Miskilos over Sumus because of its location. Hence the need 10 open another program in the Bonanza region to the benefit of the Sunm communities. , . 11 Jlcfapted from a Glumeytur l. .XI f by felipe Swarr For infomtacion abouc URACCAN contact: URACCAN, &lljlcio E/ Cannen del Ctuutl 4 112c. al sur, Mar~agua. Nicaragua; Tel: 505· 2-682-HJ; Fax: 505·2·682-H5; or jsll<· arc@uugate.ulli.rain.ni; l.'ax 505·2-682145 37 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 10, no. 1 (Spring 1996) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource URACCAN Offers Degree In Indigenous Rights Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring 1996 Spring 1996 Language A language of the resource English, Spanish English Zotero Title URACCAN Offers Degree Indigenous Rights Item Type Journal Article Volume 10 10 Issue 1 1 Pages 37 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1996 Language English, Spanish English Abstract Note Dr. Mlrna Cunningham, director of the new university URACCAN, began her address inaugurating a degree course in Indigenous rights. The new post-secondary educational institution in Nicaragua is dedicated to take the forefront of the struggle to defend and extend the rights of the Caribbean Coast peoples. Attachment Title abyayala_v10_n1_p37.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Caribbean Coast peoples. Cunningham Mlrna Nicaragua URACCAN