[R-G] A Meeting of Indigenous Peoples in Caracas

[Anthony Fenton]

September 25, 2007
North American Indian Delegations Unite with the South in Venezuela
A Meeting of Indigenous Peoples in Caracas
http://counterpunch.org/norrell09252007.html

By BRENDA NORRELL

CARACAS, Venezuela

Adelegation of Indigenous Peoples from the United States and Canada  
met with leaders in Venezuela to unite in the global struggle for  
Indigenous rights.

Robert Free Galvan, Native activist from Seattle, was among those in  
the delegations, which witnessed Venezuela's National Assembly  
officially recognizing Indigenous languages.

During their journey in Venezuela, North American Indian delegations  
urged their Venezuelan and Bolivian allies to vote "Yes" to the  
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The  
Indian delegation included members of the International Indian Treaty  
Council and American Indian Movement and tribal member of the Tohono  
O'odham Nation.

A delegation of Mohawks was also in Venezuela to unite for the  
struggle against colonial oppression. Galvan earlier spearheaded the  
delivery of low cost oil from Venezuela's CITGO to Indian communities  
in North America.

After returning to Seattle, Galvan said, "Indians met with the  
Venezuelan people, government and communities to build awareness,  
solidarity and strong bonds to help each other with their struggles.

"We have met some of the most powerful people in this country and all  
happen to be Indigenous women! They have taken us under their wing  
and taken great care of us. We are honored," Galvan said.

While in Venezuela, the Indian delegations attended the First  
International Meeting of Anti-Imperialist Indigenous Peoples of  
America, held in Venezuela on August 7-9, in conjunction with the  
celebrations of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples.

Indians from the North and South met in the First International  
Meeting of Anti-Imperialist Indigenous Peoples of America that took  
place in Anzoátegui and Bolívar states. The Minister of Peoples Power  
for Indigenous Peoples Nicia Maldonado said Indigenous Peoples from  
22 nations attended the Congress. The closing ceremony was held in  
the Indigenous Community of Pemón Kumarakapay, in Bolívar state.

Galvan, with Tribal Connections which does consulting for bridge  
building between north and south Indigenous communities, said he was  
invited to participate in the gathering with Indigenous Peoples from  
the South Continent at the last minute. Galvan told me:

     "I met up with others who had been invited, Robert Cruz, Tohono  
O'odham from Arizona and member of the International Indian Treaty  
Council and Vernon Belcourt of the American Indian Movement. Our  
plane was delayed several hours in Atlanta and in the mix-up, we  
arrived very late in Caracas.

     "We missed going to the southern Indigenous states in Venezuela,  
but were rescued by my friend Doctor Noly Fernandez, Minister of  
Indigenous Health for all of Venezuela.

     "She immediately made accommodations for us and got us to be  
part of another event going on, the meeting of the Indigenous  
Parliament of South America, where we met with Indian legislative  
representatives from Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala and other  
countries.

     "Then, on Thursday, we were taken to participate and witness the  
passing of new Indigenous laws in Venezuela respecting language and  
culture, for Indigenous day activities across South America. We were  
seated next to the podium before the Venezuelan National  
Congressional Assembly, as Noeli Pocaterra, lobbied for the law.

     "We were the first to enter the Parliament ever, as non- 
Venezuelan legislators," Galvan said, following the enactment of a  
new law which made this possible.

     "We were next to other invited Indigenous representatives from  
the Indigenous Parliament of the Americas. All the proceedings were  
broadcast nationally across the country!

     "The Law is the 'Law of Indigenous Languages' which states that  
Indigenous languages are official languages of Venezuela, alongside  
Spanish. Therefore, they should be taught, promoted and preserved by  
the State as part of our Indigenous heritage.

     "The Law was approved in its first discussion unanimously. We  
later attended a lunch and met with President of the Indigenous  
Parliament of the Americas Isabel Ortega Ventura of Bolivia.

     "We discussed with the Indigenous Congress representatives that  
the Indigenous issues of the North Continent could be included in  
future meetings of the Congress. The president of the parliament  
agreed to the idea and also invited us to come to Bolivia where she  
would host us once we got there.

     "The next day we spent several hours with long time Indigenous  
activist Noeli Pocaterra of the Wayuu Tribe. The very prominent  
member of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Congresswoman Pocaterra,  
serves as second vice president.

     "Venezuela Indigenous Congresswoman Maria Andarcia of the Kariña  
Tribe, who we met, hosted us most warmly and introduced us to fellow  
legislators. Jose Guido de Freitas of the National Assembly and  
others, asked about conditions for Indigenous Peoples in the North  
Continent and history of self-determination efforts.

     "The one reason of priority for this trip to Venezuela was to  
inquire and lobby for Venezuela to vote 'Yes' for the adoption of the  
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

     "Venezuela abstained in the previous vote. After reiterating the  
history of the International Indian Treaty Council efforts for  
several decades at the United Nations and the global awaking and self- 
determination efforts against globalization and theft of Indigenous  
lands, resources of Indigenous Peoples, the legislators agreed it was  
imperative that Venezuela support and lobby other nations to pass the  
declaration.

     "The Congressional representatives then asked for a report on  
the oil program to low income families, regarding how it was being  
implemented. I shared that hundreds of inquiries from tribal  
activists, traditional leaders, elected leaders and Indigenous  
organizations across the country continue to come in, as they seek  
participation in the oil program.".

The Chavez government was asked in August 2005, for low cost oil for  
Indigenous communities. "Implementing the program has resulted in  
Tribes becoming aware of their status as emerging nations and the  
need to act as nations with other nations," Galvan said.

"Venezuela acknowledges the role of Indigenous nations in the world,"  
Galvan said, reiterating the words of Venezuelan leaders.

"I shared problems as I saw them. Ms. Pocaterra was very interested  
in the details. A power point presentation of 35 years of Indigenous  
struggles in the North Continent was shown to representatives. Ms.  
Pocaterra suggested showing it on their national television.

"Later that night, there was a huge banquet for all the Indigenous  
representatives. Ms. Pocatera spoke of the Indigenous struggles, in  
the north to the president of the Indigenous Parliament.

"Then it was requested to have it shown to everyone at the gathering.  
Representatives were there from Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico,  
Guatemala and Colombia. Fifteen other Indians from the north also  
were invited, including Mohawk Kahentinetha Horn and others hosted by  
the new ministry of Indigenous Affairs.

"We missed the flight to the south Bolivian province on Indigenous  
Day. Luckily, we were picked up by friends in the Ministry of  
Indigenous Health, which we met during the world social forum in  
Caracas in January 2006."

The U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted  
by the U.N. General Assembly on September 13, 2007, with "Yes" votes  
from Venezuela and Bolivia.

Brenda Norrell is human rights editor for U.N. OBSERVER &  
International Report. She also runs the Censored website. She can be  
reached at: brendanorrell at gmail.com