Wednesday, October 12 marked the Dia de La Raza, or Colombus Day in Guatemala. Each year, Mayas, Garifunas, and Xincas, march through the capital city in remembrance of their ancestors and to demand of the government that the rights of Indigenous Peoples be respected.
Each year the recognition of Columbus Day places Indigenous Peoples in a painfully uncomfortable position. In the year 2011, as Native people in this country, we still must explain our feelings about a historically inaccurate, national holiday.
The Organization of American States (OAS) has several mechanisms for participation by Indigenous Peoples.
Community radio stations took to the airwaves on Sunday, September 11, 2011 to cover voting day for the next president elect of Guatemala, marking the close of more than six months of ubiquitous campaigning by 27 registered political parties.
American Indian and Canadian Native leaders were among the 1,009 people arrested on September 2, 2011 in front of the White House while protesting the construction of a controversial 1,700 mile Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast. The protesters were warning about the environmental and health risks and were asking President Obama not to issue a permit for the construction of the pipeline.
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples released his annual report on his communications with governments concerning 25 cases of specific violations of human rights of Indigenous Peoples in 15 countries. For some cases the Special Rapporteur has provided detailed observations with specific recommendations or descriptions of other follow up measures he has taken.
The 25 cases include:
• Chile: Situación de los presos mapuche en una huelga de hambre y la aplicación de la ley antiterrorista en su contra
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, submitted his annual report to the Human Rights Council about the impacts of extractive industries operating on or near Indigenous People's lands.
On August 19, the Maya Q'eqchi community of Agua Caliente, El Estor, Izabal, filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights against Guatemala for violating their rights to property, self-government, due process of law, and judicial protection.
The Peruvian Congress has unanimously adopted a historic bill recognizing Indigenous Peoples' rights to prior consultation. The law, which was passed August 23, is based on the International Labour Organization Convention 169 and requires companies to consult with Indigenous communities before undertaking any type of development project such as building mines or drilling for oil. The law is a radical change from the laissez-faire policies of the previous administration, which led to protests and police violence.
To mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9th, representatives of 50 community radio stations from all over Guatemala came to the Centro Historico in Guatemala City to participate in a two-day conference on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to freedom of expression through radio. The goal of the conference was to bring pressure on congress to legalize community radio in Guatemala by approving the Bill 4087, the Law for Community Media.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are headquartered on Massachusett land, in Cambridge, MA, and we thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory.
