<+>=<+>KOLA Newslist<+>=<+>

>Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 10:25:28 -0800
>To: Recipient List Suppressed:;
>From: Native Americas Journal <bfw2@cornell.edu>
>Subject: Indigenous Peoples and Constitutional Reform in Venezuela and
> Guyana
>
>The following article is provided by Native Americas, published by
>the Akwe:kon Press at Cornell University's American Indian Program.
>Native Americas Journal keeps you informed of issues and events that
>impact indigenous communities throughout the hemisphere. You can find
>more information on this topic, as well as how to subscribe to Native
>Americas, on our website at http://nativeamericas.aip.cornell.edu.
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Indigenous Peoples and Constitutional Reform: Advances in Venezuela and Guyana
>By Bill Weinberg/Native Americas Journal
>
>On Aug. 3, 1999, three prominent indigenous leaders took their seats
>in the National Constitutional Assembly called by Venezuelan
>President Hugo Chavez. Outside the Assembly in Caracas, nearly 75
>indigenous leaders danced and sang in their traditional attire in
>support of their representatives. The Assembly of 131 elected
>representatives was convened to write a new Venezuelan constitution.
>Indigenous leaders called for the new constitution to include
>recognition of land and cultural rights.
>
>Noeli Pocaterra, a Wayuu leader and one of the three elected to the
>Constitutional Assembly, called it a victory for "more than half
>million indigenous peoples who live in Venezuela." She has called for
>a constitution that better reflects the multicultural society and one
>that includes protections for women, children, ecologists, rights
>advocates, peasants, poets and artists.
>
>The other elected indigenous leaders are José Luis Gonzalez of
>Bolivar state's Pemon people and Guillermo Guevara, a Jivi leader
>from Amazonas state. All three were elected in the Extraordinary
>Congress of Indigenous Peoples held in Bolivar in March, convened by
>the National Indigenous Council of Venezuela. However, the National
>Electoral Council required the indigenous populace to reconvene
>another assembly according to its established rules. The results of
>both elections were the same.
>
>Meanwhile, neighboring Guyana's Constitution Reform Commission
>submitted its report to Parliament July 17, the culmination of six
>months of public hearings and testimony. The involvement of
>indigenous peoples resulted in a number of recommendations on
>indigenous rights.
>
>Civil unrest over the contested 1997 elections resulted in the
>Constitution Reform Commission Act of 1999, which established a
>20-member commission to reform Guyana's 1980 Constitution. Lobbying
>by Guyana's Amerindian Peoples Association ensured one indigenous
>seat on the commission. APA's Jean La Rose was chosen as the
>indigenous representative by the three national indigenous
>organizations and toshaos, traditional village elders, at a meeting
>in January. Two weeks later she was elected CRC vice-chair. She
>presented a proposal entitled "Statement of the Amerindian Toshaos
>and Amerindian Organizations of Guyana Concerning Reform of Guyana's
>Constitution," or simply the "Toshaos Statement." The document
>redefines political, economic and cultural relations between
>indigenous peoples and the Guyanese state, recommending recognition
>of Guyana as multicultural. It rejects assimilation, and calls for
>the Minister of Amerindian Affairs to be directly elected by the
>indigenous peoples.
>
>Most of the proposals, including all references to land rights and
>even bilingual education, were rejected by the majority of the CRC.
>However, these proposals will be resubmitted following the convening
>of an indigenous peoples' commission.
>
>Potentially disastrous development projects on indigenous lands
>continue despite the pending constitutional changes. In July, the
>government of Guyana granted an 8 million acre "reconnaissance
>permit" to a South African mining company, Migrate Mining. The area
>encompasses 22 indigenous communities, who were neither informed nor
>consulted. It also includes 3,000 square miles presently subject to a
>suit by six Upper Mazaruni, Akawaio and Arecuna communities seeking
>title to land and resources. The grant to Migrate follows another
>grant of 4.1 million acres to Canada's Vannessa Ventures on land of
>the Wai Wai, Wapisiana and Macuxi peoples.
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>"Nowhere else will you be able to find such powerful-knowledge filled writing."
>-Wilma Mankiller, Editorial Board Member of Native Americas Journal
>
>Native Americas Journal
>Akwe:kon Press
>American Indian Program
>Cornell University
>450 Caldwell Hall
>Ithaca, NY 14853-2602
>
>Tel.   (607) 255-4308
>Subs.  (800) 9-NATIVE
>Fax.   (607) 255-0185
>Email. nativeamericas@cornell.edu
>Internet       http://nativeamericas.aip.cornell.edu

<+>=<+>
Information Pages: http://users.skynet.be/kola/index.htm
Online Petition: http://kola-hq.hypermart.net
Greeting Cards: http://users.skynet.be/kola/cards.htm
<+>=<+>
if you want to be removed from the KOLA
Email Newslist, just send us a message with
"unsub" in the subject or text body
<+>=<+>