The Indigenous World 1997-98

202 Pages·1998·85.112 MB·English

by  Christian Erni

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INTERNATIONAL
..., WORK GROUP FOR
IWGIA
INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
THE INDIGENOUS
WORLD
1997-98
IWGIA
Copenhagen 1998
CONTENTS
ISSN 0 I 05-4503 ISBN 87-90730-00-3
0 1998 The Authors and IWGIA (The International Work Group
Editor's Prefa ce . . . .. .. . . ... . . . .. . . . .. .. . .. . . . ... . . . .. . . . ... . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. .. .. . .. . . .. 7
for Indigenous Affairs)
All Rights Reserved
Part I: The Indigenous World
The reproduction and distribution of information contained in The Arctic ..................................................................................... 21
THE INDIGENOUS WORLD, INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS and the ortb America .............................................................................. 4 7
IWGIA DOCUMENTS is welcome as long as the source is cited. Mexico and Central America ........................................................ 75
However, the reproduction of whole DOCUMENTS should nor South America ................................... , .......................................... 97
occur without the consent of IWGIA. The opinions expressed in The Pacific and Australia ............................................................ 143
IWGIA publications do not necessarily reflect those of the Work East Asia ........... . ... .. .... .. ..... .......... ...... ... .. .. ... .. . .. ... .. .... .. .. ... .. .. . ..... 185
Group. Southeast Asia . .. . .. . . .. .. .. ... .. ... .. ..... .... . . ..... ... .. ..... ......... .. .. ... .. .. . ... .. 193
South Asia ................................................................................... 255
Cover: Jorge Monras; cover photo Christian Erni
Africa .......................................................................................... 287
Typesetting: IWGIA
Part II: Indigenous Women's ls.sues
Prepress: Christensen Fotosats, Copenhagen, Denmark
The First African Indigenous Women's Conference .................. 319
Print: Eks-Skolens Trykkeri, Copenhagen, Denmark The Second Asian Indigenous Women's Conference ................. 326
English edition translation: Elaine Bolton Conference oflndian Tribal/Indigenous Women ....................... 333
Pacific Families' Network .......................................................... 342
English edition proof reading: Joan H0berg-Petersen
This edition oft he Indigenous World has been compiled and edited Part III: Indigenous Rights
by Christian Emi UN Declaration enters Third Year at the UN Commission
on Human Rights
by Andrew Gray and Jens Dahl .................................................. 347
The 54th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights
by Jens Dahl and Lola Ga~ia.AJix ............................................ 364
Towards a European Policy on Indigenous Peoples
and Development Co-operation
by Birgitte Feiring ...................................................................... 379
J) IWGIA Publications
INTERNATIONAL ew Documents ......................................................................... 388
WORK GROUP FOR
IWGIA INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS List of Documents ...................................................................... 394
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MEXICO&
AMERICA 1
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THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-93 PREFACE
EDITOR'S PREFACE
This year's edition of ''The Indigenous World" comes in new clothes:
a coloured cover, a new layout, and, the major change, a new section
titled "Indigenous Women's Issues".
The adoption of a special section dealing with indigenous wom
en's issues may - correctly - be interpreted as resulting from an in
creased gender consciousness within IWGIA. As a matter of fact,
IWGIA has just embarked on drafting a specific gender strategy to
guide its work in the future. Ultimately, the introduction of a new sec
tion on women's issues reflects the indigenous women's increasing
claim for space within the indigenous movement, for their special con
cerns to be taken into account, their voice to be heard.
Women have always been at the forefront of the indigenous move
ment, on local, regional as well as the global level. But compared to
their male partners they have been few in numbers. The indigenous
movement was and still is largely male dominated. The magnitude of
the task of asserting the basic rights of indigenous peoples has bound
all forces. Indigenous women have been aware that the recognition of
these rights is a precondition for their well being as indigenous women.
