International Donors support Indigenous Peoples

Arnoldo Yat Coc  Photo by Valerie Taliman

QUERETARO, Mexico - Nearly 180 representatives of indigenous nations, NGOs and international funders gathered here recently to share information and to discuss critical issues on human rights, resource exploitation and globalization. Attendees expressed great excitement about the recent adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations.

"The adoption of the Declaration gives indigenous peoples great hope for their ability to pursue their legitimate claims to lands and culture through the legal system," said Leonardo Crippa, staff attorney with the Indian Law Resource Center.

Arnoldo Yat Coc, coordinator of Defensoria Q'eqchi', a Mayan civil rights organization, Todd Cox with the Ford Foundation, and Crippa offered a well-received presentation on the potential application of the Declaration in the case of El Estor (see related story.) 

The diverse conference program included sessions on indigenous radio stations, NAFTA, genetically modified corn, and indigenous land rights among others.

"We are living in a time of great challenge and opportunity; it is critically important that we all work together to create true and lasting change," said Evelyn Arce-White, Executive Director of International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP).

"IFIP is pleased to have organized its very first international conference, a historic gathering that brought together nearly 180 donors, NGOs that support indigenous communities and indigenous leaders from throughout the Mesoamerican region to discuss issues like migration, globalization and depletion of resources... and the importance of the indigenous knowledge and worldview to sustain our earth for future generations," she said.

Next year's conference will return to the United States before going overseas once again in January 2010. For more information on IFIP, please go to www.internationalfunders.org.