Some perceive the Charter of Indigenous Peoples (Undrip) to be a good thing; however, it is perhaps the fatal blow of a genocidal process against the original peoples.
First the world “development” has an economic meaning outcome of colonialist thinking that treats our Mother Earth as a resource to be exploited. But indigenous peoples, from their original identity, understand and protect the Earth, because they know what she represents: the one that gives us life and everything we need to stay alive. The fact that the declaration grants the First Nations the right to “development” contradicts the very essence of native peoples, especially as it perverts their identity.
Second, Native peoples have their own way to govern themselves and make decisions that relies on a council process to obtain a consensus. The declaration instead sets out a consultative approach for any project (such as mines and dams) being imposed on Native land. However, this consultation comes with a questionnaire designed to persuade native communities to accept a pre-approved vision of power (not to mention the non-official ones that use threats and even violence). Moreover, such consultation legitimizes an electoral system that not only protects corrupt lobbying but goes against the traditional governing process of Native peoples: the Council. If the purpose of the charter was really to restore what has been taken from the Native communities, it would give them the means to rebuild their identity (education, social constitution, Earth’s protection) instead of continuing to impose approaches that greenlight projects that destroy the health of Earth and its population.
Third, how can we consider fair the excuses of an authority that continues to act the same way? Excuses are invalid and become a form of manipulation, even violence. If one breaks something, would not one be obliged to fix it? The fabric of indigenous peoples who had always put women at the center of life is torn apart. What do the systems, the governments responsible for repairing this, do? This is exactly where the current challenge is……..
For a long time, women have been forced to compete with one another rather than to help one another, that is to collaborate. In this context, mutual trust has been difficult to obtain. Moreover, self-recognition depends on recognition and concern for one another, and on working with others, all of which leads to communication, listening, patience, openness, laughter, love, sharing joy, music and so on. All of this is possible without claiming that one woman is better than another but by being aware that we are all different, and in our uniqueness, we find strength together……
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