Cultural Survival condemns the use of excessive force and violence in the aftermath of the forced resignation of Bolivian President Evo Morales (Aymara), the country’s first Indigenous president, after 10 days of public protest.
Morales fled to Mexico after allegations of election fraud from the Organization of American States. Subsequent protests have so far left 23 people dead, more than 100 injured and multiple incarcerated in different parts of the country.
On November 1, 2019, Chile cancelled its hosting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP 25) meeting due to unrest in the country, which also highlighted the marginalization of Indigenous Peoples. Spain will now host the meeting during the same time frame, on December 2 -13, 2019, in Madrid, under the presidency of the Chilean government. The move impacts Indigenous Peoples and delegates coming from the global south who are facing obstacles in obtaining visas, in event planning and implementation in this short period of time.
Interviews by Miriam Anne Frank, article by Miriam Anne Frank and Alexandra Carraher-King
OVERVIEW:
By Alexandra Carraher-Kang
Cultural Survival denounces the recent a Moscow court decision made on November 6, 2019, to close the Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North (CSIPN), an independent organization of Indigenous Peoples, which has been defending the rights of Indigenous Peoples of Russia for almost 20 years by providing informational, educational, expert and legal support to Indigenous representatives at all levels. The decision is another case of rights violations and pressure by the Russian government on Indigenous Peoples.
On October 23-25, 2019, the Central America Donors Forum was held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, with over 300 attendees, 100+ panelists, and more than 30 sessions addressing migration, corruption, democracy, economic development, and social movements. It was a fully packed three day gathering where public and private sectors had the opportunity to bridge alliances. Cultural Survival’s Rosy González (Kakchiquel Maya), Indigenous Rights Radio Program Coordinator, and Nati Garcia (Maya Mam), Indigenous Youth Community Media Fellowship Coordinator, participated in the conference.
By John McPhaul
The Costa Rican Superintendency of Telecommunications (SUTEL by its Spanish acronym) issued instructions to award two projects in the amount of $47.9 million to bring telephone and internet services to 14 Indigenous territories in the Atlantic and South Zone of the country.
By Elder Dr. Dave Courchene (Nii Gaani Aki Inini – Leading Earth Man)
Ki Ta Ski Naw Conference, University of Winnipeg, Canada, November 9, 2019
It has been just over a month since I joined Cultural Survival. I just returned from an inspiring trip to Guatemala, meeting with our staff, our partners, and local Maya Indigenous leaders and wanted to share some reflections with you.
By Victor Maquin
Communication is a human right and is a fundamental element for the exchange of knowledge and information, in the pursuit of sustainable development of the people of Abya Yala. Knowledge makes us free and ignorance makes us slaves by denying our freedom of expression and the free exchange of thought, promulgated in international law. These ideas were promoted during the International Summit of Indigenous Communication, which was held on October 10-12 in Cusco, Peru, within the framework of the UN International Year of Indigenous Languages.
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.
