RESOLUTIONS OF THE CONTINENTAL INDIGENOUS COORDINATING COMMISSION ON
500 YEARS OF INDIAN RESISTANCE.
Representatives of Indigenous organizations from South, Central, and
North America met in Kuna Yala, the Kuna Nation, in the country of
Panama, from the 19-21 of December, 1991, and solemnly declare the
following:
There is an urgent need to unify the Indigenous peoples (Original
Nations) of the continent. We want to re-establish and utilize the
historical links that were disrupted by the invading colonizers. In
this way, together, we are planning the reconstruction of our communities.
On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the European invasion, we
reaffirm our historical commitment to unity and to the development of a
plan to mobilize for 500 Years of Indian Resistance and Struggle against
colonialism.
We are declaring to the world that, despite more than five centuries of
genocide, more than 40 million Indigenous peoples from Alaska to Tierra
del Fuego continue to live and plan for our future.
We maintain a firm position against all forms of colonialism, neocolonialism,
and internal and external racism. We reject all kinds of manipulation and
ideological or political imposition, because we, as peoples, have our own
ideology. We support alliances with other popular sectors in order to
change the conditions of injustice in which oppressed peoples of the world
find themselves today.
Hence, we have decided the following:
1. To form a commission charged with organizing, through a meeting of
Indigenous peoples, the establishment of a continental coordinating body
of indigenous organizations and peoples. This continental coordinating
body will consist of representatives of all indigenous peoples, Original
Nations, of Abia Yala* (*Land of Life-the American continent in the Kuna
Language).
2. To carry out a coordinated plan of action for 500 Years of Indian
Resistance and Struggle against colonialism.
3. To organize workshops and continental gatherings in order to make
known the Indian position regarding the 500 years, with the goal of
attaining a definitive unity at the continental level.
We reject the celebrations of the so-called "Quincentennial of the
Discovery of America", "Encounter of Two Worlds", and the "Quincentennial of
Evangelization." We are promoting actions at the regional, national, and
continental levels which respond to the fundamental interests of our
peoples and honor our ancestors who gave their lives defending the
dignity of our peoples. In the same spirit, we will continue to confront
oppressive forces, such as military invasion and repression, and exploitation
of our territories by transnational corporations.
We reaffirm our commitment to a continental Indigenous alliance, and to
reciprocal support in our struggles for rights and self-determination,
traiditional ways of life, religion, culture, and protection of our
Mother Earth with all her resources.
We vigorously condemn the recent massacre of our Paez brothers [and
sisters] in Colombia which occurred on December 17, 1991. This is just
one more example of the genocide that has been waged against indigenous
peoples for the past five hundred years.
Finally, we call on all nations, organizations, and Indian communities of
the continent, even the most isolated ones, to unite in this great effort
for action and continental coordination, on the path towards the
liberation of our peoples.
Signed on the 21st of December, 1991 in Kuna Yala (Panama) BY:
Roberto Gonzales, ONIC (National Indigenous Organization of Colombia)
Luis Maldonado, CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador.
Aucan Huilcaman, CTT (Council of All [Mapuche] Lands, Chile
Lola Veliz, CMIB (Coordinating Body of Indigenous Women of Bolivia
Ricardo Cajas, COMG, (Council of Mayan Organizations of Guatemala)
Margarito Ruiz, FIPI (Independent Front of Indigenous Peoples of Mexico)
Andrea Carmen and Robert Cruz, IITC (International Indian Treaty Council,USA)
Laurie Weahkee, TONANTZIN Land Institute, USA
Marcial Arias & Atencio Lopez [Conveyors] (Association of Kunas United for
NABGUANA-KUNA, Panama)
Nilo Cayuqueo & Guillermo Delgado-P., SAIIC (South & Mesoamerican Indian
Information Center, USA)
Andrea Carmen ((Artic 1992 and Beyond/Sovereignty Network of Alaska,USA)
Indigenous Association for the Development of the Peruvian Amazon-AIDESEP
The Indian Voice of Costa Rica, SEJEKTO
The Association of KUNAS United for Nabguana (KUNA) has been selected as
the communications center of the Continental Indian commission formed at
the Kuna Yala (Panama) meeting. For further information please contact
KUNA
Via Espana, Edif. Brasilia Piso 1, Oficina 9-A
Apartado Postal 536
Panama 1, PANAMA
Fax (507) 693-514
Telf: (507) 638-879
Representative Commissions
Coordinating the Southern Cone:
Council of all [Mapuche] Lands
Coordinating Body of Indigenous Women of Bolivia
Coordinating the [Northern] Andean Region
CONAIE, Ecuador
ONIC, Colombia
Coordinating the Central American Region
Association of KUNAS United for Nabguana
COMG, Councial of Mayan Organizations of Guatemala
Coordinating Mexico
FIPI, Independent Alliance of Indigenous People of Mexico
Coordinating North America
Tonantzin Land Institute
IITC, International Indian Treaty Council
South & Mesoamerican Indian Information Center
CC: All Indian Organizations, Popular Movement Organizations, European
and USA supporting 500 Resistance Committees, Churches of all
Denominations and Fundations.