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Posted by Tyson Yunkaporta Aug 31, 2007 |
Chávez' presidential campaign platform in 1998 involved a heavy commitment to Venezuela's indigenous peoples. He addressed Indigenous issues publicly at least once a week after he was elected, and worked successfully to codify the rights of indigenous people in Article 9 of the new constitution, which states that, "Indigenous languages are also for official use for Indigenous peoples and must be respected throughout the Republic's territory for being part of the nation's and humanity's patrimonial culture."
The constitution also recognizes the social, political, and economic organization within indigenous communities, in addition to their cultures, languages, rights, and lands. It recognizes land rights as collective, inalienable, and non-transferable. It pledges not to engage in extraction of natural resources without prior consultation with indigenous groups. The constitution has been translated into indigenous languages, and representatives from indigenous groups have been given leadership positions in government.
He handed over 317,000 acres of native title during the early years of his presidency. This is part of a plan to provide land titles to all of Venezuela's 28 indigenous peoples. He also decided to end the celebration of Columbus Day, which he has replaced with "Indigenous Resistance Day." My favourite part of his policy is where he sends foreign aid to the U.S. to help ethnically marginalised and indigenous communities with health care and the like. His actions put other world leaders to shame.