Council on Hemispheric Affairs

Colombia’s indigenous have a modern history of unifying in order to defend their territory, traditions, and their status as a native people. Similar to other Latin American indigenous groups, Colombia’s population has faced centuries of discrimination and repression by the country’s rulers and, in the case of Colombia, from leftist-guerrilla groups as well. Since the 1970s, armed conflict has leapt into flames throughout the country, with numerous recorded cases of forced displacement and violent confrontations affecting the indigenous

Politically, Colombia’s local communities have failed to establish a distinctive position of autonomy in the face of increasing polarization taking place in what serves as the Colombian version of the two party system, involving the left and the right. Instead, indigenous peoples have been forced into political and economic agreements that have led to their displacement, induced confrontations, and limited their freedom of movement within territory allocated to them by the government. A series of challenges during the 1970s led indigenous groups to break apart from peasant organizations, just as the state was attempting to have them merge into one of Bogotá’s front organizations, such as the People’s Revolutionary Organization (ORP). The rejection of the ORP led to the indigenous’ renewed repression by the entire government. In 1978 the Regional Council of Cauca (CRIC), an indigenous organization formed in the seventies, discovered that thirty of their members had been murdered. Polarization within the government and amongst Colombian political organizations has sapped much of the indigenous people’s spunk, leadership, and the resources they would need to fully develop socially, economically and politically. Their communities have since faced demographic stress in the form of deteriorating health, insufficient vaccinations and other kinds of preventive health care, dispossession from their land, and forced migration as a result of militarization and guerrilla activity in regions traditionally populated by native peoples.

Indigenous Employment Project Achieves Results

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, today congratulated 34 graduates of an Indigenous training and employment program in Melbourne.

The program was delivered by the Replay Group and was funded under the Australian Government’s Structured Training and Employment Projects (STEP).

At a graduation ceremony today Mr O’Connor said 30 graduates had gone on to find employment with another undertaking further studies.

Graduates undertook training at a Certificate III level in Aged Care Work, Home and Community Care, Child Care or Welding as well as relevant work experience.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Melbourne, Mr O’Connor praised the efforts of both the students and project co-ordinators.

“The success of the program has been demonstrated by the majority of participants successfully transitioning into employment or further studies, which is an outstanding result,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Unfortunately the unemployment rate for Indigenous Australians is around three times higher than for non-Indigenous Australians.

“The Australian Government has committed to halving the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment within a decade and projects such as this one make an important contribution to that effort.

Colombia: Indigenous Protests and Murders Under Media Blackout

From Colombia, the indigenous groups in the Cauca department have made an international SOS to call attention on their plight. On their website, cric-colombia.org they explain how they have been protesting the human rights abuses they have been victim of, represented by the murder of one of their community leaders by hit men and the death threats on other regional and community leaders and spokespeople. They have requested a public audience with the Government Officials, and have been protesting since October 12, demanding the protection of their human rights and making the government live up to the promises of the signed treaties of the past. However, it is said that armed government forces, have shot live ammunition at the protesters, leaving 2 dead and more than 60 indigenous members injured. On this blog post on the indigenous community site they show pictures of the protest and the injuries some have sustained as well as the list of those injured up to October 14th. On October 15th, the armed forces opened fire once again on the protesters, killing one and leaving 39 injured. They have also blocked the roads and ambulances can’t get in to help those who are hurt and needing assistance. (Links in Spanish unless otherwise noted)

They write:

la fuerza publica entró disparando con armas de largo alcance y ya hay 3 heridos mas de gravedad. la fuerza militar entro ya al territorio de dialogo y negociación.

Se solicita de manera urgente que organismos internacionales frenen esta violencia. tambien a los pueblos inigenas que refuercen el personal que esta siendo atacado.

The armed forces came in shooting with long range weapons and there are already 3 other persons seriously injured. The military forces have barged into the territory of dialogue and negotiation.

