National Indigenous Minga reached important agreements with the government

Indigenous leaders reiterated their support for the current government and traveled to the capital to demand compliance with agreements made by previous administrations.

“Many people have called us lazy, guerrillas, that we are slowing down the economy, but we are not that, as Chief Quintín Lame said: Indigenous peoples are the wealth and culture of the nation, and that is why we are here to contribute, because today we are also part of the change,” said David Toconas, leader of the Cauca Regional Indigenous Council (CRIC).

The communities signed agreements regarding Indigenous Territories, Own Systems, and Territorial Peace.

Among the agreements are

1. Decree for a multipurpose land registry
2. Decree to regulate and directly finance an Indigenous and Intercultural Health System (SISPI).
3. Resolution for town councils in an urban context.
4. Decree to regulate and directly finance an Independent Indigenous Education System (SEIP).
5. Directive on guidelines for the safeguarding of territories and resolution of the subaccount increasing the budget for land purchases from 12.5% to 20%.
6. Protocol agreement for the Buen Vivir Fund.
7. Protocol agreement for the Fund for Life.
8. Decree for a reintegration and reincorporation program for indigenous peoples.
9. Implementation of special indigenous territories in La Guajira and the Amazon.
10. The construction of a peace proposal to be discussed directly with the President of the Republic.

For her part, Senator Aida Quilcué welcomed the agreements: “Within the framework of the unity of the Indigenous Movement, we have once again succeeded in consolidating legal instruments such as the Independent Indigenous Education System (SEIP), the Independent Intercultural Health System (SISPI), and the Multipurpose Land Registry, which will enable us to move toward autonomy and self-determination for the indigenous peoples of Colombia.”

The National Indigenous Minga brought together various indigenous organizations from across the country, including the Cauca Regional Indigenous Council (CRIC), the Movement of Indigenous Authorities of Colombia (AICO), the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC), the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia (OPIAC), and the Tayrona Indigenous Confederation (CIT).

Academic community rejects racist campaign against communities.

Professor Marco Romero, from the Department of Political Science at the National University, insisted that the National University, where the communities spent the night during these days, has a mission to build the nation, adding:

“We have heard colonialist voices here at the university criticizing the presence of indigenous peoples at the National University, claiming that this affects academic activities. This is a university, and as a university we have teaching and research tasks, but also a duty to engage in dialogue with society. Rather, it is an exceptional opportunity of extraordinary richness for university students to see the country we are, and for indigenous peoples to have contact with young people from the urban world. We must forge this alliance, because today we face enormous challenges as humanity.”

On the other hand, students also rejected racism against indigenous peoples at the National University: “I want to completely refute what the traditional media are saying, which unfortunately most of the country believes at the moment. I had class this morning, so the presence of the Minga at the university does not represent a threat either to us as students or to the order of the university. On the contrary, I believe that what we must do is learn from them, because they have a lot to teach us and, above all, give us the opportunity to get to know that other side, that alternative to what we have been taught in a hegemonic way,” said Paula Ramírez, a political science student.

Photo: Colombia Informa