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by Leo Lynch
Who Are the Conaie?. The Confederation of Nationalities of Indigenous People of Ecuador was formed in 1980 to provide broad representation for the indigenous communities of Ecuador. Composed of regional indigenous organizations throughout Ecuador, CONAIE works to recover ownership of indigenous lands and to rescue indigenous language and culture. It seeks to promote unity among all the indigenous nations through their common struggles.
CONAIE has played a key role in the organizing of many peaceful mass "uprisings," notably in 1990, and at the beginning of 2000 and 2001. It is at the forefront of one of the most powerful indigenous movements in Latin America and, as such, participates in the indigenous struggle against the exploitation of traditional lands in the Amazon.
Make-up of Indigenous Groups According to government sources 25% of the Ecuadorian population is of Indigenous origin. However, other sources consider that the percentage is closer to 45% . Indigenous peoples in Ecuador are divided into 15 Indigenous nationalities that speak 11 distinct languages in addition to Spanish. The Amazonian region is inhabited by the Cofán, Secoya, Siona, Huaorani, lowland Quichua, Shuar, Achuar, Shiwiar, and Zápara nationalities. Seven Quichua peoples inhabit the Sierra: Otavalo, Caranqui, Salasaca, Saraguro, Chibuleo, Chimbu and Ca–ari; and the Awa-Coaquier, Chachi/Cayapa, Epera, Tsáchila and Huancavilca nationalities inhabit the coastal region.
The different Ecuadorian Indigenous peoples have distinctive forms of social organization. They are divided into local, regional, and national organizations. The Conaie is a representation of all of these distinct tribes at national level.
Exploitation of Indigenous Lands Because the Ecuadorian economy depends largely on the exploitation of petroleum the treatment of indigenous lands and peoples' have always been controversial. In 2000, crude exports represented 41.7% of the total income for the Ecuadorian government. Crude reserves in Ecuador are mostly located in the Amazonian region. The rights to exploit subsoil resources belong to the Ecuadorian State.
The problem created by the conflict between the extraction of subsoil resources versus the preservation of resources above the soil has caused serious problems for the Indigenous populations whose territories are affected by extractive industries. The Ecuadorian oil boom began in the 1960s and had very serious environmental impacts. For example it is estimated that Texaco operations in Ecuador resulted in the deforestation of 700,000 to 800,000 hectares of forest and spills of around 300,000 barrels of crude over the course of 25 years decimating many areas and leaving them uninhabitable.
In the 1990s, various Indigenous organisations forced the Ecuadorian state to re-evaluate their commitments to Indigenous rights and environmental justice. Indigenous peoples denounced the social and environmental impacts of the oil industry and demanded recognition for their land rights. A class action suit brought by over 30,000 Amazonian Ecuadorians against the oil company Texaco in New York district court for its destructive activities in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon resulted in state and private reforms regarding extraction methods carried out on Indigenous lands.
The oil technology used for new installations since the 1990s has permitted the reduction of the risks and direct environmental damage that can be created by the industry. However, private interests are still effectively in control of the management of the affected areas. For the Huaorani nationality, for example, the incursion of the oil industry on its land has meant abandoning their traditional practices, the deterioration of the family unit, migration, and disease among other impacts .
In August of 1988, after years of efforts and work by CONAIE, the Ecuadorian Constitution recognized collective rights of Indigenous peoples and included dispositions contained in international agreements for the protection of human rights to the country's Constitution. Although such rights are enshrined in the Constitution Indigenous peoples still have to fight to have them implemented properly. Indigenous groups are frequently not consulted by governments prior to the implementation of programs that affect their lands.
In November of 2001, in response to a claim presented by the Shuar people, the International Labor Organization recommended that Ecuador respect its Convention 169 on Indigenous and tribal peoples in independent countries, exhorting the government to fully apply Article 15 of the Convention. The article establishes the right to previous consultation in cases of exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons that can affect Indigenous and tribal communities, and guarantees the participation of interested peoples in the different stages of the process, such as environmental impact studies and environmental management plans. Despite the fact that the right to consultation has been in effect since 1998, the Ecuadorian government has yet to pass legislation that permits Indigenous peoples to exercise this right.
