Stories about Indigenous from September, 2011
Chile: Indigenous Leaders to Meet With Congress
In Indigenous News, Ryan Seelau reports that “on October 4th and 5th, Indigenous leaders from across Chile will meet with the Chilean Congress to discuss the implementation of ILO [International Labor Organization] Convention 169, and particularly, the right to consultation.”
Taiwan: Polyglot teaches you Taiwanese indigenous languages
Mike Campbell, a polyglot who can already speak fluent Mandarin, Hakka, Fukien-major languages used in Taiwan, along with a dozen of other languages, is now teaching people how to speak Sediq, Truku, and other rarely spoken Taiwanese indigenous languages on Youtube that now even most indigenous people now cannot speak.
Bolivia: Videos of Vigil in Support of TIPNIS Marchers
Mario R. Duran posts videos [es] of a vigil held in La Paz to support indigenous marchers in their struggle to defend TIPNIS.
Bolivia: Cochabamba Vigil in Protest of Police Repression
A vigil was held in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba in protest of the September 25 police repression of the indigenous march in defense of the TIPNIS. Photo-blogger Stephany Eguino of the blog Pale Angel [es] captured the images of the gathering.
Bolivia: Police Repression is a Violation of Human Rights
Cristina Quisbert of the blog Bolivia Indígena [es] writes about the police repression of the TIPNIS indigenous marchers as a day that “will remain recorded in the history of indigenous communities as a nefarious day in the violation of their human rights.”
Bolivia: Mobilization in Support of Indigenous Marchers
In the past month, indigenous highway protest marchers in Bolivia have received widespread support from residents of cities on their route donating food and supplies, as well as from many Twitter users using the hashtag #TIPNIS.
Bolivia: Police Repression of Indigenous Marchers in Yucumo
The Bolivian indigenous march against a planned highway reached a standstill with the blockade of pro-government groups in the town of Yucumo. On September 25, uniformed police officers launched tear gas at men, women and children, causing diverse nationwide reactions.
Video: Water Bottle Lights and Other Eco-Friendly Inventions
Solar lights and hot water heaters from plastic water bottles, houses made from trash and a way to do without plastic bags are some of the projects making reducing, reusing and recycling not only fun and affordable but also vital in improving the quality of life of people all around the world.
Bolivia: Police Block Indigenous Territory Anti-Highway March
Protests have continued by indigenous marchers to stop the building of a highway through the Indigenous Territory National Park Isiboro Sécure in Bolivia. Police recently blocked the march, raising tensions in the conflict.
Bolivia: International Support to ‘Save TIPNIS’ on Facebook
Blogger Willy Andres recommends visiting the Facebook page “Salvemos al Tipnis. Save the Tipnis. Carteles Posters” in response to a project to build a highway through the Indigenous Territory National Park Isiboro Sécure (TIPNIS) in Bolivia. The page gathers posters created all over the world in support of saving TIPNIS.
Mexico, USA: Triqui Indigenous Migrants Defenseless Against Crime and Police Questioning
The Triqui indigenous people of Mexico living in the United States as undocumented immigrants are easy targets for robberies and police questioning because they often don't speak Spanish or English –Ismael Flores in Vivir México [es] reports.
Videos: Homeless But Not Voiceless
We explore different initiatives that aim to bring to the foreground the plight of those who are forgotten: children, indigenous people, immigrants and the transgender community.
Argentina: Government Returns Land to Indigenous Communities
“On Saturday, September 10th, the Argentinian government returned 9,475 hectares (more than 23,000 acres) of land to the Tehuelche and Mapuche communities living new in Las Heras (located in the northern portion of the Santa Cruz province)”, Ryan Seelau at Indigenous News reports.
Guyana: Hidden Waterfall
The Voice of the Taino People Online blogs about ‘Barbadiana Jones’, reportedly the first outsider to ever see – and photograph – a ‘hidden’ waterfall in Guyana's South Pakaraima mountains.
Paraguay: Indigenous Peoples Fighting to Save Their Ancestral Home
At the Council on Hemispheric Affairs Blog, Research Associate Sean O’ Leary reports that the Ayoreo indigenous people are “fighting for their very survival. These indigenous people are struggling to save their ancestral home in the Chaco region from cattle companies, farmers and religious sects who are moving into the...
India: A Magazine For Chakma Community
Paritosh Chakma uploads the August 2011 issue of Sojaak, a free magazine for the indigenous Chakma community.
Peru: The State of Quechua on the Internet
Quechua, one of the original languages of Peru, is on the Internet in various forms: from Google and Wikipedia in Quechua to blogs and citizen initiatives looking to maintain and encourage the presence of this language through the web.
Cambodia: ‘Avatar’ Rally to Protect Country’s Forest
Prey Lang, the largest lowland forest in Cambodia and home of more than 200,000 indigenous peoples, is threatened by the plan of the government to transform the area into plantations and mining sites. In protest, villagers dressed up like the Na'vi tribe from the film Avatar to express their sentiments
Peru Enacts Law Requiring Prior Consultation with Indigenous Peoples
The President of Peru, Ollanta Humala, enacted the long-awaited law requiring prior consultation with Indigenous Peoples [es], which is expected to contribute to investment and business development with the participation of the local population. Humala stated that this law does not imply immediate solutions, but that it will mark a...
Chile: Mapuche Youth in Ercilla Reach Agreement with Regional Government
Indigenous News reports that, “On Wedenesday, August 31st, the Mapuche youth who had been peacefully occupying the municipal government building in Ercilla signed a MOU (memorandum of understanding) with regional government officials. The MOU provided for increased Indigenous scholarships, an intercultural school and for continued dialogue on ending the militarization...
