1 12 8 https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/0be5fafa9c9002dc53ee2dcc2d072397.pdf 1d84e05ac2b739b204123741de468e37 PDF Text Text INDIGENOUS WOMEN OF MEXICO 10 YEARS LATER (Mexico) 1k follt1Wing uns wrillm by the Unum of Yalalttat Women in Oaxaca and sent to SAITC by Juana Vasquez. Indigenous peoples of Oaxaca and of Mexico have struggled to maintain a certain degree of community sclf· dctcnnination.1hisgivesusdignityas men and women and protect us from the usurpation of our territories, and gives us the possibility to control our own destinies. None can deny that, in almost 500 years of exploitation and constant oppression, that which is unique to indigenous communities has been almost erased and buried forever. 1his has happened not only in Oaxaca, but in all the Americas. Nevertheless, our enemies have failed. As we near the end of the 20th century, we Indian people arc regaining the strength and courage to defend and reclaim our dignity and identity. programs and regulations on indigenous communities. Zapoteca women ofYalalag arc not indifferent to all these problems. We arc Involved in the enduring task of searching for solutions. We have woven our own history and oontinue weaving it, impregnated by great ideals which arc nurtured by life's daily events and with strong effort and sac:rifice. The Incorporation of Yalalteca women Into the political struggle was significant. We have been participat· ing quietly and humbly. On December 24,1980, for the first time in the history of our oommunity, more than 400 women bega. to consciously and vociferously participate in n the struggle for community self-determination. We formed our own system of defense: The Union of Yalalteca Women. On De<:ember31, 1981, the union participated in occupying the Municipal Palace, in order to pressure the government into fulfilling certain promises to our oommunities. In Mexico, we indigenous women arc still suffer. ing the consequences of 500 years of oolonialism, of economic exploitation, cultural domination, marginalization a.n d social discrimination. We arc ronfronting a strong power structure, maintained by men who hunger for gold, and who transform their will into laws, which makes justice into a business. As a consequence of this, many of our women and children arc the victims when we arc deprived of our rights to own land, the usc of our forests and mines, our indigenous systems of justice, education, health and communication. In 1981, the union participated actively in political negotiations. In our first mass mobilization, most of our people journeyed first to the city of Oaxaca and then on to Mexico Oty. 1his helped us to overcome our fear of the authorities. It was at this time that we realiud that we were facing not only local leaders, but also the official party, corrupt politicians and others in government. We recognized that we have to fight against many enemies. We indigenous women have survived due to the strong, sacred tradition which is our heritage passed on from our ancestors. The Zapoteca women of Yalalag have a system lcnown as El Tcquio, the center of all oommunity traditions, in which women, men, children and the elderly p.1rticipate... Unfortunately, politicians have institutionalIzed the Tequio as a strategy to impose government In order to consolidate the process of democratic struggle, one of our first actions was to take control of our schools. Education in indigenous towns is linked to productive work. We introduced programs to study our language, culture and traditional production in order to become more self-sufficient. We became more conscious of our own history. For these purposes we created a Community 40 SAIIC Newsletter �Development Project . After ten years, we have democratically elected municipal authorities, the community of Yalalag is achiev· ing its goals, and we are all participating. After examining these long and hard struggles the Yalalteca women have endured, we know that indigenous women can contribute greatly to transfonn the economic, political, religious and cultural conditions of our society. 'This is our contribution to our future generations. We have reflected upon our situation and have concluded that as women we are living in a very important period in history because we have begun to re-<?valuate our indigenous cultures and reclaim our rights to preserve and develop them. In Oaxaca., with the spiritual strength of Centeol (the Com Goddess), and of our ancestors we are reevaluating indigenous philosophy. We undersland and share feeling$ with other communities of the world which are struggling for popular freedom and women's liberation. Sadly, life for women in Oaxaca and Mexico is hard, bitter and tragic, but this does not mean that we indigenous peoples have lost the struggle. In fact, in the last 500 years, we have lost many battles, however we are privileged in that the roots of our community traditions go very deep and are sprouting. It is this spiritual strength which helps men and women to search for our true Iibera· lion. We are concerned that certain Indian leaders, involved with organizations at the international level are not adequately representing our communities. We indig· enous women must avoid supporting representatives which are based on personal interest We propose overhaul· ing these international organizations so that they be of use to our indigenous communities. To conclude, we indigenous women have a long and difficult road to follow, it is a rough path because we are immersed in alien economic and political structures. For the respect to self-determination of indigenous peoples, For the dignity of indigenous women, For the SQ/idarity of indigenous women all over the world. Juana Vasquez Vasquez of the Union of Yololteco Women,Ooxoco, Mexico . Indigenous Women of El Salvador Demand Respect for Human Rights and the Mother Earth (EI Salvador) The following u.zs presented by Rosa Leticia Caceres, the representative fr()tll the National Association of Indigenous People of El Salvador (ANIS) to the First South and Central American Indian Women's Gathering in Peru. We, the indigenous peoples, are suffering most from the lack of justice in our land. Not only is there a failure in the administration of justice, but we are a.lso threatened with guns and with beatings. We believe human rights abuses signify the gnawing away of our rights as established in the Constitution, since these rights are violated day after day, not only by the anny and the government but also by others who limit our ability to defend our most sacred individual rights. We continue to demand that the govemrnent and the FMlN observe the rights of each and every one of us and respect the rights of indigenous peoples as human beings. We, the Nahuat, Lenca and Mayan indigenous peoples, demand respect from the anny, the goverrunent and all other sectors of our society since we are the ones who nurture and cultivate the earth; we work the land with our own hands, and as women, we are the ones who carry our products to the markets to be sold. The social problems we confront today began for Indian people in 1492, with the Spanish invasion. They came to divide us, to rob us of our culture and our beliefs; they created borders when they had no right to do so because the land belongs to us, the Indians, now and forever. They divided us and imposed their own habits and life-styles. ' It is the indigendus people who carry the burden of the economic crisis that our counll)' is experiencing. We know that all aid has been spent on bullets and ammunition and that a large part of the national budget is invested in the anned forces instead of being directed towards helping the poorest of the poor· namely, the indigenous people of the country. We are also concerned by the increase in the price of basic grains and other general goods as a result of the devaluation of our currency. We are struggling for the respect, conservation and protection of natural resources. 