We urgently request international organizations to stop this violence. Also for the indigenous communities to get more people to back those who have been attacked.

The indigenous community has been sending emails and posting on their website[es] updates on the situation.

Damning the Yin Ta Lai

Damning the Yin Ta Lai is a short, 13-minute video that provides a rare glimpse into the heart of Karenni State in eastern Burma, and the lives and environment of the Yin Ta Lai.

Living along the Salween river, the Yin Ta Lai are facing extinction from the Weigyi dam, one of five controversial dams that are planned for the Salween. Once completed, the dam’s reservoirs would submerge the entirety of the Yin Ta Lai’s homeland.

“The Yin Ta Lai will become extinct if this dam goes ahead. While Burma’s regime gains profits from selling electricity, we will bear the costs” says Aung Ngyeh, a spokesperson of the Karenni Research Development Group (KDRG), who produced the movie. “We urge all parties to suspend plans for the Salween dams.”

Thank you for helping this blog reach the 10,000 hit plus mark

I put in information about Sarah, so that I could know of this person’s background. We all need to be informed voters. I am nor picking on her, but attempting to let the US population have some background information. By just pointing out flaws that I see it gives us a chance to see her true qualities. The job she is running for is only a heart beat away, from what Paris Hilton calls the wrinkly, white hair guy, our possible next president. All of the voter and others need to know about her record, “Such exactly what does a Vice-President do” and other statements and decisions that she has made before be chosen as a Hillary-type opponent. Coverage on Sarah and her lipstick, will stop on election day. Was it Teddy Resovelt who said “Talk softly and carry a big lipstick” LOL?h

But thanks for helping this blog reach 10,000 viewers so quickly,

UC Berkeley ignores indigenous rights, destroys sacred site

This past weekend, the University of California pushed forward its plan to ‘develop’ Memorial Oak Grove, deemed a sacred burial site to the Ohlone Indigenous Peoples.

On Friday, September 5, University police went to the grove and started cutting down the trees, which have been protected by tree-sitting protesters for more than 600 days. Five people were arrested as they peacefully pleaded with arborists not to destroy the trees.

The University responded by saying another 46 trees would be cut down over the weekend, and that they would no longer honour their agreement to ensure the sitters had enough nutrition and water.

With the remaining four sitters having only a litre of water to share as they sit in 90 degree heat, they were effectively forced to come down on Tuesday. “The treesitters agreed to come down voluntarily, and University representatives agreed that they would make a public statement that the University will create new ways for the community to be involved in land use decisions going forward,” writes Morning Star Gali of the Pit River Tribe and co-chair of Advocates to Protect Sacred Sites.

First Nations Strategic Bulletin August 2008

After a bit of a break, the First Nations Strategic Policy Counsel has resumed its monthly publication, the First Nations Strategic Bulletin.

Issues in this month’s bulletin include: an analysis of “Canada’s War to terminate First Nations” (Harper’s apology in context), the OPP & Mohawks (w/ a transcript of the phone conversation between Shawn Brant & Julian Fantino — something you probably haven’t yet), “the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the 2010 Olympics,” and “Canada’s Tibetans: Barriere Lake & Other First Nations.”

You can download the bulletin by heading over to the Library and Archives Canada website. Back issues are available there as well.

Here’s a few excerpts from “Canada’s War to terminate First Nations,” by Russel Diabo:

My belief–which is based upon my policy experience and observations over the past three decades of First Nations-Canada relations–is that the federal government (with provincial and municipal support) is attempting to empty out (limit & restrict) the meaning (scope & content) of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in section 35 of Canada’s constitution until it is empty or “spent”.

Instead of being recognized and affirmed as a ‘distinct order of government’ in Canada, under the current federal policy approach First Nations will eventually become ‘ethnic municipalities’.

Indigenous Native American Prophecy (Elders Speak )

It is very important that we listen, really listen to these talks by our Indigenous Elders