Summary, Strategies, Recommendations
General Summary
Indigenous peoples in all regions face similar problems concerning their involvement in national politics. The summary of this current state of things is as follows:
1. Most indigenous peoples are marginalized. Their land and resources are being systematically and unjustly taken away, mainly by governments, multinational companies, and business groups. They also have little or no access to public services such as education, health and needed infrastructures. This state-neglect compounds their impoverishment and economic deprivation. This condition of most indigenous peoples reflects on their powerlessness in mainstream society, especially since they do not have control over their land and resources, and resource exploitation continues to worsen under present political systems. The rapid dispossession of indigenous peoples from their land and resources further weakens their meaningful participation in any political exercise and structure.
2. The minority-majority division in the nation-state limits the democratic space, and political participation and representation of indigenous peoples. Most political systems are dominated if not controlled by the majority. Thus, as minorities, indigenous peoples are marginalized in the social, economic and political life of the nation. The dichotomy of majority-minority without due recognition of the rights of the minority is inherently disadvantageous to indigenous peoples' participation and involvement in the political structures of a nation-state.
3. The history of oppression imposed by colonial governments continues to influence present political systems of nation states. Under colonialism a national elite was created, which took control of a nation's political system and continues to be greatly influenced by their former colonial masters. In this context, indigenous peoples, especially those who opposed colonial rule, are not truly represented in national political systems. History shows the political marginalization of indigenous peoples, even in areas where they form the majority. While there are cases of political representation at the local level, genuine representation is almost absent at the higher levels of government.
4. Existing borders of nation states are causing more conflicts with regard to territories, resources, and political representation. This problem is historically rooted in the political divisions made and imposed by colonial powers, especially in the case of Africa. These border problems are leading to political tensions on resource-control and to confusion on the issue of proper political representation. The non-recognition of the territories of indigenous peoples further aggravates further aggravates conflicts between nation states and indigenous peoples.
5. Systems of political parties and electoral processes violate traditional systems of decision-making and representation of indigenous peoples. National parties do not represent the interests of indigenous peoples but are only interested in getting their votes. Party-politics, based on personalities and social and political influence, is alien to most indigenous peoples, who still adhere to their traditional political systems. These indigenous systems give premium to the wisdom of elders and consensus in decision making in building and upholding community unity. On the other hand, party politics leads to disunity and division in villages and communities. It causes competition among political parties on proper representation of constituents, leading to the further marginalization and disadvantage of small groups.
6. The structures of traditional state party systems do not accommodate multi-ethnic/heterogeneous populations/constituencies for proper representation and selection. Even in areas where indigenous peoples create their own political parties, these can hardly compete with the dominant political parties of the majority, given their limited resources, level of influence in media, and limited capacity to set up support machineries for elections, among other reasons. In addition, the process of popular elections that are usually marred by cheating, fraud and dirty tactics, is deplorable and discourages the meaningful participation of indigenous peoples.
7. Lack of education and low literacy among the indigenous peoples, compounded by their poverty, make them vulnerable to politicians' vote-buying and into believing their empty promises, as well as political propaganda and advertisements. Thus, lack of education and awareness lessens any meaningful participation of indigenous peoples in the electoral process.
8. The indigenous peoples' lack of access to and participation in media already puts them at a disadvantage in the political life of the nation-state. Even community radio is hardly accessible to them due to government restrictions and corruption in the national media. There is not much interest among the media in indigenous issues and indigenous peoples working as journalists get marginalized themselves. The media is a powerful tool for information dissemination, awareness building, and enlightened decision making on political issues, but the indigenous peoples' situation has marginalized them from its use.
9. Certain indigenous peoples practice self-governance in varying degrees under autonomy structures within their nation-states. These are the Sami people of Sweden, Norway and Finland, through their Sami parliaments, the Inuit of Greenland through the Greenland Home Rule, the Kuna through Kuna Yala in Panama, and the Miskito in the autonomous regions in Nicaragua. In these countries there is some level of recognition of indigenous processes and mechanisms of governance and political systems. Certain indigenous groups also engage in party politics and the electoral process of the nation state as in the case of the Miskito of Nicaragua and the Sami people. These indigenous peoples are relatively more advanced in the exercise of their socio-cultural and political rights as compared to the majority of indigenous peoples. However, their actual control over their land and resources remains a contentious issue with the nation-state.
Strategies and Recommendations:
1. Reform of states' political systems to strengthen IP communities for local autonomy. There should be recognition of indigenous political systems as an alternative system for the promotion of the collective interest and welfare of indigenous peoples. Any reform in the state's political systems should also recognize the following:
a) Mechanisms defined by indigenous peoples in selecting their leaders and in running their affairs. This shall be in accordance with their socio-cultural practices, which adhere to collective decision making, cooperation, unity and peace-building. This shall serve to strengthen the IP systems of decision-making, representation and selection of leaders.
b) Institutionalisation of the principles of accountability and transparency among all public officials in the selection and proper representation of indigenous peoples at the local and national levels.
c) Inclusion, active involvement, participation and equal or appropriate representation of women and youth on all levels of governance/political structures.
d) Any form of self-governance for indigenous peoples should not be limited only to political structures, but also to their collective control, protection, management and utilization of their lands and resources.
