| The Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor: Indigenous Peoples have rights too! |
 |
 |
|
By Philip Lee, Deputy-Director of Programmes, WACC
By means of the journey, runners and their supporters work to accomplish their goal of uniting to heal their nations and work for a better future for generations to come. Runners and their supporters help each other to reconnect to spiritual practices and traditions, to relearn their role in the world as Indigenous Peoples, and to remind themselves of shared responsibilities. Northern route coordinator, José Malvido, described their aims. “We’re running and praying for the unity of all peoples, all nations, all indigenous nations and non-indigenous nations. Drawing on the traditions and wisdom of our ancestors and elders, we carry sacred staffs, so when we run, we’re carrying the hopes, dreams, prayers and also some of the sorrows of the communities and families along the road.” In the South, runners encountered volcanic ash from the erupting mountain Chaitén in Mapuche territory (Chile); participated in the Inti Raymi (Andean New Year) celebration in the community Tilcara (Argentina); visited the Uros communities that live on floating islands in Lake Titicaca (Peru); and witnessed musical traditions of AfroEcuadoran communities in El Valle del Chota (Ecuador). In the North, runners learned about the struggles of Athebascan communities against government appropriation and pollution of Native lands and Sacred Sites (Alaska); the impact of resource extraction on communities, including the struggle of the Wet’suwet’en and surrounding Nations (British Columbia) against Shell; stories of historical repression of Sun Dance and other traditions of the Plains Tribes; and had a meeting in El Salvador with the indigenous president of Bolivia, Evo Morales. Peace and Dignity Journeys are said to be a fulfillment of the Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor. The eagle represents the nations of the North, and the condor represents the nations of the South. An ancient prophecy, shared by all nations, depicts the eagle and the condor intertwined by the neck. This symbolises all Native peoples together as one people, without borders. The prophecy tells of a time when Indigenous peoples will be divided by society, by borders, by material possessions, by a new way of life, and they will begin to lose their identity as a people. But there is hope. After that period will come a generation that makes the eagle and the condor fly side by side once again. Perhaps that time is not so far off. In 2007, and after 22 years of debate, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It articulates protection for the human rights of native peoples. It calls on countries to give more control to tribal peoples over the land and resources they traditionally possessed, and to return confiscated territory, or pay compensation. Articles 11 and 12 affirm the right of Indigenous Peoples to practise and revitalise their cultural traditions and customs and to teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies. Article 13 affirms the right to their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems and literatures; and Article 14 the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions and to provide education in their own languages. Crucially, Article 16 affirms the right of Indigenous peoples to establish their own media in their own languages and to have access to all forms of non-indigenous media without discrimination. Human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples, communication rights: they are all part of the journey. Sources: Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites         
  |
Comments