A new dawn for native peoples

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS

A new dawn for native peoples

Communities take charge of their own development

 
by Víctor Hugo Cárdenas **

After centuries of existence at the margins of society, Latin America's indigenous peoples are now entering their countries' economic and political mainstream.

The population of indigenous peoples is increasing, and the territory they occupy is expanding. They are becoming full-fledged players in their nations' economies, and in some cases, the international economy. Their languages and cultures are not only surviving, but are becoming newly invigorated.

Many countries have made constitutional, legal and institutional reforms that are reshaping the traditional relationship between indigenous communities and the nation state. The constitutions of Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico and Paraguay, for example, now recognize the multicultural character of states and the existence within them of indigenous peoples as unique entities with specific rights and distinct cultures and languages. In a number of countries, governments are granting indigenous communities the authority to manage their own affairs as well as the natural resources of the areas in which they live.

More at:

http://www.iadb.org/idbamerica/archive/stories/1997/eng/7d1.htm