Only with the growing strength of the indigenous movement have in
digenous women gained the space allowing them to express their spe
cific concerns and voice their demands. This finds its expression in an
increasing number of indigeous women's organisations and networks,
conferences and publications. The new section on indigenous women
has as its main objective to inform about such initiatives and events,
and to allow indigenous and non-indigenous writers to reflect on is
sues related to indigenous women.
The reader may, however, soon discover that the new section on
indigenous women provides only selective information. There are con
tributions from Asia, Africa and the Pacific, but none from Latin and
North America or the Arctic. The circumstances which have led to this
incomplete regional coverage are the same as those which make "The
Indigenous World" fall short of providing a complete global overview.
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PREFACE THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-98 THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-98 PREFACE
Although the editors and contributors have tried hard, it was impossi But in another respect this year is a special year for IWGIA. In
ble to get all the necessary articles together. To provide a comprehen October IWGIA will celebrate its 30th anniversary. From a small group
sive and exhaustive coverage of the past year's developments among of concerned anthropologists committed to doing voluntary support
the world's indigenous peoples will most likely always have to remain and lobbying work for indigenous peoples, it has grown into a still
an ideal, and not so much an aim which can be achieved. The nature of rather small, but fully professional organisation. Even though the some
the authorship, a large number of indigenous and non-indigenous peo what special focus on women's issues this year only coincides with
ple working in indigenous organisations, support groups, academic the anniversary by accident, it is hoped that the momentum gained in
institutes etc., makes "The Indigenous World" a unique, but in some this respect will be sustained in IWGIA's work in the decades to come.
respect also more "vulnerable" publication. Only the large number of
specialized contributors can guarantee the qualitative standard of the
publication. But related to that large number is the publication's vul
Contributions
nerability, i.e. the probablility that some authors will, due to unfore
seen circumstances and events - such as this year, for example, the IWGIA would like to extend warm thanks to the following people and
dramatic political changes in Indonesia - be prevented from sending organisations for having contributed to The Indigenous World:
in their contribution.
Just like "The Indigenous World" as a whole so far, the new sec
The Arctic
tion on Indigenous Women's Issues is and will be the result of the
Jack Hicks has lived and worked in the Canadian Arctic since 1981,
indigenous and non-indigenous authors' voluntary contributions and
and was Director of Research for the Nunavut Implementation Com
IWGIA's facilitation and coordination. And as we now stand at the
mission. He can be reached in Iqaluit, Nunavut's capital-to-be, at
beginning of this new "project", IWGIA would like to encourage in
[email protected]. (Nunavut)
digenous and non-indigenous women to come up with ideas, sugges
tions and contributions. It should at this point be stressed that the di Marianne Lykke-Thomsen, has been associated with IWGIA for many
rection the "project" takes and what the original idea develops into years. She has worked for the Inuit Circumpolar Conference and is
will largely depend on the response IWGIA gets from indigenous now working for the Greenland Home Rule Government, the Office
women. of International Relations. ( Greenland)
IWGIA's increased committment to working on indigenous wom
Olga Murashko, anthropologist, active member of the IWGIA Rus
en's issues is also reflected in the recent publication of a book on in
sian National Group. (Russia)
digenous women. Edited by IWGIA staff member Diana Vinding, the
book entitled "Indigenous Women: The Right to a Voice" was pub Claus Oreskov, anthropologist, has been active in the IWGIA Danish
lished as IWGIA Document No. 88 in June this year. But it would be National Group for many years. He organised the IWGIA conference
not correct to conclude that this year marks a new era in IWGIA with held in connection with the UN Social Summit in Copenhagen. (Sapmi)
respect to gender issues. IWGIA published a document on indigenous Gordon L. Pullar, a Kodiak Island Alutiiq, is the Director of the De
women already in 1990 (Document No. 66: "Indigenous Women on partment of Alaska Native and Rural Development at the University
the Move"; still available), and "Indigenous Affairs" 2/95 (unfortu ofA laska Fairbanks. He is currently the President of the Koniag Edu
nately out of print) had indigenous women as a thematic focus. cational Foundation and the former President of the Kodiak Area Na-
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PREFACE THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-98 THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-98 PRUACE
tive Association and the national Keepers of the Treasures: Cultural Luis Fernandez is a musician interested in ethnomusicology. Has has
Council ofA merican Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians_ worked in Mato Grosso and Rondonia in Brazil since 1980_ (Brazil)
(Alaska)
Pedro Garcia Hierro, a jurist, advisor to AIDESEP and President of
the NGO "Racimos" in Unrurahui. He's the author of IWGIA Docu
North America ment "Territorios Indigenas y la Nueva legislaci6n Agraria en el Peru".
