Stories about Indigenous from May, 2009
Guadeloupe: In May 2009, keep May 1802 and May 1967 in mind
2009 will definitely be a "new" year in Guadeloupe - at least judging from a pun that people used as their New Year's wish, since in Creole "new" is pronounced "nef" and "nine" is also pronounced "nef". The first social movements in December 2008 foreshadowed the massive mobilization which took place from January until March 2009, which resulted in 45 days of an all-out strike on the island. Although an agreement was signed, the situation still has not been properly settled - and May, traditionally a month of protest in the French and Guadeloupean social history, is particularly hot this year.
Ukraine: Russian Ads; PM's Hairdo; Crimea
Russian ads in Ukraine; Yulia Tymoshenko's hairdo; labor minister's text message interaction with her daughter regarding a government job offer for her father; the Crimean Tatars’ situation and the mess in the Crimean capital's city council – at Ukrainiana.
Jamaica: Look Behind
Jamaican diaspora blogger Labrish takes us to Cockpit Country, “The Land of Look Behind”.
Ecuador: The Legacy of Indigenous Leader Mama Tránsito
Many Ecuadorians are mourning the passing of one of its indigenous leaders, Rosa Elena Tránsito Amaguaña, better known as "Mama Tránsito." Her role in society as an activist and defender of indigenous rights has made her an inspiration for her perserveance and courage.
Ukraine: 65th Anniversary of the Crimean Tatar Deportations
May 18 marked the 65th anniversary of Sürgün, the 1944 deportations of Crimean Tatars from their homeland in Crimea. J. Otto Pohl writes about the history of the deportations, while Maria Sonevytsky describes the current plight and the attitudes of the Crimean Tatars who have returned to live in Ukraine, and shares her thoughts on the changes that need to take place for the situation to improve.
Dominica, Cuba: Bird Festival
“I just discovered—to my absolute delight—that the VII Festival of Caribbean Endemic Birds is being celebrated throughout the region”: Repeating Islands provides details.
Kenya: What do you see on these images?
What do you see on these images taken in rural Kenya? asks Erik. “Under each image you’ll see why it’s interesting. By the way, I too missed the relevance of the flip flops at first glance…”
Ecuador: Bilingual and Intercultural Education in Loja
A bilingual and intercultural education conference [es] was recently held in Loja, Ecuador. Angel Gualán also introduces the blog [es] that will report on issues pertaining to this type of bilingual education.
Paraguay: Mala Visión in Guaraní Mythology
Mala Visión is a nocturnal spirit that lives in the forest and is part of the Guaraní mythology in Paraguay. Al Paraguay [es] tells about the beliefs held by his wife's family and her uncle's experience with the spirit.
Barbados: More on CLICO
“The expected deal between CLICO Holdings Barbados Limited and Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited seems to have gone off the boil”: Barbados Underground and Barbados Free Press closely follow the latest developments with the failed regional conglomerate.
Ecuador: Lawsuit Against Oil Company for Environmental Damage
Communities in the Ecuadorian Orient are suing the multinational company Texaco, and its parent company Chevron for environmental damages and resulting health problems in their residents. However, the company claims that it has already paid for the pollution, and that the government is trying to dip its hands into their "deep pockets." It is also accused of applying pressure to the judge for a favorable decision. As a result, it has started a public relations campaign to show its side to the story.
Peru: Indigenous Communities Continue Protests
For quite some time, the indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon have been mobilized due to attempts by the current government to infringe upon the rights to their ancestral lands. These lands are thought to be good for mining and oil exploration, and some say that is where the real intentions lie. Recently these protests have restarted throughout different parts of the Amazon region.
Bloggers react to NZ Maori Party's proposed trip to Fiji
Bloggers are reacting to proposals by members of New Zealand’s Maori Party who wanted a delegation to travel to Fiji to speak with the country's Prime Minister to better understand what he is trying to achieve.
Fiji: Pacific Islands Forum membership had its privileges
Since Fiji's government refused to schedule elections, the country has been suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum. Fiji’s suspension marks the first time in its nearly four-decade history the Pacific Islands Forum has taken this step against a country.
Peru: Newspaper Questions Spanish Language Proficiency of Indigenous Congresswoman
The Lima newspaper Correo published a front page story about the low level of Spanish language proficiency by the indigenous Congresswoman Hilaria Supa. As a result, the Peruvian blogosphere put forth various opinions including agreeing that legislators should have a minimum level of education, and others put forth accusations of racism and discrimination.
Trinidad & Tobago: Exclusive Summit
The Voice of the Taino People Online says that a delegation of indigenous leaders that attended the Fifth Summit of the Americas was disappointed at their reception: “While Trinidad’s Prime Minister Patrick Manning publicly declared his desire for the Summit to achieve prosperity for the peoples of the Americas with...