'This arises from an attitude of respect for nature such as that which we, the indigenous peoples, hold. Instead of destroying nature, we respect it. The year 1492 for us marks the beginning of our persecution as Indians, the beginning of the invasion of our culture and of our Mother Earth. In response, we say: an end to the repression against the indigenous people of I;l Salvador! 500 years of death represent 500 years of resistance, and today we, the indigenous peoples, are here with greater presence and strength. Vol6 Nos 1&2 41 � 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. 6, nos. 1&amp;2 (spring/summer 1991) 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 Indigenous Women of Mexico 10 Years Later Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Vasquez Juana Union of Yalalteca Women in Oaxaca Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Summer 1991 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Indigenous Women of Mexico 10 Years Later Item Type Journal Article Contributor Vasquez Juana Union of Yalalteca Women in Oaxaca Volume 6 Issue 1&2 Pages 40-41 Publication Title Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Summer 1991 Language English Abstract Note The women of Mexico still fight colonial oppression. Attachment Title Indigenous_Women_Of_Mexico_10_Years_Later.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Indigenous women Mexico Oaxaca Women Zapotec https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/164804cc07b90e9377e56c9e904ca991.pdf 47840346123a544ca703057c86bb9c77 PDF Text Text ORGANIZATION CONIC Preparatory Meeting in Bolivia The provisional council of the Co· ordinating Committee of Indigenous Nations and Organizations of the continem held its planning meeting for the upcoming continental encounter in Chuquiagu (La Paz), Bolivia from May 11-4. The Coordinating Comminee of Indigenous Women of Bolivia hosted this meeting. At CON lC's last continemal encounter held at Temoaya , Mexico in 1993, participants decided to hold a consti· tutive congress in October 1994 in Guatemala, and to fonn a Provisional Council to plan this congress. Delegates from the Southern Cone.Andean region, Central and Nonh America elaborated proposed bylaws at this meeting. and have sent these along with a declaration of principles and objectives to all CONIC members. The coming congress in Guatemala was set for the I0 -14 of October and will be hosted b)' the Council of Maya organizations of Guatemala (see calender be· low). All member organizations will be anending, and may also invite up to three additional organizations from their region. & COMMUNICATION Ngulam--Consejo de Toe/as Las Tierras. based in rcciprocit)'; solidarity and Mar<iflores 1326, Casilla 448, Temuco, equality; and plurinational democracy. Chile. Fori>ifonnation: CONAl£, Las Granados 2553 y 6 de Diciembre, Casi/111 17- li1235, Quito, Ecuador, Tel: (593-2) Indigenous News Agency 248930 Fax: (593-2) 44271 email begins Publishing The International Indian Press ccc@ccnaie.ec Agency (Al PIN) began wiring news relating to Indigenous nations and or· Ashaninka Women Begin ganizations of the continent through Organizing for Self-Sufficiency Many Ashaninka have been forced the IPS network last january. Genaro Buatista, Mixtec journali st a nd to Oee their homes by conOicts be· Natividad Gutierrez are the acting co· tween the military and the Sendero ordinators in Mexico City. All lndig· Luminoso Guerilla movement. enous journalists are invited to submit i\shaninka women are searching for reports to AlPIN, by fax (525) 761· solutions to the critical lack of food, 8573. The reports are published over clothing. and health care facing their the wire every week and arc accepted families. Following the First t\shaninka every Wednesday until 6:00pm. sub· Summit in November-December of missions should be a maximum of300 1993, an ' Ashaninka Mothers' Club" words, approximately 60 lines of text. was formed with the goal of carrying out projects to meet basic needs in the Central Forest region of Peru. AccordCONAIE National Congress ing to club leader, Lucila Arce Salcedo, Approves National Policy the traditional Ashaninka economy Statement which was based on self-sufficient ag· From the 15·18 of December last ricuhure, hunting and fishing has been year. CONAIE celebrated its fourth serious!)' impacted in recent years by national congress in the town ofUni6n the arrival of colonist, Sendero Base, Puyo in the Amazon Region. The Luminoso activity, logging and most Congress approved CONAIE's •Politi· recently the activities of oil companies cal Project' , a document which out· such as Shell and Mobil. lines the organization's national politi· The Mothers' organization is there· cal strategy. According to CONAIE fore working to develop sewing and president Luis Macas this project 'will cooking industries to helpsuppon their be a guide £or the construction of a families with cash incomes. lf success· more just, plurinational and ful. this project will benefit 500 pluricultual state and for the recogni· t\shaninka families. Next,they hope to tion of the Indigenous people and the begin a home for children who have poorest secwrs of the country.' , and been orphaned during the wave of proposes solutions to the problems of violence. Arce Salcedo reports that land distribution, housing, industrial· approximately 2.000 children in the izarion, health. unemployment, segre- communities of Provincia de Satipo. gation and discrimination. Punor Ocopa, Rio Ene. and Rio Tambo According toCONAIE, the project's are orphans in their communities Jiv. proposals are based on the fundamen- ing in various stages of malnutrition, tal principalsof the Indigenous peoples, sickness and poverty. especially. an integral humanism which for infonnation or to send aid: l<alia recognizes that the close relationship Torrelli. 4015 Rhod11 Ave., Oalllaru/, Ct\ between people and nature is what 94602, Tel: (510) 482·4682 Fax: (510) Fourth Session of Mapuche Tribunai--Wallmapu Norngulamtuwum--Held in Temuco, Chile. From the28·29ofMarch J994, the Mapuche organization Auld" Wallmapu Ngulam (Consejode Todas las Tierras--All Lands Council) held their annual meeting, focusing on refOiming the Chilean State and self· determination for the Mapuche. The Cotmcil issued several resolmions rejecting Chile's "Indigenous Law• ( Law # 19.2553) as serving the Chilean state, but not the Indigenous population. Many specific changes were recommended. For information : ilul>i>l \Vallmapu guarantees us life: communitarianism 421-4758 40 />bya Yala 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. 8, nos. 1 &amp; 2 (Summer 1994) 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 Organization & Communication Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource SAIIC Board of Directors Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Summer 1994 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Organization & Communication Item Type Journal Article Author SAIIC Board of Directors Volume 8 Issue 1,2 Pages 40 Publication Title Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Summer 1994 Language English Abstract Note List of events by indigenous organizations and important milestones for the hemisphere-wide indigenous community. Attachment Title abya yala p40.