Indigenous Peoples Fight for Inclusion in Development
Today, August 9 is International Dayof the World’s Indigenous Peoples, a day first proclaimed in 1994 and dedicatedto ensuring the participation of indigenous peoples in decision-making.
As indigenous peoples celebratetoday, they are calling on their governments to honor this commitment and areasking the international community for greater access to sources of aidfunding.
In the northern Philippines, inCordillera, indigenous peoples are feeling very betrayed by their governmentand foreign aid that did not support them in “their cause for self-determinedand sustainable development” (Devex News).
“U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki Moon said: ‘we highlightthe importance of honoring treaties, agreements and other constructivearrangements between states, their citizens and indigenous peoples’” (DevexNews).
Local indigenous groups haveadvocated for change to their government for years and in that time theirdemands in terms of development have not been met. Violations of indigenous rights have grown in this time andexternal groups continually dictate development and funding – indigenouspeoples who cannot present basic requirements such as birth certificates ormarriage contracts are excluded from these development projects.
Instead, donors should aid indigenousorganizations in their building capacity and funding should go straight tothese groups rather than to external forces so that indigenous populations candecided how to move forward with their own development.
On a day we are supposed to celebrateand include indigenous populations in decision-making, and on the 9th anniversaryof this day, it is shocking that there is not more inclusion and there is a lotleft to do to move forward.
Story courtesy of: https://www.devex.com/en/news/what-indigenous-peoples-need-from-foreign-aid/81603