Wednesday, April 30, 2008

PFII: Agenda Item 8(b) The Second International Decade of the World's indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean

Kalinago Carib Nation (Dominica); Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos (Puerto Rico); Fundacion Social Luz Cosmica Fraternalista Taina (Dominican Republic); Eagle Clan Arawaks (Barbados and Guyana); United Confederation of Taino People (Regional)

Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
United Nations Headquarters, NY
Wednesday, 30 April 2008


Presented by Mildred Karaira Gandia (UCTP rep.)

Honorable Chair, Distinguished Delegates and Representatives of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we welcome this opportunity to address Agenda Item 8 (b) the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

We would like to begin by acknowledging the agencies and programs that have responded positively to our previous interventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and UNICEF. We look forward to continuing our work with them in the region especially in the area of capacity building.

Madame/Mr. Chair it is unfortunate that we have to report however that the majority of United Nations Specialized agencies are still not giving serious attention to the Caribbean island region and this practice is contrary to the goals of the Second Decade.

Indeed, the Second Decade’s Plan of Action contains a specific reference to Caribbean Indigenous Peoples, which can be found under Section 6 “Social and Economic Development”, item (b) Regional level, number 86.

The recommendation clearly states that “representatives of Caribbean indigenous peoples should be included in region-specific consultations and conferences in Latin America and the Caribbean, and on steering committees for planning and implementing the programme of activities for the Second International Decade. Serious consideration should also be given to organizing a special regional consultative session focusing on the unique situation of Caribbean indigenous peoples, which would take place in the Caribbean, hosted by a Member State and a local indigenous community.”


With this in mind, we recommend that:

1
) The Permanent Forum organize a special regional consultative session focusing on the unique situation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples.

2) Such a special regional consultative session be held on the island of Dominica and that its planning and implementation take place in collaboration with indigenous communities and organizations such as those represented within the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean as well as with the Caribbean Organization of Indigenous Peoples. The session should aim to strengthen cooperation, coordination, and capacity building among Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean.

3) The Permanent Forum should ensure that any special regional consultative session held in the Caribbean or on Caribbean indigenous issues provide equal funding opportunities for participation and follow-up to indigenous peoples of non-self-governing territories in the region.

For example, indigenous peoples from Puerto Rico are continuously denied funding by the UN Voluntary Fund to participate in meetings, conferences, regional specific consultations, capacity building opportunities and conferences in the region or elsewhere. This practice is discriminatory and must end.

Madame/Mr. Chair, in closing we urge the Permanent Forum to invite the Inter-Agency Support Group, as well as CARICOM, the Rio Group, the Association of Caribbean States, and Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas to work in close collaboration with Caribbean Governments to effectively finance and implement these recommendations focusing on the Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Bo'matum (Thank you) for your attention.

Note: The Greater Caribbean should be defined here as an area of cooperation in recognition of common ancestral heritages and common geographic spaces shared by the Indigenous Peoples of the region.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

PFII: Agenda Item 7, Half Day Discussion on Indigenous Languages

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CAUCUS OF THE GREATER CARIBBEAN

Kalinago Carib Nation (Dominica); Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos (Puerto Rico); Fundacion Social Luz Cosmica Fraternalista Taina (Dominican Republic); Eagle Clan Arawaks (Barbados and Guyana); United Confederation of Taino People (Regional)

Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
24 April 2008, Item 7 Half-day discussion on indigenous languages
Presented by Mildred Karaira Gandia (UCTP)

Takahi (Greetings) Honorable Chair, Distinguished Delegates and Representatives of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we welcome this opportunity to address Agenda Item 7 Half-day discussion on indigenous languages.

The INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CAUCUS OF THE GREATER CARIBBEAN welcomes the Permanent Forum’s report of the international expert group meeting on indigenous languages. We support its recommendations to States, United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, and indigenous peoples.

We are especially supportive of the recommendation that “UNESCO strengthen its working relationship with NGOs and civil society organizations so that language policies are implemented directly at the level of indigenous communities and seek government support where possible.”

With this in mind we recommend that the Permanent Forum urge UNESCO to continue this work with regional Caribbean indigenous organizations such as the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) and the Caribbean Organization of Indigenous Peoples (COIP) to facilitate follow-up.

Honorable Chair, our Caucus would also like to support the recommendations submitted by the United Confederation of Taino People to the international expert group meeting on indigenous languages.

