United Nations - Working group on Indigenous Populations
Follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Xenophobia and related intolerance

At the start of the meeting, Mrs. Mirian Masaquiza from the Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Campesinas, Indígenas y Negras, began putting together today's reality and the future, bringing up the example of the young generation of the Indigenous Populations that she had opportunity to know, "where life means nothing more than survival." In regards to the victims of racial segregation, she claimed that "they are not really aware of their role in society, because society gives more importance to economy rather than education."

Mrs. Thérese Bass, from the Délegation Femmes Celtes, stated that "Human history is marked by a fight for power run by the desire of material wealth, and racism is one of the consequences of the exploitation of human beings throughout history". Following a similar path, Mrs. Stephanie Labreque-Sagamash, from the Grand Council of the Crees said, "Colonialism has always been driven by racism, discrimination and exploitation of natural resources".

"When we speak about racism and xenophobia, we speak about intolerance", affirmed Mrs. Rosario Blanco Cumanagoto, from Etnia Cumanagoto Association. As a way to fight the problem, she believes that we should be doing the exact inverse sense, "by stimulating a recovering of their heritage". Mr. Tokuhei Akibe, from the Ainu Association of Hokkaido, proposed his view of Social/Political organization, where "each region should hold its own forums, building their own Network".

"A sensible increase of racism behavior against Indigenous Peoples and Latinos in general, after the September 11th, 2001 events" was denounced by Mr. Lazaro Pary, from the Movimiento Indio Tupaj Maru. He discussed the recent problems that occurred at the border with some Indigenous Peoples who were supposed to attend a meeting recently in New York. In order to avoid similar problems in the future, he suggested that similar sessions should be relocated to Geneva.
At the legal point of view, Mr. Hassan Id Balkassm (IPACC-TAMAYNUT) proposed to present a recommendation recognizing civil rights and cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples "at the Constitutional level". He believes that could help minimize the impacts of prejudice-related behaviors.

One other proposition came from Mrs. Masaquiza: she suggests a sort of "Educational Institution that would give value to intercultural approaches". "It could stimulate the exchange between cultures, and also enrich them". She believes in a educational formula that could help to the preservation of their own heritage, as it fight against prejudice.

At the end of the session, the Chairperson Mr. Martinez affirmed that the "final objectives were not achieved". He concluded that "working groups could contribute to the development of strategies that could minimize the discrimination against Indigenous Peoples".

By: Rogerio Goulart and Isabel Deconinck

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