Colombia gains regional leadership in the field of indigenous autonomy, increasing hope for Amazon protection
Colombia led the way in Latin America this week to seek indigenous rights and forest protection by formalizing indigenous local governments in the Amazon region, which has sparked hope that other countries in the region will follow its leadership.
The militants said Monday's decision allowed indigenous communities not only to entitle land, but also to give actual autonomous authority, including public budgets and administrative powers. The process that began since 2018 is underway and now there is a legal framework that enables Indigenous Parliament to act as official local governments.
“This puts Colombia in the lead in recognizing indigenous rights – not only to land, but also to make identity, autonomy and decisions about its own development,” said Mayu Velasco Anderson, head of the Colombia Program at Peru and Colombia, the Noongovernovernmovernmovernmovernmovernmovernmovernmovernmantal Organization norway Novi.
Patricia Suárez, an indigenous leader and consultant of the Colombian Amazon National Indigenous Peoples’ State Organization, called the president’s order “historic.”
“We have been seeking recognition of our autonomy and self-determination as an indigenous territorial entity for more than 30 years,” Suarez said. “This advancement is a milestone in integrating the rights of indigenous peoples as autonomous governments.”
By contrast, other Latin American countries usually only grant land titles. Brazil, for example, has a wide range of indigenous territory, often intersecting multiple cities, forcing communities to drive conflicting public systems and undermine their autonomy.
“In Brazil, even delimited and formalized indigenous land falls under the administrative boundaries of state and municipalities, and communities rely on these governments to access public policy,” said Inés Luna Maira, head of institutional partnerships at the Norwegian Rainforest Foundation. “They have to deal with the piece together of public institutions and elected officials that do not reflect indigenous governance.”
Suriname is home to some of the most complete forest, indigenous and maroon communities, lagging behind other countries in the region in this issue.
Colombia’s new framework enables direct mandate of indigenous groups on their territory, simplifying governance and enhancing the protection of forests that are crucial to combating climate change.
Julia Urrunaga, director of the Peru program at the Nonprofit Environmental Survey, welcomed the move and expressed her hope that her country would follow Colombia’s example.
“We celebrate this victory for the indigenous peoples of Colombia,” she said. “Sadly, the Peruvian government has been walking in the opposite direction – through laws without prior consultation, a violation of Peru's own constitution.”
Urrunaga points out which environmentalists call Peru’s “anti-forest law”, which says radicals say legalization of illegal deforestation in indigenous areas and the government’s promotion of palm oil plantations in Amazon forests.
“Indigenous peoples in Peru are still working to gain recognition for their ancestral territory,” she said. “Even if they have obtained it, they have not received the support they deserve to protect their land and forests for the benefit of all mankind.”
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