Linked with our presentation of the KARI-OCA DECLARATION.
« …for organising to protect the rights of the indians of the amazon basin. »
He says: « We are now facing a difficult situation in Peru, where there are attempts to cut back the territorial rights of the indigenous peoples, including moves to divide, fragment and privatise our communal organisations. Now more than ever, it is a matter of urgency for us to consolidate our own indigenous alternatives for development. »
Evaristo Nugkuag Ikanan – Peru
1986 he was awarded for upholding the rights of the Amazon Indians.
Since the European invasion of South America in the 16th century, the indigenous peoples, and especially those of the Amazon, were confronted with various ‘civilising’ forces which brought the destruction of their lands, resources, cultures and rights, and even individual or mass killings. On the threshold of the 21st century , this reality still continues in different forms, using violent or subtle methods according to the country concerned. In this context, Evaristo Nugkuag Ikanan became a leader of the Aguaruna people of Peru and has devoted himself to organising the indigenous people of the Amazon Basin in order to uphold their human, civil, economic and political rights. In 1977, he was one of the founders of the Aguaruna and Huambisa Council (CAH) which represented 45,000 inhabitants of 140 communities in the tropical forest region. Developing alternative methods of land protection, human development, health care and education, the Council became one of the most effective indigenous organisations in South America …
… From 1977 to 1996, Nukuag worked on bottom-up precesses from community to international level. Having sought to maximise the voice of indigenous people in global fora, he then felt called to return to his roots at CAH in order to work on the impact of international forces at the local level. He has set himself the task of constructiong an alternative human development strategy for the Aguaruna and Huambisa people. Among other initiatives is one of bioprosepcción indígena, which makes use of the Amazonian forest (without felling it) to improve the human quality of life through natural, organic and spiritual approaches to health, medicine, agriculture, nutrition and industrial uses. This would require changes of national policy in respect of education, the law and government structures. The initiative is one aspect of the struggle Nugkuag has now undertaken to find concrete expression for indigenous ideas of self-determination and alternative development. (Read more in the article of the right livelihood).
links:
wikipedia in french;
a better world link;
The coica.org;
IRN;
climat alliance annual report 2002-2003;