Recently, public statements have criticized Cultural Survival
(CS) for supposed participation in "negotiations" with CONOCO
regarding the company's proposed and highly controversial oil
development in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In reality, CS, along with
the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), assisted CONFENIAE,
the Amazonian Indian federation, in the initial presentation of
CONFENIAE's own proposal to CONOCO. Later this month, CS and NRDC
will also assist the Indian organization when its leaders meet to
discuss their proposal with CONOCO. Whether or not these meetings
move toward negotiations will be determined between CONOCO and
CONFENIAE. In the meantime CS is proud to have assisted the Indian
organization establish direct dialogue with a corporation whose
work could affect Indian land and resources.
CS's direct involvement in this project began in late January
1991 when CS's Projects Director, Ted Macdonald, talked with Jacob
Scherr, Director of the International Program for the NRDC. The
conversations focused on oil development in the Ecuadorian Amazon,
particularly the proposed and controversial program planned by
CONOCO oil. On February 5, 1991, Macdonald, Scherr, Robert Kennedy
Jr. and Hern n Martinez met informally in New York City with
representatives of DuPont Chemical and CONOCO oil to review
Martinez's January 1991 meetings with Ecuadorian Indian and
environmental organizations, and to discuss CONOCO representatives'
expressed concern to minimize the negative social and environmental
impact of proposed oil exploitation in Ecuador. Macdonald
subsequently travelled to Ecuador with Scherr, Kennedy, and
Martinez to discuss the CONOCO meetings with Ecuadorian Indian and
environmental organizations.
Robert Kennedy's published statement to the directors of
CONFENIAE, the Amazonian regional Indian organization, outlines the
NYC meeting and purpose of the visit to Ecuador. Likewise, NRDC's
status report of April 29, 1991 accurately summarizes the events to
date. Nevertheless, since Cultural Survival is as an organization
primarily concerned with the rights of indigenous people, some
additional comments are essential.
Cultural Survival's participation in the February 5, 1991
meeting was simply to hear and comment upon CONOCO's plans. The
organization welcomes such opportunities. However, short notes
subsequently prepared by CONOCO staff---unfortunately described as
"minutes"---led some to interpret the discussions as negotiations.
This is not true. The informal meeting moved toward substantive
issues--specifically, the possibility of an independent CONOCO-
funded foundation as well as the general range of funds required to
endow such a foundation. However, the February meeting was not the
first time that such possibilities were introduced. Martinez had
discussed both issues with Indian and environmental organizations
during his January visit. Nevertheless, NRDC and CS agreed that
Ecuadorian Indian and environmental organizations had to be
consulted and included before the topics could be considered
further, let alone detailed. The only agreement was a decision to
meet again with Indian and environmental organizations in Ecuador.
Before travelling, CS and NRDC sent letters to both CONAIE, the
national Indian organization, and CONFENIAE, the regional Amazonian
organization. The letters clearly stated that CS and NRDC had met
with CONOCO and that the purpose of the trip was to discuss these
meetings with the Indian organizations.
General Concerns
Cultural Survival's concern goes beyond the particular case of
CONOCO, and into basic human rights and dignity. Possible
discussions between Indians and oil companies in Ecuador represent
a response to two, broad, frequently expressed concerns of Indian
organizations, in Ecuador and elsewhere. One is their right to
represent themselves. The other is their desire for economic self-
determination.
Representation
Indians regularly seek, and usually fail, to meet directly and
as equals with development and industrial interests. Many Indian
leaders state that their main opposition to oil production and
similar large scale activities is that the Indians are never
consulted or included in the plans and decisions which affect their
lands. Recently, these same concerns have been directed toward
environmental organizations which, however different their ends,
also make plans for Indians' lands. The recent development of
Indian organizations like CONFENIAE is a response to centuries of
political and economic marginalization. These organizations now
demand to be recognized and heard.
CONOCO representatives, beyond an easily stated concern to
minimize the work's social and environmental impact, also said that
they were open to discussing these matters with the region's
indigenous people. Thus, CONOCO's initiative appeared to coincide
with CONFENIAE's desire to be treated as a legitimate
representative of the Amazonian Indian communities. The assumption
was confirmed by Martinez's January 1991 meetings with various
Indian leaders and organizations, and reinforced by CONFENIAE's
March 1991 proposal to CONOCO.
Economic Self-Determination
Indian organizations also see improvement of Indian's
generally impoverished economic condition as part of their role.
CONOCO representatives, in turn, indicated that they would consider
providing enough money to establish an independent fund, the
interest from which could be used for environmental monitoring and
local development programs. Access to such a fund suggested that
Indian organizations could plan and undertake long-range programs,
rather than rely on the irregular, short-term grants provided by
international donors. Such economic self-determination is the
expressed goal of many Indian organizations. Nevertheless,
CONFENIAE will decide whether or not to pursue such an idea through
CONOCO.
The first direct meetings between CONOCO and CONFENIAE's
directorate are scheduled for late May 1991. Most likely, the
meetings will only begin a process of discussion and debate, within
the Indian organization itself as well as between the Indians and
others. The event is nonetheless historic. The internal Indian
debate is a normal, healthy, and democratic process. In turn, as
events progress, the Indians deserve, and probably will demand, the
time and freedom to consider and weigh a range of alternatives.
Cultural Survival, along with NRDC, has offered to assist CONFENIAE
regarding several broad concerns related to oil development in the
Amazonian region, and to help them move forward with their specific
requests to CONOCO. The pace of all these activities will be
determined by the Indian organizations. The outcome may not satisfy
the interests of the wide range of groups which have focused
attention on the case. Nevertheless, the process undoubtedly will
serve as an example for all those concerned with linking human
rights and needs with environmental interests.
For additional information or comments contact:
Ted Macdonald, Projects Director
Cultural Survival, 53-A Church St, Cambridge, Mass 02138 USA
Tel: (617)495-2562
FAX: (617)495-1396