Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved. Permission to re-
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Title: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE: WORLD CONGRESS BEGINS
rio de janeiro, may 25 (ips) -- with leaders from all five
continents in attendance, the world congress of indigenous
peoples began on monday in a small town outside this brazilian
city.
dressed in traditional costumes - a kaleidescope of colorful
materials, feathers, beads and body paints - dozens of indigenous
people from different parts of the planet greeted each other
amidst the dancing of a brazilian tribe.
the participants will meet and discuss various issues until
the congress concludes saturday. they will also draft a ''letter
from the earth,'' to be read at the united nations conference on
the environment and development (unced) which will take place in
rio from june 3 to 14.
''one of the main virtues of this meeting is that it unites
indigenous people from such diverse parts of the world,'' donald
rojas, a boruca indian from costa rica and president of the world
council of indigenous peoples, told ips.
''we want to create a new relationship between indigenous
peoples and nation states,'' rojas said. ''we need political
space and the right to organise ourselves.''
rojas added that ''it's not indigenous peoples' intention to
completely separate ourselves from the countries where we live,
but we want autonomy and respect for our ways of life.''
on a world-wide scale, rojas said, wherever there are
indigenous people, there is more respect for the environment and
for this reason they must let the industrialised world know more
about their ideas and beliefs.
while the brazilian indians of the terena and kaiowa tribe
danced in the small town of ''kari-oca,'' other participants
were circulating and greeting each other in emotional embraces.
''there may have been sadness on our faces, but we have
happiness in our hearts,'' eliane potiguara, a brazilian indian
said.
brazilian senator darcy ribeiro, addressed the opening
ceremony saying, ''indigenous people have a lot to teach us.''
''you have an important role, more than you may know,'' he
added.
the congress is made up of representatives from nearly every
american country, as well as indigenous peoples from europe,
russia, new zealand, australia, africa, and other nations.
(end/ips/sp/tra/gc-ug/eli)