Cultural Survival's Global Response Program was invited to attend a conference held by campaign partners MASTA (Moskitia Asia Takanka) in Ahuas, Gracias a Dios, Honduras. MASTA is a local governance body of the Miskitu Indigenous people, who live in the tropical lowlands in eastern Honduras. They have united with three other Indigenous groups in the region to protest the construction of the Patuca III hydroelectric dam.
Discussions centered around the theme "Indigenous Governance and Territorial Autonomy", including autodemarcation of traditional lands, models and histories of Indigenous autonomy in Latin America, the effects of climate change on local Indigenous populations, and strategies for the defense of Indigenous rights within the Honduran congress. Global Response Program Officer Danielle DeLuca was invited to present on Cultural Survival's international letter-writing campaign in solidarity with the communities' efforts to stop Patuca III. Norvin Goff, president of MASTA, explained, "The defense of our territory is our first concern. Because we don't have the full legal titles to our land, the government is able to give concessions to foreign companies, without any kind of consultation with us. The government is obsessed with bringing external investment into the country."
A consensus of participants determined the next steps in the protection of the Patuca River, including a mass mobilization to the capital of Honduras on August 17th and to continue legal action in the Supreme Court of Justice to hold the state responsible for respecting rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Moskitia. The conference was well attended, with more 500 participants, including community members, respected elders, territorial committees, community organizations, government officials, journalists, and invited international guests from six countries.
- See more photos and information on Danielle's travels in La Moskitia on her blog, here: http://danielle-daniela.blogspot.com/
- Read the attached conference report published by MASTA (Spanish only)
- Listen to interviews with local activists (Spanish only): https://soundcloud.com/culturalsurvival
