Plenary Session
Wednesday 23th July 2003

Today's morning session followed yesterday's session on item 4b of the agenda about the theme " Indigenous Peoples and Globalization ". Another 40 speakers had the floor today to make their statements. Again, the principle issues treated related to the general effects of globalization on Indigenous Population and the different initiative the concerned governments and especially the International Community should take to encounter these effects.

The major accusations against the phenomenon of globalization are its effect on the environment and indigenous cultures. The indigenous populations do not have enough possibilities to participate in the globalization process. In addition to that, they are asked to apply the programs of financial institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF, which are not well adapted to their needs.

Related to the environmental issue, speakers stated that sustained development and minimum environmental standards are the main conditions for the survival of Indigenous Populations as stated by Mr. Mohamed Handoine of the Association Amachires du Maroc. Mr. Handoine added that it is also a condition for the cultural survival of indigenous populations.

This cultural survival of indigenous populations has been a recurrent theme this morning. Major accusations have been made against the phenomenon of acculturation, i.e. the idea that globalization reduces the world to a global village ignoring ancestral values of peoples. Mrs. Bouba Hauri of the African Indigenous Women Organization Central Africa Network (AIWO-CAN) asked if we can still talk of globalization when the values and ideals of certain populations are ignored.

Another main concern, related to the precedent, is the absence of participation of indigenous populations in the globalization process (economically and politically). Mrs. Madeleine Ngo Louga of the Health and Environment Program indeed asked herself how Africa, representing only 1% of the global economy, could be an active participant in the global village and how, without proper education and information programs, they could be an equal partner in the globalization process.

"Globalization has two faces," claimed Mr. Richard Robinson of the Association of Norfolk Islanders. "[It has] a good one that increases wealth and creates new opportunities, especially for the already rich populations, and a bad one that ingores the fates of indigenous populations and minorities". In this bad side, Mrs. Emily Caruso of the Forest People Program sees the World Bank as a major responsible and especially denounces the dramatic effects of its extractive industries programmes on the Indigenous Populations.

The major solutions proposed and the demands set by the speakers were the need of more precise studies on the effect of globalization on indigenous peoples, better collaboration and consideration of the problem within the UN institutions and enhanced participation of the indigenous populations in decisions affectig their fate (either on the local or international level). As stated Mr Armand McKenzie of the Innu Association, "interactive dialogue is essential for the positive integration of indigenous populations in the process of globalization". Direct participation is indeed an essential means by which the indigenous population can make sure that their interests are taken into consideration and their cultures and values are respected, as demanded by Mr Khamady Ogas, representative of the Tuareg People.

Special emphasis was set on the importance of human capital and the need for better education programs for indigenous peoples, as did Mrs. Louga. Mr. Kari Boye Young of the Pitcairn Island Community also stressed the need for better information, and the need to teach peoples their rights.

As a conclusion of this morning session, one could keep in mind the words of Mr. Umberto Cholango of CONAI: "We Indigenous Peoples are like mountain plants, altough one tries to tear us out, we will keep growing".

By : Isabel Deconinck

BACK