Indigenous groups are embroiled in an on-going fight to have their basic rights respected by interested parties. The Ecuadorian government has plans to carry out a ninth round of oil leasing with the goal of granting concessions in new areas of extraction and increasing the production of crude, which would mean expanding oil activities in Indigenous territories. In addition to oil, mining activities on Indigenous territories is being implemented without the participation of the communities affected.
In response to such non-consultation Conaie has begun to execute a national program for discussion and analysis of the collective rights of Ecuadorian Indigenous peoples. The goal is to develop a national Indigenous proposal for the construction of Indigenous Territorial Circumscriptions.
CONAIE STATEMENT OF UNITY: CONAIE believes the indigenous voice will be heard once the organizations focus on unification rather then separation. The separation is a result of the difference of languages, a factor that CONAIE hopes to overcome. In doing so, the organization hopes to strengthen their presence and help the various groups realize that they share the same goals.
STRUCTURE & AIMS OF THE CONAIE: The CONAIE meets every three years to evaluate the organization and to select new members to the leadership positions. The group is broken down into seven different leadership positions: President Vice President Secretary of Territory, Natural Resources, Environment, and Development Secretary of Promotion and Organization Secretary of Health and Nutrition Secretary of Women and Family Secretary of Education, Science, and Culture CONAIE's MISSIONS: The modernisation of the Ecuadorian constitution The preservation of indigenous languages and cultures Defence of indigenous territories Ending of racial discrimination Fair access to resources Support of specific community demands Education programmes Increase of economic power Promotion of traditional indigenous ceremonies
CONAIE pushes for self identification, so indigenous groups will be recognized not as "Indians," but as individual groups. CONAIE defines terms such as nationality, peoples, campesinos, Indians, indigenous, and discusses the significance of land versus territory. By defining these terms, CONAIE further educates non-Indians about the indigenous cause. As well as bringing indigenous organizations together to fight for unification, Conaie aims to have their cause heard on an international level. The campaigning message has been brought to prominence by activists and human rights organisations. "We the indigenous nationalities and peoples, have built a solidly structured national political organization with clear ideology based on our own historical and cultural activities, and we propose to construct the New Multicultural Nation" Political Declaration of Ecuador's Indigenous Peoples. THE CONAIE AND POLITICAL CHANGE IN ECUADOR. Although the Conaie are mainly concerned with Indigenous rights from time to time they have found themselves embroiled in political change in Ecuador. In June 1990 they were heavily involved in an uprising that froze the country for a week. Protestors blocked major roadways, boycotted markets, cut off the water supplies in major cities, and kidnapped members of the military . This uprising established a new definition for indigenous organisations. Whereas previously they were reluctant to be involved in anything amounting to insurrection they were no longer considered to be an inactive Indian group, but an organisation with political presence. The government made an agreement to respond to the indigenous demands before order was restored. At the time of writing (May 2005( Ecuador has once again been thrown into turmoil with the ousting of president Lucio Gutierrez. Widespread protests had followed the new Ecuadoran Supreme Court's decision to drop corruption charges against Abdala Bucaram, who governed from 1996 to 1997, and Gustavo Noboa, Ecuador's president from 2000 to 2003. Although the Conaie had no hand in the ousting of Guiterrez they had originally backed him. Guiterrez had made noises to the effect that he was on their side but had not committed himself to any specific promises.
Exploitation of Indigenous Lands: The Struggle for Recognition and Justice. Because the Ecuadorian economy depends largely on the exploitation of petroleum the treatment of indigenous lands and peoples' have always been controversial. In 2000, crude exports represented 41.7% of the total income for the Ecuadorian government. Crude reserves in Ecuador are mostly located in the Amazonian region. The rights to exploit subsoil resources belong to the Ecuadorian State.
