Indigenous peoples define collective position in santa marta conferece
After two days of work, the Autonomous Gathering of the Indigenous Peoples’ Advocacy Pathway is over with a unified, collective position that reflects the consensus of all the involved Indigenous Peoples representatives and organizations.
The day was opened by introductory remarks from the Edith Bastidas (Pasto people) Vice Minister of Environmental Policy and Regulation, and Minister of Equality Luis Alfredo Acosta Zapata (Nasa people). On her part, Vice Minister Bastidas welcomed representatives from around the world highlighting that their presence "showed that Indigenous Peoples, regardless of territory and geography, are united in the defense of life".
During his speech, Minister Acosta mourned the loss of Indigenous lives in the Cauca region caused by a terrorist attack by armed groups in recent days. "Today, more than ever before, we as Indigenous Peoples, must be united in a single word, to protect all forms of life in our planet from those who seek to destroy it", remarked Acosta.
The day continued with the review discussion of the position that, tomorrow, 2 Indigenous representatives (one from Colombia and one from the international Indigenous movement) will present before the governments attending the high-level segment of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.
While the day saw dialogue on difficult questions and hard conversations, the space was described by Janene Yazzie (Diné) as "healing", as it allowed for Indigenous Peoples to autonomously discuss the issues facing their territories and rights without impositions and in an encounter that was rooted in self-determination.
Today, the SIRGE Coalition is honored the official Position of Indigenous Peoples in the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.
