From: SAIIC Date: 27 Nov 91 11:57 PST Subject: THOUGHTS ON 500 YRS MTGS FROM KUNA Message-ID: <1563600087@igc.org> The following statement is from the Kuna Indians in Panama, who are hosting a planning meeting for a Continental Workshop on 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance to be held in Guatemala in April of 1992. The Workshop in Guatemala is being sposored by groups listed in the accompanying invitation from the Kuna. Should you have more questions please contact SAIIC via postal mail at the address below. ___________________________________________________ Background Information on the Planning Meeting for 500 Years of Indian Resistance Activities On the eve of the commemoration of 500 Years of the European invasion many activities are emerging at the international level. Many events and activities are being planned for next year, especially throughout the Americas and in Europe. These events are not only of great significance to our peoples, but also to the rest of the world, as they learn about the 500 years of genocide and colonization. We, indigenous peoples are more than just present, but are rebuilding our societies for the next 500 years of justice and liberty. We believe that it is crucial that all indigenous people come together to analyze what we have accomplished up until now, as we plan for 1992 and beyond. Our beliefs have been negated for so long; others have spoken for us and have imposed their political ideologies upon us. We must now come together in order to build a more just society, based on the rights of each group, no matter how small, to choose our own destiny. We are very conscious that the struggle for justice will not be achieved by Indian people alone. An alliance with other oppressed sectors is necessary. However, this alliance should emerge from an atmosphere of respect for our differences. Truthfully, we have not yet seen such an alliance at the international level, especially in the context of the 500 years. The Conference on 500 Years in Guatemala is an example of how certain groups from the popular sector exploit indigenous interests for their own political benefit. We believe that the indigenous continental alliance is very important in order for us to exchange experiences, to extend our familial ties which for so many years have been disrupted, and to collectively strategize for a better world. When we have regained our strength and conceptualized our future, we will be in better condition for dialogue and unity among all oppressed peoples. Note: We request that suggestions or contributions to this paper be made in writing and submitted to the December meeting in Panama. KUNA, Via Espaa, Edificio Brasilia, Piso 1 Ofic. 9-A, Apartado 536, Panama 1, PANAMA Tel: 507-638879, Fax: 507-693514 Or sent correspondence to SAIIC P.O. Box 28703 Oakland, CA 94604 email: saiic@igc.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: SAIIC Date: 27 Nov 91 11:59 PST Subject: INVITE TO MTG IN PANAMA - DEC'91 Message-ID: <1563600088@igc.org> Invitation to the Planning Meeting for 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance Activities November 20th, 1991 Panama Dear Indigenous Brothers and Sisters: This is an official invitation to attend the meeting for coordinating and planning 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance Activities, which will take place in Panama City, December 19-21, 1991, and sponsored by Kunas Unidos por Nabguana [Kunas United for Mother Earth (KUNA)]. This important gathering is being held in accordance with a decision made at an indigenous meeting which took place alongside the Continental Conference of Indigenous Peoples and the Popular Movement in Guatemala. We are calling this meeting due to the dissatisfaction of the indigenous participants of the aforementioned conference. Since then, we have been in consultation with indigenous organizations who were not present during the meeting in Panama. We will plan a Workshop on Indigenous Resistance to be held in Guatemala next April. The following organizations have commited their participation in the planning meeting: Consejo de Todas las Tierras (Mapuche, Chile); Confederacin de Nacionalidades Indgenas del Ecuador (CONAIE); Sejekto (La Voz del Indio, Costa Rica); Asociacin Nacional Indgena de El Salvador (ANIS); Consejo de Organizaciones Mayas of Guatemala (COMG); Revista Etnias, and Frente Independiente de Pueblos Indios (FIPI) of Mexico; Tonantzin Indian Land Institute (New Mexico), 1992 Indigenous Network of Canada, and the South and Meso American Indian Information Center (SAIIC) of the United States. All indigenous organizations are welcome to participate in this meeting. We are trying to raise funds for transportation, but we strongly encourage you to raise your own funds. Please notify us as soon as possible if you will be attending. We will be providing room and board for participants. We are all very enthusiastic about the meeting and will do the impossible so that all goes well. For further information, please call us in Panama (Spanish) at 507-638-879, fax: 507-693-514 or call SAIIC (English and Spanish) in Oakland, California at (510) 834-4263, fax (510) 834-4264. Sincerely, Marcial Arias Atencio Lopez M President Secretary _________________________ The above invitation was sent to SAIIC, and we were asked to disseminate it to North American Indian organizations. If you would like to participate or support this conference, please contact SAIIC. It will take many resources to host this conference, if you or someone you know would like to contribute to the conference, let us know. South and Meso American Indian Information Center SAIIC P.O. Box 28703 Oakland, CA 94604 E-Mail:saiic@igc.org