The problem created by the conflict between the extraction of subsoil resources versus the preservation of resources above the soil has caused serious problems for the Indigenous populations whose territories are affected by extractive industries. The Ecuadorian oil boom began in the 1960s and had very serious environmental impacts. For example it is estimated that Texaco operations in Ecuador resulted in the deforestation of 700,000 to 800,000 hectares of forest and spills of around 300,000 barrels of crude over the course of 25 years decimating many areas and leaving them uninhabitable.
In the 1990s, various Indigenous organisations forced the Ecuadorian state to re-evaluate their commitments to Indigenous rights and environmental justice. Indigenous peoples denounced the social and environmental impacts of the oil industry and demanded recognition for their land rights. A class action suit brought by over 30,000 Amazonian Ecuadorians against the oil company Texaco in New York district court for its destructive activities in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon resulted in state and private reforms regarding extraction methods carried out on Indigenous lands.
The oil technology used for new installations since the 1990s has permitted the reduction of the risks and direct environmental damage that can be created by the industry. However, private interests are still effectively in control of the management of the affected areas. For the Huaorani nationality, for example, the incursion of the oil industry on its land has meant abandoning their traditional practices, the deterioration of the family unit, migration, and disease among other impacts .
In August of 1988, after years of efforts and work by CONAIE, the Ecuadorian Constitution recognized collective rights of Indigenous peoples and included dispositions contained in international agreements for the protection of human rights to the country's Constitution. Although such rights are enshrined in the Constitution Indigenous peoples still have to fight to have them implemented properly. Indigenous groups are frequently not consulted by governments prior to the implementation of programs that affect their lands.
In November of 2001, in response to a claim presented by the Shuar people, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) recommended that Ecuador respect its Convention 169 on Indigenous and tribal peoples in independent countries and urged the government to fully apply Article 15 of the Convention. The article establishes the right to previous consultation in cases of exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons that can affect Indigenous and tribal communities, and guarantees the participation of interested peoples in the different stages of the process, such as environmental impact studies and environmental management plans. Despite the fact that the right to consultation has been in effect since 1998, the Ecuadorian government has yet to pass legislation that permits Indigenous peoples to exercise this right.
Indigenous groups are embroiled in an on-going fight to have their basic rights respected by interested parties. The Ecuadorian government has plans to carry out a ninth round of oil leasing with the goal of granting concessions in new areas of extraction and increasing the production of crude, which would mean expanding oil activities in Indigenous territories. In addition to oil, mining activities on Indigenous territories is being implemented without the participation of the communities affected.
In response to such non-consultation Conaie has begun to execute a national program for discussion and analysis of the collective rights of Ecuadorian Indigenous peoples. The goal is to develop a national Indigenous proposal for the construction of Indigenous Territorial Circumscriptions.
THE FUTURE: ALTERNATIVES TO OIL?. At the present rate of deforestation there will be no more jungle in Ecuador in 40 years time. The oil reserves are not even expected to last that long. And there appears to be no plan to replace oil as the foundation of Ecuador's economy. This quick buck model of development is a catastrophe both environmentally and - in the long term - financially. Yet the Ecuadorian government still promotes oil as the key to Ecuador?s development. Throughout Ecuador, organized grassroots communities under the umbrella of the Conaie have proposed alternatives, including sustainable development programs that are friendly to the environment.
Because of this the new round of oil leasing has been delayed, as the Ecuadorian government must tread carefully to avoid provoking more massive protests in the wake of the events of May 05. There is still some hope that indigenous lands and cultures in the Amazon can be preserved.
At the same time, the previous record of governing administrations and private interests does not inspire confidence. The oil companies may be a little more restricted from the wholesale polluting that marked their first assault in the 1970s and 1980s, but they are as determined as ever to continue extracting oil. The rights of Ecuador's indigenous peoples have been laid out clearly in international and national law but these rights have been consistently violated.
THE DILEMMA OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S: Faced with these momentous changes, the indigenous peoples themselves face a dilemma. Some communities are committed to absolute resistance to oil, but others feel that oil exploration is inevitable and that they have to compromise with the companies. The question is how to compromise from a position of strength with some of the most powerful corporations in the world.