Post on 19-Dec-2015
Indigenous Movements & MobilizationEcuador and Bolivia
Ecuador: Naciones y Pueblos
HighlandsQuichua
nationality (95% of indigenous pop.)
◦ 16 pueblos
Amazon 10 nationalities
(ethno-linguistic groups)
Coast 6 nationalities
Bolivian Indigenous GroupsAymara (25% pop.) Altiplano (high plains) Ayullus Quechua (30% pop.) Temperate valleys –
Cochabamba Historically greater
subordination to haciendas
Amazonian Peoples 30 ethno-linguistic groups Sustained contact with
outside world only in 20th century
Evolution of Indigenous Movement & Political Organizations
1970s – Emergence of Indigenous Organizations & Discourses• Katarista Movement, Bolivia• CSUTCB – National Campesino Union, Bolivia - 1978• Regional indigenous organizations, Ecuador1980s – Unity in Ecuador; Failure of Indigenous Discourse to
Transcend in Bolivia• Katarista Political Parties, Bolivia• CONAIE – Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador
- 19861990s – National & International Actors; Incursion into
Formal Politics• 1990 – Indigenous uprising, Ecuador• 1992 – First Continental Encounter of Indian Peoples, Quito• 1994 – Uprising against neoliberal agricultural law, Ecuador• 1996 – Pachakutik Ecuador & ASP/MAS in Bolivia• 1997 – Constitutional Assembly - Ecuador
Concept of Plurinationality As Quoted in CONAIE’s Political ProjectThe oppression, exploitation and discrimination of the Indigenous Nationalities and Peoples has impeded Ecuador’s consolidation as a nation-state.
The undeniable existence of various Indigenous Nationalities and Peoples, understood as socio-cultural entities, that are fully constituted socio-economically and politically; who share similar spiritual, linguistic, historical and cultural identities which differentiate us from other groups, is the essence and foundation of Plurinationality. That is why the new State must begin from the recognition of diversity as the basis of its structures.
Elements of PlurinationalismSelf-determination, Celebration of diversityAnti-discrimination & affirmative
actionRedistribution of resourcesShare decision over natural resourcesTerritories with equal status as
traditional state divisionsEthnic quotas & representation in the
state
InterculturalityRight to differentness & diversity,
but more emphasis on unity & living together
Inclusion & equality over autonomy
Anti-discrimination & affirmative action
The Indigenous Movement & Correa’s Citizen Revolution
DINEIB – removal of indigenous organizational control over bi-lingual education & other gov’t agencies
Water & mining laws – source of conflict
Racism in Bolivia
Indigenous Autonomies in Bolivia Article 1:
◦ “Bolivia is a united, plurinational, communitarian state, which is free, independent, sovereign, democratic, intercultural, decentralized and with territorial autonomies [municipal, departmental, regional, and indigenous], based on plurality and political, economic, judicial, cultural and linguistic pluralism.”
Article 278: ◦ Indigenous assemblymen will be “elected by the
indigenous, original, peasant nations and peoples according to their own norms and procedures.”