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] CONAIE CONIC Preparatory Meeting International Indian Press Agency (AIPIN) Mapuche Tribunal Women https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/369d2453de1e813c0fcc99a8b86bd68b.pdf 8b468604d09d39d4401d9172cfdc8d2a PDF Text Text DA U G H TE R S OF ABYA YA L A Bolivia, a mining country, hosting Women and Mining Conference in 2000 In January 1997, women from all over the world involved in mining met in Baguio City, Philippines for the First International Women and Mining Conference. Women, particularly Indigenous women, have long been uniquely affected by and involved in the mining that goes on in their countries. With the expan~on of large scale mining and its inevitable dependence on the global market, women have been faced with changes to the organization of their societies, their economic systems, their interpersonal relationships, their natural environments as well as the health of themselves and their children. Despite their hardships and sacrifices, Indigenous women have often been invisible in the mining world. In many countries local women's groups and community organizations formed to confront the reality of the effects of mining on their cultures and the environment and to come up with ways to reverse the negative effect that mining had on their lives at the individual. familial and community level. These organizations began to see more and more the need to interact with other like-minded organizations at a regional and international level. The NGO, Minewatch (England) was instrumental in forming an international network of women mine workers to coordinate with one another and share information. Minewatch, together with the Women Workers Program, organized and hosted the First International Women and Mining Conference in the Philippines, the first of its kind. Representing their organizations, unions and Indigenous communities, women from Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Pacific and North America shared their experiences of multinational mining and discussed ways to resist its threats to their lives and communities. The delegates developed strategies for collaborating and supporting each other. Respondin9 to the urgency of their needs, the delegates decided to organize reg<onal events after the Conference and to strengthen their existing networks. Plans are now under way for the Second International Women and Mining Conference to be hosted by CEPROMIN (Centro de Promocion Minera) in Bolivia in 2000. The organization hopes to bring 50 delegates representing all of the continents. The objectives of the Second International Conference are: to discover the shared and the particular situation and specific problems of the women in mining zones around the world, to facilitate the exchange of ipformation concerning the impact of rl)inlng:'and. to denounce Human rights-violations, both territorial and culture. <IS well as the ecological disasters and health ramifications of mining activities. Other goals are to utilize the shared creativity of all those present to come Opwith tactics to improve the conditions of life in mining z'ones, and to establish links between organizations and bet)'lleen the countries to work on common issues and 10 negotiate before the pertinent organizations at the governmental and international levels. The themes of the Second International Conference On Women and Mining will be those issues of central concern to the women and their organizations. T~ese concern~relate to the changes at the global level in regard to mining exploitation,...the infor111al and invisible work of women mineworkers (related to the global tendency to informalize and undeNalue the c0ntributions of women's work, following the model of domestic labor), the conditions of life, health and education, a'nd the effeczts of the expan~on of mining into new areas and its real impact on the ecosystem and lhe culture). Bolivie, the si e of the upcoming conference, is a country with a long history of mining. Its inhabitants have seen first ~a~d lhe ext(aordioa<y impact of mining on the politics, environment and socio-economic dynamic of this country. The organizations <n Bolivia have fought for decades for their survival, their rights and their dignity despite the massacres and militarization of their communities. CEPROMIN has extensive documentation of the severe health effects of mining on Indigenous women in Bolivia.Native women miners suffer respitory illnesses, skin diseases. muscular afflictions and die young from the compounded polluting effects of life in the mines. lnfomtalion from CEPROMIN, Mujeres y Minerla Hacia la Segunda CotiferenGia lnttrnacional For more information: CEPROMIN (ttl) 00591-2 35 94 02 (/ax) 00591-2 37 39 83 (e-mail) cepromin@caoba.tnttlnttbo GOntaCf Vol. 11 No. 1 23 � 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. 11, no. 1 (Spring 1998) 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 Bolivia, a mining country, hosting Women and Mining conference in 2000 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 1998 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Bolivia, a mining country, hosting Women and Mining conference in 2000 Item Type Journal Article Volume 11 Issue 1 Pages 23 Publication Title Abya Yala News ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring 1998 Language English Abstract Note Women from all over the world participated in the First International Women and Mining Conference, bringing their struggles and hardships forward in an area where they are largely invisible and underrepresented. Attachment Title Bolivia_A_Mining_Country_hosting_Women_and_Mining_Confrence_in 2000.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Bolivia mining Women https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/c03d73f8012c66abd184a5a2774f4b4f.pdf 7e8bb732660a768c193057373ffb3cad PDF Text Text Franklin Stanly, Apache Medidne man, Wl'Ote "if the Vatican telescope is built, the Vatican will celebrate its telescope's completion next year and mark the shameful continuation of 500 years of cultural genocide against Native Americans. Tile Columbus project is a collaboration between Tile University of Arizona, the Ohio State UnivCTSity and the Arcetri Astrophysical Olservatory in Aorcncc, Italy. At present, the participating institutions arc completing plans and technological development for the telescope. Construction is expected to be well ~ay by 1992, and to be complcted by 1996. Tile site, which was approved by Congress in 1988, provides first-rate observing conditions and is relatively close to the astronomical research center located in Thcson, Arit.ona. Tile Columbus Project telescope and instrumentation budget is$60million. Tile costs and the observing time will be shared equally among the partners. Tile construction funds will be provided by the Italian government and from private fund-raising efforts being coordinated by the two univCTSities. Native Pacific Islander Women Writing ari Anthology Tile following message was sent to SAne just in time to make it into the Newsletter! Native movements for sovereignty and dccolonization are current issues throughout the Padflc from Hawai~ to Guam, Belau (New Caledonia), I<anaky, Tahiti, Fiji and Aetearoa (New Zealand). Tilere