With this in mind, we recommend that the Permanent Forum urge the full and effective participation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples in the design and organization of a world conference on linguistic diversity, indigenous languages, identity and education and that this initiative be facilitated in partnership with regional Caribbean indigenous organizations such as the UCTP and COIP.

Our Caucus also recommends that the Permanent Forum bring to the attention of the Expert Group and UNESCO the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which mention Indigenous Peoples specifically.

In relation to the WSIS, and “promoting empowerment of indigenous languages”, we also call attention to indigenous led initiatives such as the International Indigenous ICT Task Force (IITF) and its premier project the “International Indigenous Portal”.

Our Caucus fully supports this indigenous ICT initiative and we recommend that the Permanent Forum urge the Expert Group and UNESCO to invite the IITF to be a part of its future projects and related follow-up.

The Permanent Forum has been a staunch supporter of Indigenous Peoples engaging the Information Society and we urge this body to continue its work supporting the WSIS Declaration and Programme of Action.

In closing we say Bo’matum (thank you) for this opportunity.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Climate change, and bio-cultural diversity: A Caribbean First Nations Perspective

Special Events and other Parallel Events at the Seventh Session of the
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

21 April - 2 May 2008


Climate change, and bio-cultural diversity: A Caribbean First Nations Perspective
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
1:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/Session_seventh_special_events_revised.doc

Organizer: United Confederation of Taino People
Co-sponsors: Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean (Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos, Kalinago Nation of Dominica, Fundacion Social Luz Cosmica Fraternalista Taina, Eagle Clan Arawaks)

Location: DC2-13th Floor
Conference Room
2 UN Plaza, 44th Street

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Caribbean Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations

UCTP Taino News (United Nations) - The Seventh Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 21 April to 2 May 2008. The special theme will be "Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges." This year’s PFII theme is especially relevant to Caribbean Indigenous Peoples, many of whom are from Small Island Developing States increasingly affected by the global climate crises.

In an effort to ensure Caribbean voices at the session, the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) is again facilitating administrative services and program coordination for delegates planning to participate within the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean (IPCGC) at UN Forum.

See full story at: http://www.uctp.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

2008 Call for proposals for the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility

The International Fund for Agricultural Development is inviting indigenous peoples' organizations and communities, and organizations that work with them, to apply for grants that fund micro projects and partnerships to promote the development of indigenous peoples and their unique cultural identity.

Grants ranging from US$10,000 to US$30,000 will be awarded to applicants from IFAD's developing Member States through the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility.

You can find more information on application requirements and an application form at
http://www.ifad.org/english/indigenous/grants/index.htm

You can e-mail or mail your application to IFAD. The closing date for applications is 30 June 2008. IFAD will not accept applications after that date.

E-mail your application to indigenouspeoples@ifad.org.

Mail your application to:
Antonella Cordone
Coordinator for Indigenous and Tribal Issues
Policy Division
International Fund for Agricultural Development
Via del Serafico, 107
00142 Rome
Italy


A board made up primarily of indigenous members will work with IFAD staff to consider the proposals and make recommendations.

******************************


El Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola invita a las organizaciones y comunidades de pueblos indígenas, y a las organizaciones que colaboran con ellas, a solicitar donaciones para financiar microproyectos y asociaciones que promuevan el desarrollo de los pueblos indígenas y su excepcional identidad cultural.

Se concederán donaciones, por una cuantía de entre 10 000 y 30 000 dólares de los Estados Unidos, a solicitantes de países en desarrollo Miembros del FIDA con cargo al Fondo de Apoyo a los Pueblos Indígenas.

Puede obtenerse más información sobre los requisitos exigidos para la presentación de solicitudes, así como un formulario de solicitud, en
http://www.ifad.org/english/indigenous/grants/s/index.htm

Puede enviar su solicitud al FIDA por correo electrónico o correo postal. El plazo para la presentación de solicitudes termina el 30 de junio de 2008. El FIDA no aceptará las solicitudes que lleguen después de esa fecha.

Correo electrónico: indigenouspeoples@ifad.org.

Dirección postal:
Antonella Cordone
Coordinadora de Cuestiones Indígenas y Tribales
División de Políticas
Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola
Via del Serafico, 107
00142 Roma
Italia

Una junta integrada principalmente por miembros indígenas examinará, en colaboración con el personal del FIDA, las propuestas presentadas y formulará recomendaciones.