Andreas Knudsen, Bachelor of Business Languages in Russian and (Peru)
English. Freelance journalist. He has been interested in North Ameri Marcos Guevara, an anthropologist working in the NGO "Centro
can Indians since his childhood. Active in the IWGIA Danish National
Skoki''. (Costa Rica)
Group since 1993. (North America: Blackfeet, Chippewa, Hopi-Dineh,
Rene Kuppe, a lawyer and lecturer in the Department of Legal An
Apache, Western Shoshone, Timbisha, Lubicon, Leonard Peltier, AFN,
thropology of Vienna, Austria. (Venezuela)
Canadian elections)
Atencio Lopez, a Kuna lawyer and President of the NGO "Napguana".
Jack Hicks (for CV see Arctic; Canada).
(Panama)
Roberto Morale, anthropologist who has worked for many years with
Mexico, Central and South America
the Mapuche. (Chile)
This section has been compiled and edited by Alejandro Parellada,
Max Ooft, an indigenous leader in Surinam, currently working within
IWGIA project coordinator and editor of Indigenous Affairs
the International Technical Secretariat of the International Alliance of
Hans Aalborg, a Danish historian and Marcela Tovar, a Mexican an the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests. (Surinam)
thropologist. Both live in Guatemala. (Guatemala)
Marcia Santilli, is coordinator of the Programa Brasil Socioambiental
Gonzalo Abella, has an M.A. in history. He works as lecturer at the de la ONG ISA. (Brasil)
Universidad de la Republica in Montevideo, the San Simon de Bolivia
Christian Scherrer is a Swiss anthropologist who has worked for many
University and the University la Cat61ica de Paraguay. (Uruguay)
years with indigenous peoples in Nicaragua. (Nicaragua)
Oscar Ayala Amari Ila, a lawyer and member of the Executive Board
Natalia Wray, an anthropologist and advisor to various indigenous
of the NGO "Tierraviva". (Paraguay)
organizations. (Ecuador).
Ann-Catherine Bajard, Annie Oehlerich and Bettina Ringsing, staff
members of IBIS-Bolivia and advisors to CIDOB. (Bolivia)
The Pacific and Australia
Edgardo Benitez, an indigenous Tawahka and Executive Coordinator Peter Ju/J, a Canadian, has been a consultant to Aboriginal, Torres
of the NGO "Asang Launa". (Honduras)
Strait Islander, and Arctic people's organisations; he is an Associate of
Morita Carrasco, an anthropologist and lecturer at the University of the Australian National University's North Australia Research Unit.