are more Native Hawai~, Samoans, and Chamorros in the United States than in Hawai'i, Samoa and Guam. This movement away from our Native islands does not mean we no longer identify as Padflc Islanders. We are women voyagers who have traveled across the ocean to Turtle Island, bringing our culture and tradition with us like our ancestors who sailed the oceans centuries ago. We are now writing an anthology of PaciAc Island Native women. Join us! . For more information contact Hinono K. Campton (408) 338·4678, or Teresia Teaiwo (408) 457·2581. Doughten of the First Peaple PO Box 138, Boulder C.r eek, CA 95006 Tile San Carlos Apache Tribe states its Arm and total opposition to the construction of a telescope on the top of Mount Graham and the Tribe stands ready to defe.n d its constitutional rights if this project Is allowed to continue. To support or request more informotion contact: Apoche Survival Coalition P.O. Box 1181 4 Tucson, Arizono 85734 MILLIONS OF $$$ FOR GENETIC SURVIVAL??? A group of prominent North American scientists, part of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO), has set up a committee to study a plan to collect genetic material from 100 endangered peoples, induding the Yanomami of Brazil. They estimate it will cost $10 million to $2() million over the next Ave to ten years. They say that the effort should start immediately, because Hin another 10 years, it may be too late for tribes like the Yanomami, who are dying in large numbers from disease and environmental damage caused by gold mining In the Amazon forests. H We at SATIC feel that there is much more to be learned from Jiving indigenous peoples than can ever be learned from genetic samples. These enormous Anandal and academic resources should be used to assist the survival of indigenous peoples and their environments. Vol6 Nos 1&2 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. 6, nos. 1&amp;2 (spring/summer 1991) 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 Native Pacific Islander Women Writing an Anthology 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 Summer 1991 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Native Pacific Islander Women Writing an Anthology Item Type Journal Article Volume 6 Issue 1,2 Pages 37 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) ISSN 1071-3182 Date Summer 1991 Language English Abstract Note Pacific Islanders are writing an ANthology Attachment Title abyayala_v06n01_02_p037.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Pacific Islander Women https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/bad7c6544b5bb57956a92d3570172c23.pdf 1d84e05ac2b739b204123741de468e37 PDF Text Text INDIGENOUS WOMEN OF MEXICO 10 YEARS LATER (Mexico) 1k follt1Wing uns wrillm by the Unum of Yalalttat Women in Oaxaca and sent to SAITC by Juana Vasquez. Indigenous peoples of Oaxaca and of Mexico have struggled to maintain a certain degree of community sclf· dctcnnination.1hisgivesusdignityas men and women and protect us from the usurpation of our territories, and gives us the possibility to control our own destinies. None can deny that, in almost 500 years of exploitation and constant oppression, that which is unique to indigenous communities has been almost erased and buried forever. 1his has happened not only in Oaxaca, but in all the Americas. Nevertheless, our enemies have failed. As we near the end of the 20th century, we Indian people arc regaining the strength and courage to defend and reclaim our dignity and identity. programs and regulations on indigenous communities. Zapoteca women ofYalalag arc not indifferent to all these problems. We arc Involved in the enduring task of searching for solutions. We have woven our own history and oontinue weaving it, impregnated by great ideals which arc nurtured by life's daily events and with strong effort and sac:rifice. The Incorporation of Yalalteca women Into the political struggle was significant. We have been participat· ing quietly and humbly. On December 24,1980, for the first time in the history of our oommunity, more than 400 women bega. to consciously and vociferously participate in n the struggle for community self-determination. We formed our own system of defense: The Union of Yalalteca Women. On De<:ember31, 1981, the union participated in occupying the Municipal Palace, in order to pressure the government into fulfilling certain promises to our oommunities. In Mexico, we indigenous women arc still suffer. ing the consequences of 500 years of oolonialism, of economic exploitation, cultural domination, marginalization a.n d social discrimination. We arc ronfronting a strong power structure, maintained by men who hunger for gold, and who transform their will into laws, which makes justice into a business. As a consequence of this, many of our women and children arc the victims when we arc deprived of our rights to own land, the usc of our forests and mines, our indigenous systems of justice, education, health and communication. In 1981, the union participated actively in political negotiations. In our first mass mobilization, most of our people journeyed first to the city of Oaxaca and then on to Mexico Oty. 1his helped us to overcome our fear of the authorities. It was at this time that we realiud that we were facing not only local leaders, but also the official party, corrupt politicians and others in government. We recognized that we have to fight against many enemies. We indigenous women have survived due to the strong, sacred tradition which is our heritage passed on from our ancestors. The Zapoteca women of Yalalag have a system lcnown as El Tcquio, the center of all oommunity traditions, in which women, men, children and the elderly p.1rticipate... Unfortunately, politicians have institutionalIzed the Tequio as a strategy to impose government In order to consolidate the process of democratic struggle, one of our first actions was to take control of our schools. Education in indigenous towns is linked to productive work. We introduced programs to study our language, culture and traditional production in order to become more self-sufficient. We became more conscious of our own history. For these purposes we created a Community 40 SAIIC Newsletter �Development Project . After ten years, we have democratically elected municipal authorities, the community of Yalalag is achiev· ing its goals, and we are all participating. After examining these long and hard struggles the Yalalteca women have endured, we know that indigenous women can contribute greatly to transfonn the economic, political, religious and cultural conditions of our society. 