Guillermo Delgado-P.
The South & Mesoamerican Indian Information Center
Thirty three representatives of the Americas, with the exception of
Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Honduras, and Nicaragua,
attended a three-day meeting with the purpose of evaluating the
situation of autonomous Indigenous presses and their current networking.
Carlos Briceto, of "Desenmascaremos el 92" [Let's unmask 1992] from
Madrid, Spain, and a Sami representative of Sami Radio [Sweeden]
participated during the three day event as well. Messages of
support were received by the organizers, Genaro Bautista, Natividad
Gutierrez and Otilio Atanasio, board members of ETNIAS, an Indian
publication based in Mexico City.
The main resolutions, which have not as yet been released publically,
emphasize the need to constitute an active networking amongst
indigenous peoples of the Americas, the Sami people, and all
communication organizations who respect the autonomy and
self-determination of Indigenous peoples of the Abya Yala Continent.
In an interview with SAIIC, Genaro Bautista, said: "The meeting was a
success. Although some delegates could not arrive on time, most of them
let us know they were supportive of the Indigenous information
networking. They saw it as a reality which will be maintained alive
because of the interest of the Indigenous peoples". Natividad
Gutierrez, a very active member of the ETNIAS team shared her opinion
with SAIIC stressing that: "The Continental communication of Indigenous
peoples is a need that can no longer wait, Indigenous peoples have to
share experiences, and be supportive of our presses in order to
disseminate important information".
After the three days of discussions it was agreed that the members would
maintain contact and work together with CONIC, the Continental Indigenous
Coordinating Commission on 500 Years of Indian Resistance, of which the
general assembly was informed in detail. All delegates, as potential
journalists, will act as responsible correspondents in their own
countries, and will distribute the information to all participating
members and other Indigenous journalists interested in becoming part of
this Continental network.
In the U.S., SAIIC will continue to play a communicator role, and will
channel membership in this indigenous press Continental organization.
Among the participants were publication coordinators of the
following newspapers, journals: Aidesep (Peru), COOPA (Costa Rica),
CHIRAPAQ (Peru), Communications Autochtones (Montreal), GRUMIN-Grupo-
Mulher (Brazil), SAIIC (Oakland, USA), OYENDU-CIDOB (Bolivia),
Nuestra Palabra (Iztapalapa, Mx), SIGU (Kuna, Panama), AD-MAPU
(Elisa Avendano, visiting), Unidad Indigena, ONIC (Colombia), El
Teque-Mixteco (Fresno, USA), COTLA (College Park, CA, USA), TV-Canal "6
de Julio" (Mexico), BINIGULAZAA (Oaxaca, Mex), ETNIAS (Mexico), SEJECTO,
La Voz del Indio (Costa Rica), AUKIN VOZ MAPUCHE (CHILE), M.A.Y.A.S.
(Guatemala), Cultura Huichol (Mexico), El Financiero, Sistema
Nacional de Informacion Indigena (Mexico), Consejo Nacional de la
Cultura Maya (Mexico), Sami Radio (Sweeden), Casa de la Unidad del
Pueblo (Mexico).
Further information: ETNIAS, Madero 67-611, Centro,
Mexico, DF. 06000.