Buenos Aires. Author of the IWGIA Document "La Tierra que nos (Australia)
Quitaron" ("The Land They Took Away From Us"). (Argentina) Martin Miriori is secretary and leader of the Bougainville Interim
Government/Bougainville Revolutionary Army delegation, and par-
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PREFACE THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997 9,8. THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-98 PREFACE
ticipated in the Burnham Talks in New Zealand which lead to the cease Neil Makinuddin is Executive Director of PLASMA, an NGO wjich is
fire agreement -the so-called Lincoln Agreement -ofA pril 30, 1998. working on environmental and indigenous issues and is based in
(Bougainville)
Samarinda, East Kalimantan. (Bentian people, East Kalimantan)
Colin Nicolas is the coordinator for the Center for Orang Asli Con
East Asia cerns (COAC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Malaysia: Orang Asli)
Harald Bokman, Sinologist, Research Fellow at the International In Torben Retboll teaches History and Latin at Aarhus Katedralskole,
stitute of Peace Research in Oslo, Norway. His main field ofresearch Denmark. He has written or edited several books on mass media and
are the historical emergence of Chineseness and the relation between international affairs, including East Timor, Indonesia and the Western
China and her neighbours in a historical perspective. (China) Democracies ( 1980), East Timar: The Struggle Continues ( 1984) and
East Timor: Occupation and Resistance (forthcoming, 1998). (East
Timor)
Southeast Asia
Anthropology Watch (AnthroWatch) is a research and advocay group
on Philippine indigenous peoples established 1994. (Philippines) South Asia
Ratnaker Bhengra is a lawyer and member of the Jharkandis Organi
Minnie Degawan presently works with DINTEG, an indingenous le
sation for Human Rights which works for autonomy within the Indian
gal rights organisation based in Baguio in the Cordilleras of Northern
state. He is a legal advisor for the human rights organisation Joha
Luzon in the Philippines. She was the former Secretary General of the
Ranchi and active in the movement against forced resettlement.
Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA). (Philippines: Cordillera)
(Jharkand)
For the chapter on Indonesia we are grateful to the London based
C. R. Bijoy, a human rights activist. During the last sixteen years he
DOWN TO EARTH, International Campaign for Ecological Justice in
has been involved or associated with indigenous issues and organisa
Indonesia, for allowing us to reprint parts of their articles.
tion in India and written about these and associated matters. (South
Christophe Horvath graduated in law and holds a post-graduate de India)
gree in Political Science and International Relations. He has worked
Jumma Peoples Network (ruPNET), an organisation established and
for more than two years in Cambodia and is at present doing research
administered by indigenous Jummas based in various countries of
on the link between environmental and human rights issues with spe
Europe and elsewhere. mPNET seeks to promote the rights of the
cial focus on indigenous peoples in Cambodia. (Cambodia)
indigenous Jummas by dialogue, negotiation and other peaceful means.
Jannie Lasimbang, a Kadazan-Dusun from Sabah. She works as a (Chittagong Hill Tracts)
trainer in PACOS (Partners of Community Organisations), a Trust set
Avdhash Kaushal, former faculty member of the Lal Bahadur Shastri
up for indigenous communities in Sabah. Since 1984, she has been
National Academy ofA dministration (LBSNAA), and recepient oft he
active in building indigenous network both locally and internationally
Padma Shree award from the President oflndia for environment pro
and is currently the President of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact
tection and working with the indigenous peoples in the hill areas of
(AIPP). (Malaysia: Sabah)
North India. He is currently the chairperson of the Rural Litigation &
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PREFACE THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-98 THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-98 PREFACE
Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), Dehra Dun, working for the em Kapupu Diwa Mutimanwa works with the Programme d 'Integration
powernment of the Van Gujjar and Jaunsari indigenous people. (In et de Developpement du Peuple Pygmee au Kivu (PIDP-Kivu) in South
dia: Uttar Pradesh) Kivu province in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
(Kahuzi-Biega National Park)