2. Promotion of alliances with other groups and sectors at the local, national and international levels for the promotion of indigenous peoples' rights, protection of their resources, democratic participation and representation of all democratic sectors within the nation-state. These alliances with other groups shall also work for peace, justice, mutual respect, and cooperation f or the common good of the people - both indigenous and non-indigenous.
3. Review border divisions of nation-states with due recognition of the territories of indigenous peoples. This shall be towards resolving border conflicts, recognition of indigenous peoples' control and management over their resources, and proper political representation of indigenous peoples within nation states or putting up autonomous political structures for indigenous peoples to exercise the right to self determination.
4. National party system and electoral process can be viable and meaningful to certain groups of indigenous peoples if there exists a democratic space within the nation-states that provides an equal playing field for the participation of indigenous peoples. This should include the recognition and respect of the indigenous peoples' systems of decision-making and mechanism for self-governance. The electoral process should also be clean and honest to ensure the integrity of the process as a truly democratic exercise of the people.
5. Develop indigenous peoples' education systems that will enhance and transmit traditional knowledge, culture and information to serve the needs of indigenous peoples. To achieve this, the following points should be implemented:
a) Move to change the imposed/western education system that is discriminatory to indigenous peoples.
b) Review the content of educational materials and revise curricula to make it relevant and responsive to the needs and interests of indigenous peoples.
c) Ensure facilities and access to education on all levels and from child to adult, Especially for the girl-child.
d) Promote education on women's rights and gender sensitivity.
e) Adopt communication and information strategies to highlight indigenous peoples issues and concerns in the media:
i) Ensure national and international media coverage of local indigenous peoples' struggles, especially those under repressive states.
ii) Develop mechanisms and actions to ensure participation in and access to media, including the setting up of media outfits managed by indigenous peoples.
Excerpt from the IWGIA publication: Challenging Politics: Indigenous Peoples' Experiences with Political Parties and Elections. ed. by Kathrin Wessendorf, IWGIA 2001.
General Summary
Indigenous peoples in all regions face similar problems concerning their involvement in national politics. The summary of this current state of things is as follows:
1. Most indigenous peoples are marginalized. Their land and resources are being systematically and unjustly taken away, mainly by governments, multinational companies, and business groups. They also have little or no access to public services such as education, health and needed infrastructures. This state-neglect compounds their impoverishment and economic deprivation. This condition of most indigenous peoples reflects on their powerlessness in mainstream society, especially since they do not have control over their land and resources, and resource exploitation continues to worsen under present political systems. The rapid dispossession of indigenous peoples from their land and resources further weakens their meaningful participation in any political exercise and structure.
2. The minority-majority division in the nation-state limits the democratic space, and political participation and representation of indigenous peoples. Most political systems are dominated if not controlled by the majority. Thus, as minorities, indigenous peoples are marginalized in the social, economic and political life of the nation. The dichotomy of majority-minority without due recognition of the rights of the minority is inherently disadvantageous to indigenous peoples' participation and involvement in the political structures of a nation-state.
3. The history of oppression imposed by colonial governments continues to influence present political systems of nation states. Under colonialism a national elite was created, which took control of a nation's political system and continues to be greatly influenced by their former colonial masters. In this context, indigenous peoples, especially those who opposed colonial rule, are not truly represented in national political systems. History shows the political marginalization of indigenous peoples, even in areas where they form the majority. While there are cases of political representation at the local level, genuine representation is almost absent at the higher levels of government.
4. Existing borders of nation states are causing more conflicts with regard to territories, resources, and political representation. This problem is historically rooted in the political divisions made and imposed by colonial powers, especially in the case of Africa. These border problems are leading to political tensions on resource-control and to confusion on the issue of proper political representation. The non-recognition of the territories of indigenous peoples further aggravates further aggravates conflicts between nation states and indigenous peoples.
5. Systems of political parties and electoral processes violate traditional systems of decision-making and representation of indigenous peoples. National parties do not represent the interests of indigenous peoples but are only interested in getting their votes. Party-politics, based on personalities and social and political influence, is alien to most indigenous peoples, who still adhere to their traditional political systems. These indigenous systems give premium to the wisdom of elders and consensus in decision making in building and upholding community unity. On the other hand, party politics leads to disunity and division in villages and communities. It causes competition among political parties on proper representation of constituents, leading to the further marginalization and disadvantage of small groups.
