For our roots! Support indigenous culture
To honor and support indigenous culture, the defense of their rights and the promotion of their practices for the preservation of Mother Earth, the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace (GEAP) promoted the slogan: “For our roots”, during the celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
During August, the GEAP organized and accompanied different events in Latin America, United States and Spain, along with indigenous communities, governmental agencies and educational institutions.
The activities were developed through the environmental movement Guardians for the Peace of Mother Earth, among them, the Fair for the Peace of Mother Earth, educational talks, marches, cultural and commemorative events.
In addition, a campaign on social networks was carried out to promote the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples, and to spread their languages and traditions through the hashtag #ForOurRoots.
All actions supported the UN theme in the celebration, this year it was dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous leaders in Ecuador for the rescue of their cosmogony
In Quito, a ceremony in the Itchimbía (sacred hill of the radiant sun) centered on the revaluation of the indigenous culture, the rescue of its cosmogony and the return to its roots.
Another event was held in the Amazon, at the Coliseum of the Indigenous Federation of Kichwa Communities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (FICKAE), attended by 110 indigenous people from the Kichwa, Shuar and Huaorani villages.
And in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, representatives of the Tsachila and Chachi peoples participated in a Fair for the Peace of Mother Earth.
(Read press release)
Talks about indigenous peoples in schools in Brazil
Talks in educational institutions, art exhibitions, dance performances, songs and the 5th General Assembly of Acre, were part of the activities that highlighted the indigenous culture in Brazil.
The Assembly brought together members of five indigenous peoples from different parts of the region, as well as authorities, artists and activists.
Through the Guardians for Peace of Mother Earth, a group of people were sworn in as custodians of nature.
(Read press release)
Activists for Peace in Colombia honor indigenous peoples
At the premises of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) in the center of Bogota, non-profit organizations attended a discussion on "Indigenous Peoples, Building Peace and Vision for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals."
Members of the Wayúu, Arhuaco, Kogi, Mokaná, Embera Katio and Kankuamo communities, along with students, representatives of Mayors, National Army and deputies, joined this celebration on the Atlantic Coast.
The GEAP, the Government of the Atlantic and the Mayor's Office of Galapa, organized a parade and concentration that counted with the participation of the six towns of the Mokaná ethnic group.
On the other hand, more than 1,000 members of the towns of Puerto Colombia, Malambo, Tubará, Usiacurí, Baranoa and Galapa attended the event.
(Read press release)
Fairs bring together indigenous peoples in Spain
The GEAP participated in the 3rd edition of the Fair of Entities in the city of Tarragona, as part of the celebration of the Day of the Indigenous Peoples.
The fair was organized by the collective of the Imagined, socio-cultural association that offers alternative spaces of exchange and empowerment to the community.
In order to promote ancestral culture and the rights of indigenous peoples, peace activists installed an educational module of the International Program Children of Mother Earth.
(Read press release)
Ancestral culture is celebrated in Honduras
Dances, plays and speeches related to the event, were presented simultaneously in the municipality Dulce Nombre de Culmí and the town Santa Maria del Carbón, Olancho department. GEAP volunteers worked together with the Pech indigenous people.
(Read press release)
Government Entities Celebrate with Indigenous Peoples in Mexico
Activities in Mexico were recorded in Baja California, Chihuahua and Nuevo León. The celebration was developed with the installation of fairs and the Festival of Indigenous Peoples, where they gathered government entities, peace activists and the general public.
In the esplanade of the municipal palace of Playas de Rosarito, the Festival was held, where the communities’ kumiai, cucapá, kiliwa, purépecha, mazahua, mixteca, huichol, otomí, yaqui and triki were presented before more than 200 people.
The event was organized with the objective of working together with indigenous peoples to strengthen, defend their rights, and maintain their cultural identity.
(Read press release)
Cultural enhancement of the 55 indigenous peoples in Peru
In a fair organized by the Division of Education and Cultural Extension Area of the emblematic Parque de las Leyendas de Lima, in the central courtyard of the Ministry of the Environment, members of this institution, peace activists and the public in general participated.
The Guardians for the Peace of Mother Earth gave children, youth and adult awareness talks about the importance of caring for Mother Earth.
(Read press release)
Indigenous peoples of El Salvador protect their cultural identity
The GEAP responded to the call of the Lenca, Kakawira and Nahua-Pipil peoples, who gathered for the strengthening of their rights and the protection of their cultural identity.
Promoting respect for the worldview and demanding the State to immediately implement the policies embodied in the National Plan of Indigenous Peoples were some of the topics discussed during the activity.
The activity was carried out in the Plaza Las Americas and Divino Salvador del Mundo monument.
(Read press release)
Fair for the peace of Mother Earth in Panama
In coordination with the Association of Indigenous Students of the Specialized University of the Americas (UDELAS), the GEAP in Panama installed the Fair for the Peace of Mother Earth.
The activity was carried out in the Faculty of Biosciences and Public Health of this house of studies, where university students visited the modules that provided information about the indigenous culture.
Venezuela: “We need to rescue the culture of the indigenous people.”
Peace activists from the states of Anzoátegui, Carabobo, Lara and the Los Llanos region visited indigenous communities and went to the media to promote the celebration.
In Lara state, activists visited the Ayaman community, the cultural heritage of this region; who celebrated their day with dances, accompanied by autochthonous instruments.
With the participation of a representative of the Kariña indigenous people, Anzoátegui state activists attended a radio station, where they talked about the importance of strengthening citizen cooperation to solve the problems currently faced by these communities.
Likewise, in the states of Cojedes, Portuguesa and Barinas, volunteers visited different media to promote that indigenous peoples have inherited and practice cultures and unique ways of relating to the environment.
(Read press release)
The work carried out by the GEAP in favor of the indigenous people, the socialization of the results of the first phase of the Encounters of the Children of Mother Earth, from July 2015 to April 2017, were presented during the events.