'This is our contribution to our future generations. We have reflected upon our situation and have concluded that as women we are living in a very important period in history because we have begun to re-<?valuate our indigenous cultures and reclaim our rights to preserve and develop them. In Oaxaca., with the spiritual strength of Centeol (the Com Goddess), and of our ancestors we are reevaluating indigenous philosophy. We undersland and share feeling$ with other communities of the world which are struggling for popular freedom and women's liberation. Sadly, life for women in Oaxaca and Mexico is hard, bitter and tragic, but this does not mean that we indigenous peoples have lost the struggle. In fact, in the last 500 years, we have lost many battles, however we are privileged in that the roots of our community traditions go very deep and are sprouting. It is this spiritual strength which helps men and women to search for our true Iibera· lion. We are concerned that certain Indian leaders, involved with organizations at the international level are not adequately representing our communities. We indig· enous women must avoid supporting representatives which are based on personal interest We propose overhaul· ing these international organizations so that they be of use to our indigenous communities. To conclude, we indigenous women have a long and difficult road to follow, it is a rough path because we are immersed in alien economic and political structures. For the respect to self-determination of indigenous peoples, For the dignity of indigenous women, For the SQ/idarity of indigenous women all over the world. Juana Vasquez Vasquez of the Union of Yololteco Women,Ooxoco, Mexico . Indigenous Women of El Salvador Demand Respect for Human Rights and the Mother Earth (EI Salvador) The following u.zs presented by Rosa Leticia Caceres, the representative fr()tll the National Association of Indigenous People of El Salvador (ANIS) to the First South and Central American Indian Women's Gathering in Peru. We, the indigenous peoples, are suffering most from the lack of justice in our land. Not only is there a failure in the administration of justice, but we are a.lso threatened with guns and with beatings. We believe human rights abuses signify the gnawing away of our rights as established in the Constitution, since these rights are violated day after day, not only by the anny and the government but also by others who limit our ability to defend our most sacred individual rights. We continue to demand that the govemrnent and the FMlN observe the rights of each and every one of us and respect the rights of indigenous peoples as human beings. We, the Nahuat, Lenca and Mayan indigenous peoples, demand respect from the anny, the goverrunent and all other sectors of our society since we are the ones who nurture and cultivate the earth; we work the land with our own hands, and as women, we are the ones who carry our products to the markets to be sold. The social problems we confront today began for Indian people in 1492, with the Spanish invasion. They came to divide us, to rob us of our culture and our beliefs; they created borders when they had no right to do so because the land belongs to us, the Indians, now and forever. They divided us and imposed their own habits and life-styles. ' It is the indigendus people who carry the burden of the economic crisis that our counll)' is experiencing. We know that all aid has been spent on bullets and ammunition and that a large part of the national budget is invested in the anned forces instead of being directed towards helping the poorest of the poor· namely, the indigenous people of the country. We are also concerned by the increase in the price of basic grains and other general goods as a result of the devaluation of our currency. We are struggling for the respect, conservation and protection of natural resources. 'This arises from an attitude of respect for nature such as that which we, the indigenous peoples, hold. Instead of destroying nature, we respect it. The year 1492 for us marks the beginning of our persecution as Indians, the beginning of the invasion of our culture and of our Mother Earth. In response, we say: an end to the repression against the indigenous people of I;l Salvador! 500 years of death represent 500 years of resistance, and today we, the indigenous peoples, are here with greater presence and strength. Vol6 Nos 1&2 41 � 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. 6, nos. 1&amp;2 (spring/summer 1991) 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 Indigenous Women of El Salvador Demand Respect for Human Rights and Mother Earth 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 Summer 1991 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Indigenous Women of El Salvador Demand Respect for Human Rights and Mother Earth Item Type Journal Article Volume 6 Issue 1,2 Pages 41 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) ISSN 1071-3182 Date Summer 1991 Language English Abstract Note excerpt from a letter written adressing problems faced by the indigenous peoples Attachment Title abyayala_v06n01_02_p041.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] El Salvador Women https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/b33cb443f3ac93038e1fd6677180caa7.pdf 89f8399673fa61d7a56ed683bdfd2aa6 PDF Text Text OtHIA~IZATIO~ AlPIN om October 13-24, members of AJPIN(Inlemational Association of Indigenous Press) mel 10 p~~blicly announce recognition of lbcir o!lical staiUS by lbe International PressAssociation. AlPIN is comprised oflndigeooos people and organizations lbal work wilb various ltlOOiums of mass communication, press, radio and television. ll's objective is 10 make 1he Indigenousvoiceanactiveonewithin mainstream society. F . I:'\ & COMMUNICATION RADIO WAVES FOR WOMEN recenl conference organized by lbe "MujeresAymarasyComunicaci6n" program of lbe Center for Education and CommunicatiOn in Puno, Peru, brougbl together Indigenous Women who make community-Jcvel radio programs in PeruandlloIivia The programs, made for and by women, deal with problems faeed by women everywhere, such as domestic violence, discrimination, and marginalization. Their object islo unite women around their mutual concerns A and 10 provide an avenue lbrougb whieb women can mobilize for social ebangc. The conference provided the women an opporiUnity 10 share lbcir experiences and 10 create a network of support As Rosa Palomino, wbo producesaradioprogramin Perunoledaltbe end of lbe eonference: "The radio programs provide a system of mui\Jal supporl, a fonn of devclopmenl- Ifwedon'lincludelbcwomen, we will nol develop..." • • • • • • • • • • • D E F E :"\SE OF hDIC)E:"\Ol 'S i\1tGH.\:"\T \VOHKEHS nited Fann Workers (UFW) And Representatives of lhe Binational Mixlee-Zapolec Front (FM-ZB) have signed a joint agreement 10 Spill organizing and advance lbe defense of human and labor rights of Indigenous migrant workers in lbe U.S. Thousands of Mixlee and Zapelee Indigenous peoples comprise lbe latest immigrant group of workers toiling in lbe agrieuiiUral fields and the service industry of California. Mixlee-Zapotec Bi-national Front is lhe largest and most impertanl Oaxacan organization in California The new immigrants are Indigenous workers from the U Mexican Slate of Oaxaca wbo, through a joint effort of lbe UFW and FM-ZB, will be encouraged 10 join lbe United Fann workers Union while still maintaining lbe autonomy of lbeirown organization, under an agreement thai was signed on September 24, 1993. UFW President Arlllro Rodriguez and FM·ZB General Coordina· lOr Arlllro Pimentel Salas signed the agreement in Los Angeles, CalifomiaonSeptember 24, 1993.1beagreement is expected 10 boost a new union organization campaign begun by Cesar Olavez shortly before his death last April 22. WINGS FOR THE YouNG LAS, Solidarity Alliance of Latinarnericans, is a projecl driven by Carnita Piedra Castaneda Foundation of Ecuador, thai seeks 10 promote links in the union among lbc young Indigenous peoples of Abya Yala 10 initiate solidarity and an international support network. This projec1 covers lllree specific areas: I) The creation of a network of communication on a national and international level allowing young people access to infonnation in order promole exchange between different community organizations. 