6. The structures of traditional state party systems do not accommodate multi-ethnic/heterogeneous populations/constituencies for proper representation and selection. Even in areas where indigenous peoples create their own political parties, these can hardly compete with the dominant political parties of the majority, given their limited resources, level of influence in media, and limited capacity to set up support machineries for elections, among other reasons. In addition, the process of popular elections that are usually marred by cheating, fraud and dirty tactics, is deplorable and discourages the meaningful participation of indigenous peoples.
7. Lack of education and low literacy among the indigenous peoples, compounded by their poverty, make them vulnerable to politicians' vote-buying and into believing their empty promises, as well as political propaganda and advertisements. Thus, lack of education and awareness lessens any meaningful participation of indigenous peoples in the electoral process.
8. The indigenous peoples' lack of access to and participation in media already puts them at a disadvantage in the political life of the nation-state. Even community radio is hardly accessible to them due to government restrictions and corruption in the national media. There is not much interest among the media in indigenous issues and indigenous peoples working as journalists get marginalized themselves. The media is a powerful tool for information dissemination, awareness building, and enlightened decision making on political issues, but the indigenous peoples' situation has marginalized them from its use.
9. Certain indigenous peoples practice self-governance in varying degrees under autonomy structures within their nation-states. These are the Sami people of Sweden, Norway and Finland, through their Sami parliaments, the Inuit of Greenland through the Greenland Home Rule, the Kuna through Kuna Yala in Panama, and the Miskito in the autonomous regions in Nicaragua. In these countries there is some level of recognition of indigenous processes and mechanisms of governance and political systems. Certain indigenous groups also engage in party politics and the electoral process of the nation state as in the case of the Miskito of Nicaragua and the Sami people. These indigenous peoples are relatively more advanced in the exercise of their socio-cultural and political rights as compared to the majority of indigenous peoples. However, their actual control over their land and resources remains a contentious issue with the nation-state.
Strategies and Recommendations:
1. Reform of states' political systems to strengthen IP communities for local autonomy. There should be recognition of indigenous political systems as an alternative system for the promotion of the collective interest and welfare of indigenous peoples. Any reform in the state's political systems should also recognize the following:
a) Mechanisms defined by indigenous peoples in selecting their leaders and in running their affairs. This shall be in accordance with their socio-cultural practices, which adhere to collective decision making, cooperation, unity and peace-building. This shall serve to strengthen the IP systems of decision-making, representation and selection of leaders.
b) Institutionalisation of the principles of accountability and transparency among all public officials in the selection and proper representation of indigenous peoples at the local and national levels.
c) Inclusion, active involvement, participation and equal or appropriate representation of women and youth on all levels of governance/political structures.
d) Any form of self-governance for indigenous peoples should not be limited only to political structures, but also to their collective control, protection, management and utilization of their lands and resources.
2. Promotion of alliances with other groups and sectors at the local, national and international levels for the promotion of indigenous peoples' rights, protection of their resources, democratic participation and representation of all democratic sectors within the nation-state. These alliances with other groups shall also work for peace, justice, mutual respect, and cooperation f or the common good of the people - both indigenous and non-indigenous.
3. Review border divisions of nation-states with due recognition of the territories of indigenous peoples. This shall be towards resolving border conflicts, recognition of indigenous peoples' control and management over their resources, and proper political representation of indigenous peoples within nation states or putting up autonomous political structures for indigenous peoples to exercise the right to self determination.
4. National party system and electoral process can be viable and meaningful to certain groups of indigenous peoples if there exists a democratic space within the nation-states that provides an equal playing field for the participation of indigenous peoples. This should include the recognition and respect of the indigenous peoples' systems of decision-making and mechanism for self-governance. The electoral process should also be clean and honest to ensure the integrity of the process as a truly democratic exercise of the people.
5. Develop indigenous peoples' education systems that will enhance and transmit traditional knowledge, culture and information to serve the needs of indigenous peoples. To achieve this, the following points should be implemented:
a) Move to change the imposed/western education system that is discriminatory to indigenous peoples.
b) Review the content of educational materials and revise curricula to make it relevant and responsive to the needs and interests of indigenous peoples.
c) Ensure facilities and access to education on all levels and from child to adult, Especially for the girl-child.
d) Promote education on women's rights and gender sensitivity.
e) Adopt communication and information strategies to highlight indigenous peoples issues and concerns in the media:
i) Ensure national and international media coverage of local indigenous peoples' struggles, especially those under repressive states.
ii) Develop mechanisms and actions to ensure participation in and access to media, including the setting up of media outfits managed by indigenous peoples.
Excerpt from the IWGIA publication: Challenging Politics: Indigenous Peoples' Experiences with Political Parties and Elections. ed. by Kathrin Wessendorf, IWGIA 2001.
