From pdh@u.washington.edu Wed Jan 4 03:59:35 PST 1995 >From pdh@u.washington.edu Wed Jan 4 03:59:35 1995 Return-Path: Received: from stein3.u.washington.edu by lists.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW94.10/UW-NDC Revision: 2.32 ) id AA25585; Wed, 4 Jan 95 03:59:35 -0800 Received: by stein3.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW94.10/UW-NDC Revision: 2.32 ) id AA21440; Wed, 4 Jan 95 03:59:34 -0800 X-Sender: pdh@stein3.u.washington.edu Date: Wed, 4 Jan 1995 03:59:34 -0800 (PST) From: Preston Hardison To: indknow@u.washington.edu Subject: CBD COP1: CBD and Indigenous Peoples Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII The following message comes from the biodiversity conference on EcoNet. For more information on Econet, PeaceNet or the Institute for Global Communication, send a blank e-mail message to: econet-info@igc.apc.org, peacenet-info@igc.apc.org, or igc-info@igc.apc.org. Written 3:47 PM Dec 30, 1994 by jacses in igc:biodiversity Inaugural Breakfast, held on December 8 1994, at the COP, to mark the UN International Decade of the World's Indigenous People THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION AS IT AFFECTS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES Statement prepared by Alejandro Argumedo In the name of all my brothers and sisters attending this first COP I would like to give you our perspective and concerns about the main issues of relevance to Indigenous Peoples within the Convention. Let me begin by saying that this treaty is of the utmost importance to the world's Indigenous Peoples. For us, biological diversity is nothing else than the land itself, which in our understanding is sacred. It is our Mother from which we, and all other species, have arisen to become the diversity of life. This treaty is a recognition of the holistic nature of Mother Earth and its objectives can set the ground for planning our future under the principle of the generation. We urge you to seriously consider this approach in the future implementation of this Convention. We have been pleased to hear during the last two weeks that our rights and our practices and our knowledge must be recognised according to our own values, to protect our cultural integrity. We are also pleased that many of you recognise the need for an equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of our innovations. We are looking forward to cooperating with you and to contributing to the various important endeavours you are undertaking in your medium term programme. However, cooperation and new partnerships must begin by undoing the historical inequities that are still commonplace in many of our communities. These inequities are also reflected somewhat in the lack of indigenous participation within the process of this Convention. Participation in this process is crucial for us as this treaty is shaping a new international legal framework that will directly affect our daily lives. Thus we are concerned that Article 8(j) is being hurried towards implementation without the proper consultation process with affected peoples. Consultation can only enrich and benefit the implementation of this article. We are also concerned that the recommendations of the Mexico meeting of scientists and experts regarding the value of indigenous knowledge and the expertise of Indigenous Peoples for the conservation of biological diversity and its components have not been considered within the subsidiary body. We are deeply concerned that the medium term programme has sectorialised Indigenous Peoples' issues within the Convention's medium-term programme of work. Thus issues of access, intellectual property rights and equitable sharing of benefits are being treated separately from knowledge, innovations and practices. Indigenous Peoples' concerns are holistic concerns. Thus we urge you to treat Article 8(j) as a whole, maintaining the integrity of the three aspects, which require that we: * respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices * promote their wider application and the involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices * encourage equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilisation of such knowledge, innovations and practices We hope that this issue can be addressed during the discussion on measures for implementing Article 8 as called for in item 5.2.2. of the medium-term programme of work for 1995. Thank you. Kia ora .