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Demonstrators, Native Americans and Americas Summit

By Bushka Bryndova 

Original article in Czech

Americas Summit is a reason for protests and concerns not only for anti-globalization activists in the streets of Québec, but equally for the indigenous population of the American continent who see it as a continued oppression of their Peoples by the white civilization and would like to have their word to say.

On April 20 was opened a Summit of Americas in Canadian Québec, a gathering of 34 leaders of this continent with one only exception - Cuba - which wasn't invited for lack of democracy. One of the principal points on the agenda of this meeting was the planned creation of Free Trade Area of the Americas known under the abbreviation FTAA. Some of the poor countries are not too enthusiastic about this issue because they are afraid that this free trade area might become a tool serving to the US market protection at the first place. Thousands of anti-globalization protestors had arrived to Québec in the same time and shortly before official opening of the Summit broke out the first clashes between demonstrators and police forces in the streets.

The idea of FTAA creation is being contested not only by governments and demonstrators, but is also rejected by those who were the original inhabitants of this continent - Native Americans. One of their greatest leaders, Chief Matthew Coon Come from Canada, addressed this issue with the following words:

We, the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, are the original governments of this continent. We are still here. Yet we have not been invited to be full participants in these deliberations. Instead, I have been invited here to do the impossible. In four minutes, one indigenous leader cannot speak to 500 years of colonial history across a continent, to our injuries, to our concerns, to our aspirations, and to our rights.

Please do not construe my presence here as meaningful involvement or consultation. Indigenous Peoples are not a component of "civil society". Our contribution to the political, economic, cultural and spiritual landscape of this continent is as Governments, as Nations and as Peoples. As Peoples, we have the fundamental human right of self-determination. This means, as stated in the International Bill of Rights, that we have the right to determine our own political future. It means we have the right to freely dispose of our natural wealth and resources. It means we have the right to never be deprived of our means of subsistence. In short, it means that indigenous peoples, like all peoples, have the right not to be subjected to colonization and dispossession.

These human rights, which are universal and indivisible, have to this day been universally denied to our peoples, throughout the Americas. Even Canada, which holds itself out to be a leading nation in human rights, was recently condemned by the U.N. Human Rights Committee for policies and practices that deny our right of self-determination, and for violations of our right to freedom from discrimination.

These human rights are fundamental. They are rights which we have. They are rights which we will defend. They are rights for which indigenous peoples have died, and are still dying. Just a few weeks ago, with the facilitation of the government of Canada, leaders of the indigenous peoples of the Americas assembled in Ottawa at the first Indigenous Peoples Summit of the Americas. The result of this Indigenous Summit was a Declaration, reflecting the universal experience of the Indigenous Peoples throughout the Americas. 

We have certain fundamental concerns about governance and trade in the present day. As the Peoples that have been pushed aside and sacrificed in the 500 year rush to colonize and exploit this continent, we are now insisting that our fundamental social, economic, environmental and other human rights be respected and made paramount.

 Since our first contact with Europeans, our position and condition in the Americas has failed to improve. For us, the taking and theft of our lands and resources, and the imposition of alien forms of governance and economic activity, has meant mass poverty, ill health, marginalization, loss of language, and - often - extinction.

Our historic Declaration of the First Indigenous Summit of the Americas must be read, understood and heeded. In particular:

	The fundamental collective human rights of Indigenous Peoples as Peoples, including our right of self-determination, must be recognized and respected in accordance with international law.
	Where our rights may be affected, Indigenous Peoples have the right to full, direct and effective participation in domestic, regional and international institutions and processes, as a democratic entitlement.
	It must be explicitly recognized in any FTAA that the principles of democracy and respect for human rights are inseparable from free trade and that our fundamental human rights, including our right of self-determination, are paramount. Protection of the environment must also be safeguarded, particularly in or affecting Indigenous territories and lands. Trade and development must be environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable and equitable from the viewpoint of Indigenous Peoples.
	The FTAA must holistically benefit Indigenous Peoples, and must include active measures for us to participate in resource development to reduce the extreme poverty and marginalization suffered by Indigenous Peoples.

Ladies and Gentlemen inside these Walls, please heed this message: Indigenous Peoples are awaking after a long period of suppression and invisibility. We are determined that we will no longer be ignored. We are united in our determination, as peoples, that we will now survive. We are even more united in our determination, as peoples, that we will now thrive.

One of the greatest Czech poets - Josef Vaclav Sladek - had described the tragic situation of American Indians already in 19th century by the following verses. Unfortunately, their situation hasn't significantly changed ever since:

A free country, though with dreadful injustices befallen,
Never ever seen like on the Earth;
Wreck and bloody crimes looming large wherever you step,
Echoes with wild yells of victors' celebrations,
Never ever man heard before, nor from barbarians,
Afore ages feasting on the ruins of Rome.
Where is salvation promised to the "heathen savage"?
All you've done was chasing him out like a prey,
Till he has got no more place to rest, which remained,
And your "governing hand" leads him right to the grave.
The next year your arms would chase him out again,
And all this for the dollar - which be darned - 
The worshipped dollar for you prevails, 
And human heart can just bleed out ...

Original article in the Czech language was published in one of the most popular web magazines in the Czech Republic - Svet Namodro ("World in Blue" - average of 30 000 visitors/day) on:

http://svet.namodro.cz/go/r-art.asp?id=1010422363&t=magazin

 More information on present Native American issues are to be found in my other articles in Czech language: "Virtual Indians and Justice Reality in the USA" (Leonard Peltier), "Will the US Senate grant Native Americans their first holiday?" and "Princess Pocahontas - Myth and Truth".

Translation©Bushka 2001

Drawing by famous 19th century Czech painter Mikolas Ales

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