The Wayuu women's network; an indigenous women's movement bridging two societies: the dominant and the indigenous (original) (raw)

The Indigenous Women's Network: Our Future, Our Responsibility

people who inhabit the great lakes region of the North American continent. Aniin indinawaymugnitok. Me gweich Chi-iwewag, Megwetch Ogitchi taikwewag. Nindizhinikaz, Beenaysayikwe, Makwa nin dodaem. Megwetch indinawaymugunitok. I am greeting you in my language and thanking you, my sisters for the honor of speaking with you today about the challenges facing women as we approach the 21st century. A primary and central challenge impacting women as we approach the 21st century will be the distance we collectively as women and societies have artificially placed ourselves from our Mother the Earth, and the inherent environmental, social, health and psychological consequences of colonialism, and subsequently rapid industrialization on our bodies, and our nations. As a centerpiece of this problem is the increasing lack of control we have over ourselves, and our long term security. This situation must be rectified through the laws of international institutions, such as the United Nations, but as well, the policies, laws and practices of our nations, our communities, our states, and ourselves. The situation of Indigenous women, as a part of Indigenous peoples, we believe is a magnified version of the critical juncture we find ourselves in as peoples, an the problems facing all women and our future generations as we struggle for a better world. Security, militarism, the globalization of the economy, the further marginalization of women, increasing intolerance and the forced commodification and homogenization of culture through the media. The Earth is our Mother. From her we get our life, and our life, and our ability to live. It is our responsibility to care for our mother, and in caring for our Mother, we care for ourselves. Women, all females, are the manifestation of Mother Earth in human form. We are her daughters and in my cultural instructions: Minobimaatisiiwin. We are to care for her. I am taught to live in respect for Mother Earth. In Indigenous societies, we are told that Natural Law is the highest law, higher than the law made by nations, states, municipalities and the World Bank. That one would do well to live in accordance with Natural Law. With those of our Mother. And in respect for our Mother Earth of our relations-indinawaymuguni took. One hundred years ago, one of our Great Leaders-Chief Seattle stated, "What befalls the Earth, befalls the People of the Earth." And that is the reality of today, and the situation of the status of women, and the status of Indigenous women and Indigenous peoples. While I am from one nation of Indigenous peoples, there are millions of Indigenous people worldwide. An estimated 500 million people are in the world today. We are in the Cordillera,

Forging Indigenous Women Solidarity Towards a Collective Struggle for Rights:

2012

Forging Indigenous Women Solidarity Towards a Collective Struggle for Rights: 2012 National Indigenous Women’s Gathering Executive Summary Published by: LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights) # 19 Maginhawa St., U.P. Village, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines All rights reserved. 2012. The contents of this publication may be reproduced, quoted or used as reference provided that LILAK, as publisher, and the writers and photographers, will be duly recognized as the proper sources. LILAK would appreciate receiving a copy of the text in which contents of this publication have been used or cited. Editors Judy Pasimio and Den Ismael-Villota Writer, Lay-out, and Cover Design Susan Corpuz Photographs Susan Corpuz, Romel de Vera, and Erwin Quiñones

Indigenous Women of the Americas

Human Rights Documents online

Cover design and layout: Kate Bridges (Forest Peoples Programme) Cover photo: A workshop in the indigenous community of Volcan de Yacoraite, Argentina Contents I-Introduction II-Conceptual and methodological tools 6 A. Indigenous perspective-A framework for analysis 6 Indigenous principles 7 Traditional indigenous law 10 B. Tools to analyse discrimination against indigenous women III. Application of tools to confront cases of discrimination against indigenous women A. Identification of cases 23 B. Documentation and interview process C. Building evidence of discrimination D. Litigation 44 E. Advocacy 45 IV. Conclusions 47 References ANNEX 1: 1 This effort stems from the Committee on international mechanisms of the Continental Network of Indigenous Women (Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indígenas-Enlace) a network of indigenous women's organizations in the Americas. To date, its members FAQ and ONIC are involved in this process. Also involved at times in our construction, were Rights and Democracy, the International Human Rights Clinic at the University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada, and the Women's Coalition on Development (Coalición de Mujeres Rumbo al Desarrollo) in Ocosingo, Chiapas, Mexico. We have also benefited from the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada and finally for this document from the Forest Peoples Progamme.

Indigenous peoples take charge of their challenges and opportunities

2010

The opinions expressed in this manual are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of IFAD. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IFAD concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The designations "developed" and "developing" countries are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage reached in the development process by a particular country or area. This manual contains draft material that has not been subject to formal review. It is circulated for review and to stimulate discussion and critical comment. The text has not been edited. On the cover, a detail from a Chinese painting from collections of Anita Kelles-Viitanen CUSTODIANS OF CULTURE AND BIODIVERSITY Indigenous peoples take charge of their challenges and opportunities Anita Kelles-Viitanen For IFAD Funded by the IFAD Innovation Mainstreaming Initiative and the Government of Finland This was done by capturing knowledge and information from 1095 proposals, which were submitted to IFAD for funding under the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF) initiative. The objective of the Facility is to support indigenous and tribal peoples, as well as ethnic minorities in IFAD developing country member states through small grants ranging between USD 10,000 and 30,000. The aim of the Facility is to improve access of indigenous peoples to key decision-making processes, empower them to find solutions to challenges they face, and promote collaboration between public and private spheres. Projects are also expected to build indigenous culture, identity, knowledge, natural resources, intellectual property and human rights, including rights of women.

Raising Indigenous Women's Voices for Equal Rights and Self- Determination

Raising Indigenous Women's Voices for Equal Rights and Self-Determination, 2019

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that the right to selfdetermination for Indigenous peoples involves their having the right to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. The implementation of this right is linked to the ability and freedom to participate in any decision making that relates to their development. Current laws and practices are considered “unfair to women,” because they sustain traditional and customary patriarchal attitudes that marginalize Indigenous women and exclude them from decision-making tables and leadership roles. Despite the many challenges Indigenous women face in their efforts to participate in decision making and take on leadership roles, cases from the past prove that engaging more Indigenous women in negotiations and initiatives can safeguard their rights and the rights of all peoples.

Abya Yala’s Indigenous and Aboriginal Women: International Agenda of Integration and Solidarity

Today, the claims of Abya Yala’s indigenous and aboriginal women are positioned within Latin America’s indigenous agenda. This article analyzes the processes of emergence, articulation, consolidation, and integration of Abya Yala’s indigenous and aboriginal women into the Continental Indigenous Women’s Summit Meeting of Abya Yala, which has been held twice in the Americas, in Puno, Peru, in 2009 and in La María Piendamó, Colombia, in 2013. Through these summits, the specific claims of indigenous women have reached the international indigenous agenda and feminist and women’s movements, promoting their autonomy. The article also examines the actors that favored the process of emergence, how the first and second summit meetings were held, and debates and selection of the topics. It addresses the challenges of this autonomous space managed and constituted by indigenous and aboriginal women of the continent.