CEREMONY TO LAUNCH THE VI INTER-AMERICAN WEEK FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

August 7, 2023 - Washington, DC

Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States
Distinguished Permanent and Alternate Representatives;
Representatives of Observer States
Colleagues of the General Secretariat;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.

As a proud Belizean Mestizo, which by its definition entails that I have Mayan ancestry in me, I feel blessed to have been exposed to indigenous cultural influences that have enriched my upbringing. Some of the memories from my childhood and my youth are of the time spent in the rural areas in the north of Belize, and of time spent with my father and grandfather and the things I learned from them. I also vividly remember the tastes of traditional indigenous food, the customs, the beliefs, and the practices in the rich tapestry of cultures, including Mayan, in the north of Belize.

Distinguished delegations, this, and countless other cherished stories and memories is what we pay homage to here today at the House of the Americas as we launch the VI annual observance of the Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples, under this year’s theme: “Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination in the Americas: Intergenerational connections”.

Más adelante les voy a contar sobre el norte de Belize y cómo era vivir en el sur de Yucatán, en el norte de Belize.

This year’s commemorative events will be marked by a series of both in-person and virtual activities designed to showcase the transformative role of young people as catalysts for positive change in their societies and to serve as custodians of ancestral knowledge. Through the power of intergenerational connections, the transfer of indigenous knowledge between an elder, which may be in the form of a loved one or a community leader, and a young person creates an unyielding and timeless bond that aids in the cultivation and fortification of indigenous peoples’ identity across our societies.

En este contexto, celebramos la Semana Interamericana de este año, con un enfoque renovado en la preservación de la cultura e historia de los pueblos indígenas de nuestro hemisferio. Ellos, como portadores originales de estas tierras y verdaderos custodios de su longevidad, merecen nuestro homenaje. Desde la tundra norte de Canadá, pasando por el archipiélago de islas en el Caribe, hasta el punto más austral de Argentina, su fortaleza y perseverancia tenaz aún en los momentos más oscuros de nuestra historia han sido precursoras de algunas de las primeras innovaciones y logros de nuestro hemisferio.

No podemos negar las terribles atrocidades e injusticias que han ocurrido y que a veces continúan afectando a nuestras poblaciones indígenas. Se estima que los pueblos indígenas constituyen casi el 10% de la población de nuestro hemisferio y que el 45% de ellos vive en la pobreza. En muchas de nuestras sociedades, los pueblos indígenas están sobrerrepresentados en los datos socioeconómicos relacionados con grupos con acceso limitado a atención médica asequible, educación de calidad, empleo digno y servicios básicos.

Nuestros pueblos indígenas son reconocidos por su relación sostenible con el medio ambiente y, por lo tanto, con nuestro planeta. Son los principales cuidadores de nuestros bosques y entorno natural; sin embargo, están afectados de manera desproporcionada por el cambio climático. Es nuestro deber buscar medidas para corregir estas desigualdades e injusticias del pasado, y trabajar juntos para forjar un futuro de inclusión y aceptación.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Organization of American States is committed to providing a platform for the Indigenous peoples and to amplify their voices on the causes and interests that are important to their communities. In that connection and in accordance with the Plan of Action of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which urges the Organization to “promote their traditions, recognize the value of their languages, transmit their history, and draw attention to their contributions in different fields,” the Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples was established in February 2018 by the Member States of the OAS. Since its inception, my office in collaboration with Member States and other areas of the General Secretariat, has worked tirelessly to celebrate this week each year around August 9th, in tandem with the observance of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Permítanme tomar un momento para destacar algunas de las actividades que tendrán lugar aquí en la Sede, en nuestros respectivos Estados Miembros a través de nuestras Oficinas Nacionales y también en formato virtual, para las celebraciones de este año:

1. A lo largo de la semana, aquí en el Salón de Cultura Marcus Garvey, se presentará una exhibición organizada por el Museo de Arte de las Américas en colaboración con la Biblioteca Colón y los Estados Miembros, la cual mostrará obras de arte, literatura y proyectos cinematográficos indígenas. Les invitamos a tomarse un tiempo para explorar la colección.
2. El miércoles habrá una Sesión Especial del Consejo Permanente para conmemorar el Día Internacional de los Pueblos Indígenas del Mundo, que se observará bajo el tema de la semana.
3. El viernes, tendremos una edición especial de ‘Una Charla con la OEA’, un evento virtual en vivo, que contará con panelistas que abordarán el tema: Conexiones Intergeneracionales: El papel de la gastronomía en la preservación de las costumbres tradicionales y el fortalecimiento de la identidad indígena.

