INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CAUCUS OPENING STATEMENT ON
CAPACITY-BUILDING

Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue, Session 1, Capacity-Building
Prepcom IV, WSSD, Bali, Indonesia
28 May 2002


For us, the indigenous people to talk about sustainable development, leads us to clarify the following issues.

It is not possible to talk about sustainable development while the policies for development promoted by the states and the multilateral development agencies are based on a globalized economy with a homogenous vision of development, based on the perspective of the industrialized countries and focusing on the marketing of resources. This model of development is imposed on indigenous peoples, violating our knowledge, land and territories and the control, management and sustainable use of natural resources.

If the states, private sector and development agencies continue with this model and practice for development, then we are doomed to not have a present or build a secure future for the coming generations.

In order to talk about capacity-building it is necessary to analyze and diversify the indicators of development which the states and development agencies use in their analysis, in order for these to become shared instruments for all stakeholders, including indigenous peoples.

As we see it, instead of talking about building capacities, we should talk about strengthening the capacities and knowledge of the peoples of the world, especially the indigenous peoples.

It is unacceptable for us that the Chairman’s document proposes to establish mechanisms for regular communication between the decision-making bodies and the scientific community in order to give and receive scientific guidance and technology with a view to implementing Agenda 21 and establish and strengthen scientific and educational networks for sustainable development at all levels in order to exchange knowledge, experience and best practices, without taking into account or ignoring the contributions we can offer to the international community with respect to traditional knowledge and experiences based on a harmony with nature.

We, the indigenous peoples have capacities because we know our habitat and we live with nature.

For us, the strengthening of capacities should build on the following elements:

  •       Strengthening of the indigenous capacities:
    The strengthening of capacities should be built on traditional knowledge, innovations and practices in the use and management of resources.

  •       Transfer of technologies:
    The transfer of technology should be based on a vision of complementarity between western technology and indigenous peoples’ knowledge and innovations with regards to sustainable use of natural resources. Therefore, it should not be conceived as a transfer of technology form the North to the South, as if only those from the North have the capacity to contribute to the exchange of knowledge, as suggested in the Chairman’s text.

  •       Education:
    Strengthen indigenous peoples’ educational systems.
    Strengthen indigenous institutions and create real conditions for participation in equality of conditions and opportunities.

  •       Participation:
    Any strategy of development implemented by the states and multilateral development agencies should have an active and effective participation of indigenous peoples. The initiatives to strengthen national and regional research centers should not ignore indigenous peoples’ role and knowledge with regards to sustainable development, which we have practiced through thousands of years.

    We indigenous peoples have the following recommendations:

    1. When we talk about experts in development, it is necessary to take into account the indigenous experts who are directly related with the natural resources.

    2. Train governments and multilateral agencies for international cooperation on issues of indigenous peoples’ realities for the subsequent development of indicators

    3. Ensure indigenous peoples’ access to and accessibility for information.

    4. Governments and development agencies should reach the communities in order to discuss their strategies and actions plans for themes, related to indigenous peoples.

    5. The peoples of the North should reduce their patterns of consumption, if not our concern for a healthier environment will be purely rhetorical.

    6. The United Nations agencies, Governments, indigenous peoples, scientists and NGOs to strengthen indigenous institutions and systems for intercultural education at all levels of primary and advanced, specialized education. Promote networks for scientific and technical co-operation between universities and indigenous peoples and communities to strengthen specialized and diversified learning and training in line with indigenous peoples' visions and objectives for sustainable development.

    7. Promote international co-operation and financial resources for the implementation of indigenous peoples’ systems and networks for information, communication and telecommunication.

    8. Support program to strengthen research, planning, conservation, sustainable use and management of indigenous territories and resources through improved access, use and application of satellite technologies for geographic positioning, geographical information systems and remote sensing applications by indigenous peoples and communities.

    9. Promote programs for capacity-building on indigenous peoples rights and priorities for sustainable development among Governments, United Nations and international organizations, development agencies, scientific and technology community, communications media, development workers, and NGOs, for strengthened application of policies for development co-operation with indigenous peoples.

      Thank you