Luingam Luithui a Tangkhul Naga from Manipur, is the Secretary of
the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). (Nagaland) Kxai Moses Oma was born in Nyae Nyae and has since eight years
a
been Manager of the Nyae Nyae Farmers' Co-operative (NNFC);
Prof C. Nunthara, a Mizo from Mizoram in Northeastern India, holds
Wendy Viall is Support Co-ordinator at the Nyae Nyae Development
an M.A. and Ph.F. from the Department of Sociology, Delhi School of
Foundation ofN amibia (NNDFN), and has been employed by NNDFN/
Economics, Delhi University. He is currently Professor of Sociology
NNFC for the past eight years; Shebby Mate is NNDFN Programme
at the Northeastern Hill University in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. He
Manager and Agricultural Advisor, and has been employed by NNDFN/
dos research in the field of political sociology, especially on social
NNFC for the past five years. (Namibia, Ju/'hoansi ofN yae Nyae)
change and ethnicity in Northeastern India. (India: Northeast)
Sidsel Saugestad is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Social
Anthropology at the University of Troms0 in Norway. Her research
Afrika interests include ethnic group relations, indigenous peoples, human
Dorothy Jackson holds a Ph_D. in Tropical Forest Ecology (Oxford rights and cultural change_ She has done fieldwork in southern Africa,
University) and has conducted field research in tropical forest and and worked for two years as a NORAD expert in Botswana. (Bot
entomology in northern Thailand, Columbia and Cameroon. She is swana)
presently working as Project Officer in the Forest Peoples Programme
Terese Sveijer studies Social anthropology and Human Rights in soci
(FPP) of the World Rainforest Movement in. (Equatorial Africa,
ology of Law at the University of Lund, Sweden_ She conducted a
Rwanda)
minor field study amongst the Himba people in 1996 and are a mem
Charles Lane is trained as a lawyer, agriculturalist and social scientist ber of the board in IWGIA, Lund_ (Namibia.-Himba)
in Australia and the UK. He has worked in Africa for over ten years
Louis P. Vorster, anthropologist, professor at the University of South
and done extensive research with pastoralist. He currently acts as an
Africa teaching African customary law. 'Chairperson of the !XU and
independent consultant and is advising Survival International on a three
Khwe Trust. (South Africa)
year programme of support for pastoral land rights in East Africa. He
is also a Director of Pilotlight, a new British charity dealing with is
sues related to people's dispossession from their means of survival. Part II: Indigenous Women's Issues
(Tanzania, Kenya)
Angeline van Achterberg received her M.A_ in Social Anthropology
Ann Maymann holds a Master Degree from Roskilde University Center from the University ofA msterdam. Her main areas ofs tudy and inter
in French and International Development Studies, and a Master De est are gender issues and the North-West Region of Africa, specifi
gree from Copenhagen University in International Law ofA rmed Con cally the southern Sahara. In 1984, she went to Tamanrasset, Algeria
flict. She has done five months of internship at UNHCR Senegal and to conduct her fieldwork among the Ket Ahaggar Tuareg. In 1992, she
Burkina Faso, has been a JPO from November 1996 for UNHCR returned to the Netherlands and joined the Netherlands Centre for In-
Burkina Faso and since April 1998 for UNHCR Angola. (Mali)
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THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-98 PREFACE
PREFACE THE INDIGENOUS WORLD 1997-98
digenous Peoples where she is the Regional Coordinator for Africa.
(Report on First African Indigenous Women's Conference)
Rural Litigation & Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), is an NGO based in
Debra Dun, Uttar Pradesh, India. RLEK is working for the
empowemment of the Van Gujjar and Jaunsari indigenous peoples.
s
(Report on Indigenous Women Conference in India)
Diana Vinding is an anthropologist and is currently working in IWGIA.
s
She attended the Asian Indigenous Women Conference in Kancha
naburi, Thailand.
Part III: Indigenous Rights
Andrew Gray, anthropologist, is former director and at present board
member of IWGIA.
Jens Dahl, anthropologist, is the director of IWGIA. Before that he
was a lecturer at the University of Copenhagen, Department of
Eskimology.
Lola Garcia-Alix is a sociologist and is working as Coodinator of the
Human Rights Programme at the IWGIA International Secretariat. She
is also the administrator oft he Human Rights Fund for Indigeous Peo
ples.
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