Las oficinas de la Secretaría General en los Estados Miembros también organizarán eventos culturales en sus respectivos países.

Las actividades virtuales de la semana incluyen: ‘El Rincón de Lectura infantil y juvenil’, una colección de títulos de libros que ilustran el conocimiento y los logros de los pueblos indígenas y promueven las conexiones intergeneracionales y la transmisión del conocimiento ancestral. Además, se destacarán perfiles de personalidades indígenas, particularmente de jóvenes indígenas que están ayudando a cultivar y mantener las tradiciones ancestrales.

Ladies and gentlemen, the theme of this year’s celebration encourages us to reflect on our role as purveyors of ancestral knowledge and recipients of traditions which were transmitted to us by our elders. It is irrefutable that a people without a known history will remain tethered to an unclear path towards self-fulfillment and autonomy. We must continue relying on our fraternal community of elders to share the true history and customs of our respective ancestral identities. The accurate depiction of the history and the current realities of our indigenous populations must be promoted. We look to our elders as a fount for edification and self-awareness and we challenge our youth to continue fighting for the upliftment of our societies and an inclusive and equitable world.

I wish pause here to say a special thanks to the Member States for their constant support in the planning and execution of the Week. As these events are not budgeted in the Regular Fund, please allow me to give special recognition to the Permanent Missions of Canada, Guyana, and the United States for their financial contributions, without which several of the activities of this week would not have been possible. My thanks also to all the Secretariats of the General Secretariat who have collaborated with my office, as well as to our Representatives in the National Offices who have organized activities in their respective Member States. We value your steadfast support and commitment. Lastly, I would like to recognize the staff in my Office who worked tirelessly to prepare for the week’s activities and to give particular recognition to Ms. Kendall Belisle, who was largely responsible for planning most of these activities.

There will also be other events; one organized by the Mission of Mexico with films during the week; we also have the participation of the cultural presentations later this morning. We want to give you our thanks and appreciation to you.

I told you in the beginning I wanted to tell you a little bit about my upbringing in the north of Belize. My father was a primary school teacher. I also have two brothers and two sisters. And as we were growing up we were going to school, but during the summers and sometimes during the weekends, my father and my grandfather would take us to the farm. And the reason for this was: you go to the school, you will receive an education, but if that doesn’t work out, you will be able to work and provide for yourselves, because no one in my family will end up begging or stealing.

So, we grew up like that, and I remember going to the farm on weekends and during the summer. And the things you learn growing up; I have this vivid memory of preparing the land for planting, at the time that slash and burn was a practice; not so much anymore, it is not very good for the environment.

But they would cut the bush in the forest and wait until it dries before it is
burnt. It is not as easy as it sounds. There is knowledge and science into it. It is not just setting it on fire; you have to wait and properly prepare it. And then, either my father or my grandfather would decide where the wind was blowing from. And the reason for that is very simple: if you are burning and you don’t know what you are doing, only the leaves will burn, and you will end up with all the trunks and the branches, and you will have additional work. So you have to be careful. So after it was ready for burning and it was decided where the wind was blowing, we would set it on fire.

And I always wondered when I was growing up. After we lit it on fire, led by grandfather and my father, we would start whistling, a special whistle from the Mayas calling for the wind.

Last week when I was prepared for this event I wondered if this was still done, so I called my uncle and asked, and he said: of course, we still whistle and even migrants from Guatemala and from El Salvador, also know this particular whistle.

So, if you allow me, I would like to try it, so you know what I am talking about.
(whistles)
The really amazing part is that is always worked.
(applause)

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my signal honour to launch the VI Inter-American Week for Indigenous Persons and to thank you for joining us today in-person and virtually. We look forward to your continued support of our activities.

Muchas gracias.