2) To prolllOie national and international gatherings with Indigenous youth. wilboul walls", community v.'Orkshops, and the "university of lbe Streets", utilizing lbe methodology of "learning/doing, the commu· nity leaches the eommunity". The objectives of ALAS are to achieve unity and leadership of young people on ~half of communication and education so young people can become fundamenlallo lbc development of their communities. ALAS will hold lbe Continenla!Eneouoler in Riobarnaba, Ecuador nexl year, People interested can contact Mauricio~ Coordinator/Secretary City of the Yoong-Penipe Box826 Riobamba, Ealador Tel: 474-124 FAX: 593-2-962263 3)1becreationof pep<~lareduealionprograms whalwillbea"sebools VOl. 7 NO. 3&4 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. 7, nos. 3-4 (Fall/Winter 1993) 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 Radio Waves for Women 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 Fall and Winter 1993 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Radio Waves for Women Item Type Journal Article Volume 7 Issue 3,4 Pages 37 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) ISSN 1071-3182 Date Fall and Winter 1993 Language English Abstract Note "Mujeres Aymaras y Comunicacion" organized a meeting of women in Peru and Bolivia who produce radio programs for women about issues that women and especially indigenous women face. Attachment Title Radio_Waves_For_Women.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Bolivia Center for Education and Communications Indigenous Peoples Peru Radio Programs Women https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/282e159d86ceb8f1dd79660fc040d15d.pdf 0b77001130d6821917bb96eeb6243aaf PDF Text Text W 0 M E N "We Must Combine Our Efforts" In recosnition of the similarity of the struggles Indigenous women face around the world, we recently had the privilege of talking with Victoria Tauli-COtPUz, a Kankilnaey lgorot from the Cordillera region of the Philippines. She is the past chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples' Alliance, a coalition of Indigenous peoples in the Cordillera, Northem Philippines. She is Executive Director of the Cordillera Women's Education and Resource Center, Inc., an NGO doing education, organizins, and projects amons Indigenous women in the region. f~~ .w~ Victoria Tauli-Corpuz Tell us about the founding of the Cordillera Women's Education and ResoUl·ce Center. ndigenous peoples in our region of the Philippines began to organize in the mid 1970s when the World Bank funded construction of four large dams along our Big Chico River. This project would have relocated 300,000 Bontoc and Kalinga peoples, but these people successfully fought against it. After this struggle, organizations were started on the local and provincial levels. The Cordillera Peoples' Alliance, which is the regional federation of these organizations, was organized in 1984. Although women were very much a part of this struggle, they didn't have their own organizations. So in 1985, we thought it was time to organize I our own women's center to train women to become leaders in their own dght. We created The Cordillera Women's Education and Resow-ce Center was and took the lead in establishing organizations in the region. What is the primary purpose of the Cor diller a Women's Education and Resource Center? First, we wanted our women to take a more active role in the stmggle for the defense of our ancestral lands and for self detennination. So we attempt to bring in more women and educate them on these issues. At the same time, we are aware that women are marginalized. In our traditional communities, Indigenous decision-making structures are ve•y male dominated. We felt this was not good for women, and therefore efforts should be made to improve this situation. Women must be equipped to patticipate more effectively in the community decision-making process. And thirdly, in many of our communities agriculture, which is the main economic activity, relies heavily on women. But when it comes to cash crop production, or when corporations hire, women are marginalized. When, for instance, the mines hire workers, they hire Vol. 9 No. 1 only men, and the women become housewives. As housewives, women are not patt of the conununity's economic activity as they are when they are subsistence farmers. We are studying how these modem developments have futther marginalized women. Tell us mor e about the t raditional role of women in your community. Well, as I said, the women are the subsistence farmers. They are the ones who fetch water, keep the seeds, and take care of the children. Childrearing is sometimes shared since women go to the fields, then the men stay in the village and take care of the babies. Where do you believe machismo, or m ale domination, cam e from in your society? For us, as the ml\iority population, machismo was introduced by colonization. Before colonization, although they were not part of the formal decisionmaking process, women were consulted about their opinions. When the colonizers came, they declared that women should stay home and take care of the children. That was not our traditional belief; housework was shared. The male-dominated beliefs of our colonizers seeped through our communities. For instance, we had a courtship system in which women could also do courting, and mrutial sepru·ations were pennitted with appropriate grounds. When the colonizers came with their religious beliefs, they told us this could not be, that it was immoral and that we could not separate from ow· husbands. Ow· colonizers brought and reinforced male domination in our traditional societies. Do Indigen ous communities in the P hilippines have r ecognized territories? ' We occupy ow· land, but the law states that ow· land is public land. We have a law in the Philippines which 29 �W 0 ME N ----- ------ --- ----- says all lands that are 18% slopes or above are considered public lands, and therefore cannot be owned or sold. Almost all ow· lands are 18% slopes or above. Because of that law virtually all the people in our com, munity are considered squatters on our own lands. So we are working to have that law repealed. In 1986, when there was a constitutional conm>ission, we lobbied to put a clause in the constitution recognizing ancestral land rights of Indigenous peoples. That law was incorporated into the constitution, but until a bill enabling and defining the law is passed, we legally do not have an ancestral land law in ow· country. What othe•- crucial issues are facing your community? asking that they be allowed to participate in their medical missions to the Aetas in Pinatubo. Their intent was to collect DNA materials from the Aetas by collecting blood, mucosal scrapings, and hair roots. This sounds very much like the Hwnan Genome Divet'Sity Project. I 6nd this grossly unethical and immoral, because what they plan to do is to participate in a humanitarian mjssion to the Aetas who were displaced when the Pinatubo volcano in the Philippines empted. So, in effect, they arc using a medical mission to obtain genetic resow-ces. We did work with t he Foundation on Economic Trends (FET) in Washington DC. who filed a petition on behalf of itself and other organizations, including our own, for a moratorium on the Human Genome Diversity Project which at the time was promoted by the National Institute of Health in the US. So the FET filed a suit against them, but the whole project was transferred to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Suing the NSF will be more difficult because they are a semi-private, semi-governmental organization. These are the steps we have taken to pre-empt the attempts of the pt·oject to gather genetic material. There are still ongoing logging operations. The logging companies attempt to drive people away from their land. However, mining is one of the biggest issues that we face because our region is ve•-y rich in minerals. Seventy-five percent of gold exports come from ow· region. The government is relaxing the laws to allow corporations to invest and open mines. These corporations receive 75-year leases. They operate strip mines and open pit mines. We have been •-esisting fw-the•expansion of these mines. Do Indigenous peoples in the Philippines deal with issues sinrilar to those of other Indigenous The Philippine government ratified GATT last peoples ar ound t he world? December. How will this affect Indigenous peoWe really have many issues in common, like ancesples? tral land rights, traditional ceremonies, autonomy, alld It , viJl have a tremendous affect on Indigenous peo- self govertrment. Because of that communality, we ples, especially in terms of their rights to their lands. It were able to combine efforts to cont,;bute to the draft will make it vety easy for the government to say that the UN working group on Indigenous peoples develsince they are a signato•y to GATT, we must open ow- oped. We should not underestimate what our lobby land for investments.They also have been encow-aging conbibuted to that draft.. us to produce cash crops like cut flowers and asparagus. With the production of cash crops, ow- agriculture Do you have any messages fot· women in Mexico, shifts from subsistence production for domestic con- South and Central America? sumption to producing high-value crops. This ,viJl force We were pru-t of the group that organized the our agricultural production to become pat-t of the International Women's C01uerence held in Samiland (in Norway) in 1990. As a result of that conference, we entire world's market economy. developed a resolution saying we would do regional How ·is the Human Genome Diversity P r oject organizing among our women. Latin American women affecting Indigenous communities in the did their own organizing, which I think is great. On owpart, we built up ow- Asian Indigenous women's netPhilippines? Some Indigenous peoples have been targeted for work. Now we must combine our effo•-ts and come genetic collection, and some collection has probably together again so we can produce an excellent already occurred. On the list of the Human Genome Indigenous Women's Agenda to be presented at the UN Project we have the Ifugawes, who come from ow· World Conference on Women in Beijing in September. region; my own tribe; and the Aetas, a group of We should make an effot-t to outline the issues of Indigenous peoples from the Central Luzon, Southern Indigenous women, whether they are in the North or Tagalog, and from the Visayas. Late last year we got a the South, and then present these issues. We can also copy of a letter from Dr. Camara, one of the medical sponsor a series of activities in Beijing where doctot'S from the Aloha Medical Mission of Hawaii, Indigenous women can speak out. 'f?J wherein he enclosed a letter from Hoffman-La Roche, 30 Abya Yala 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. 9, no. 1 (Spring 1995) 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 "We Must Combine Our Efforts" 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, 1995 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title "We Must Combine Our Efforts" Item Type Journal Article Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 29 - 30 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring, 1995 Language English Abstract Note Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, a Kankanaey Igorot from the Cordillera region of the Philippines, was the past chairperson of the Cordillera People's Alliance and is now the Executive Director of the Cordillera Women's Education and Resource Center, Inc. She speaks about the need to protect the Philippine indigenous peoples from the Human Genome Project, commercial agriculture, and violations of women's rights. Attachment Title We_Must_Combine_Our_Efforts.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Human Genome Project machismo Phillipines Territory Women https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/806de5081fc7de7036958cd8f24b758c.pdf 2b8209c1f862bf99a7fa1b06b6a636b4 PDF Text Text W 0 M E N A Cultural Exchange : Q uichua Potters From Ecuador Visit by Suzana Sawyer acha Gualinga Cuji and Leona Inmunda Nango, indigenous cosmology and l'8inforest sustainability. two Indigenous Quichua female elders from the The clay, ocher, and resin materials used in their work, tropical forest region of eastern Ecuador, building and decorating Indigenous ceramics reflect recounted the story of how Nunguli, the forest spirit the need to carefully extract and sustain resources in which lives below the earth, entrusted women with an uncontaminated envi1·onment. The cosmological clay to sculpt into pottery. Theil· Spanish bore the dis- itnagery used in decoratit1g the ceramics retell the tinctive lilt of those whose first language is Quichua. numerous stories of forest spirits, or powers, essential With hands knotted from working the earth neru·ly to protect and maintain harmony among aU forest daily for fifty years, Miquia Bacha and Miquia Leona beings, animate and inanitnate. Nw1guli, the spirit of molded nwcahuas (drinking bowls) and told the tales fecundity, protects all cultivated plants. Amazanga, from their mothers and grandmothers. They spoke the spirit of strength, protects aU forest animals. with pride of their culture, the J•••NOPIP Tsumi, the spirit of fluidity, conthreat of petroleum contamination trois the worlds of waters and its and the recent border wru· with lives. And there are many more. Peru. Cosmological beliefs around The Bay Area was Bacha these spirits-their temperament..~. inclinations, and prac· Gualinga and Leona lnmunda's sec· ond stop on a fow· city Quichua tices- guide sustait1able prac· Potte•>s Cultural Exchange tour tices used in agriculture, huntorganized by OPIP (Organization of ing, fishing, and forest and river Indigenous Peoples of Pastaza) and management. Miquia Bacha and Miquia Fundaci6n Jatari, a small foundaLeona's ancestral territory contion established in 1978. Since its inception, Fundaci6n Jatari has sists of a 2 million hectares of been dedicated to enhancing t he uninterrupted prima•y rain for· educational opportunities of est in the central Ecuadorian Amazon Province of Pastaza. Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Ecuado•~ Per u, and This is the last such exp8llse in Bolivia. The 1995 Cultural Ecuador and the only place where women maintain the Exchange Tour is the second consecutive year in which Quichua women age-old tradition of Quichua pothave come to shru-e theit· cultw·al tery. OPIP is the Indian federa· knowledge and build interchange tion and organizational structw-e with the Notth. Their visits to UUICn<Jll worren·s pottery represents the which bas been fighting to pro· Minneapolis, Albuquerque, and intimate connection between lndi~enous teet this ancestral territo•y ru1d Santa Fe have allowed them to forge cosmology and rain fe<est sustainabllity. maintain sustainable Indigenous networks and friendships with management techniques for 16 Native Americans in the US. years. Founded in 1979, OPIP 1-ep•-esents 20,000 Chosen by their rainfo•-est communities, Bacha Indigenous peoples, dispersed in 133 communities. Gualinga and Leona lnmunda came to the United While gains have been made, the future of this terri to· States as spokeswomen in defense of their rut form ry and its people is uncertait1. and ancestral territory. Quichua pottery is a millenni· In 1992, 2,000 Indigenous peoples from Pastaza al practice exclusive to Indian women. Through its del- embarked on a historic march from their rain forest icate hand-coil form and intricate designs, Quichua communities to Quito to demand legal title to their pottery rep•-esents the intimate connection between ancestral teJTitory (see Abya Yala News Vol. 6, No. 3). Miquia Bacha was a key player in this struggle. The Suzana Sawyer is a Ph.D. Candidate in only woman to add1-ess the P•-esident an'd his cabinet, Anthropology at Stanford University and has worked Bacha Gualinga condemned the government for failing extensively with OPIP in the Ecuadorian Anwzon. to legalize "the territo1y in which theit· ancestors have B Vol. 9No. 1 31 �W 0 MEN always lived." \"'hile Indians in Pastaza returned to the lowlands after 5 weeks of negotiation with their territory adjudicated, titles included only surface rights to land and its products. SubteJTanean righ ts remain solely in the hands of the state to exploit. For twenty years, petroleum development has indelibly changed the social and ecological reality of the northern portion of the Ecuadorian Amazon through the construction of a network of roads and towns and the contamination of water and soil systems_ If petroletun development is not controlled, this is the fate looming on the horizons of Indigenous territory in Pastaza. ARCO, the only oil corporation working in Pastaza, has discovered a sizeable reserve in Indigenous ter.-itory and hydrocarbon extraction is inuninent, if the local communities and international pressure groups a re not mobilized. The struggle for land and Indigenous rights in Pastaza is not simply the concern of a politicized Indigenous elite. Miquia Abigail and Miquia Leona came to tbe Bay Area in representation of their communities and OPIP to speak in their own voices about their peoples' historical struggle in defense of their culture, beliefs, language, and way of life in the Ecuado.-ian rain forest. Standing before the San Francisco audience, Bacha Gualinga spoke on the wisdom of the ages: "I don't know how to read or write. Not even sign my name. Yet, I have here, captw-ed within my head, years and years of history. I am here as a seed, as a root, as a tree. Look at me and learn." Tracing the intimate lin.k between Indigenous peoples and a landscape, she added, "'f Indians disappear, if our way of life is destroyed, what will happen to the world? Then there will not be forest. The jungle \vill not be green." In 1989, OPIP established a Women's Committee directed by and for Indigenous Quichua women to strengthen disappearing traditions and address women's needs. Female potters in the province of Pastaza cunently sell their ar tware to OPIP's Cooperative store, Yanapuma (Black Panther), in t he provincial capital of Puyo. Now, OPIP's Women's Committee 'vishes to explot·e possibilities for expanding the marketing oflndigenous ceramjcs. The US tour aims to provide Amazonian Quichua potters dii-ect access to international alternative trade markets in the United States. The Women's Committee seeks to develop alternative trade networks as empowering opportunities to re-enforce the cultural tradition of the more than 3,000 women potters in the t'egion and extend needed economic support. An example of grassroots organizing initiated and controlled by Indian women, the mru·keting of the Quichua ceramic tradition re-affirms the dignity their cultural identity by honoring indigenous female art and strengthening female voices. Organized during International Women's Month, the Quichua Potte•'s Exchange deepens a commitment fot· dialogue between women across the globe and expands international networks of mutual suppott and cooperation. '0' For more information, contact: Fwui<tci6n Jatari, P 0. Box 65195, Tucs011, AZ, 85728, Tell Fax: (520) 5773642; or the Organizati01t of Indigenous Peoples of Pa.staza (OPIP), Casilla 790, Puyo, Pastaza, Tell Fa.<: (593-3) 885-461. Indigenous People form an Alliance to counter the Vampire Project On February 18-19, 1995, a group of30 Indigenous delegates from the United States, Canada, Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru met in Phoenix, A.-izona, to discuss an Indigenous response to the Human Genome Project. During the three days of discussion, the delegates decided to form an International Alliance to counter the Huntan Genome Biodiversity Project. Many Indigenous peoples call this "The Vampire Project" because its goal is to collect blood, t issues, and hair from about 700 Indigenous groups around the wodd. The Human Genome Project is a proposal to collect and study the genetic structw-es of va.-ious ethnic groups. They have targeted populations "on the verge of extinction:• a nd refer to Indigenous groups as "Isolates of Historical Interest." SAIIC and many other Indigenous organizations have taken a stand against this project because it is yet another example of t-esearch which Notth American and European scientists carry out on Indigenous peoples without their consent and without all of the t-elevant information being provided to them. This is a continuation of colonialism ofindigenous peoples which began 500 years ago. The delegates at the Phoenix confet-ence decided to make a plan of action to stop t.he Human Genome Project and its attempt against the biological, spiritual, physical, and psychological lives of Indigenous peoples. They formed a coordinating committee comprised of Indigenous people from North, Central, and South America. They are planning another meeting for next fall in northern California in order to continue tbis campaign. The En'owkin Centre and Okanagan Indians in British Columbia organized this conference which TonatietTa in Phoeni.x hosted. Debra Hany, a Paiute Indian from Nevada, is coordinator of this project. For mot-e informati<>n, contact: Debra, at PO Box 6, N~'Wn, Neuada 89424, Tel: (702) 574-0309, e-mail <Utarry@igc.apc.org; or the Ett'owkin Centre, 257 Brwu;wick St., Penticton, BC V2R 5P9, Canada, Tel: (604) 4937181 Fa.<: (604) 493-5302. ,.,.-- - - - - - - - - ------32 Abya Yala 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. 9, no. 1 (Spring 1995) 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 A Cultural Exchange: Quichua Potters From Ecuador Visit Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Suzana Sawyer Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring, 1995 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title A Cultural Exchange: Quichua Potters From Ecuador Visit Item Type Journal Article Author Suzana Sawyer Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 31 - 32 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring, 1995 Language English Abstract Note Quichua female elders visit several cities in the United States with the help of the Quichua Potter's Cultural Exchange tour organized by OPIP (Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Pastaza). This is part of an effort to expand alternate trade networks to create more opportunities to reinforce the cultural traditions of the Quichua. Attachment Title A_Cultural_Exchange_Quichua_Potters_From_Ecuador_Visit.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Pastaza pottery Quichua Territory Women