INDIGENOUS YOUTH DECLARATION
Americas
WCAR Prepcom, Santiago Chile, December 2000
The lack of recognition of Indigenous Peoples as
Peoples is a form of racial discrimination that profoundly affects us
as indigenous youth. We therefore demand on the part of the States
the recognition of the existence of Indigenous Peoples as such taking
into account articles 1 of the Pact of Political and Civil Rights and
of the Pact of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
In addition, it is a reality that governments and civil society offer
very few opportunities for the participation of indigenous youth. In
the same way, international conferences and gatherings provide little
or no spaces for our participation. We therefore recomend that the
participation, consultation, and perspectives of the vunerable
populations in America, especially indigenous young people who are one
of the most marginalized sectors of society, are taken into account in
national and international gatherings.
We demand the immediate implementation of the oral history of our
Peoples in all levels of formal education.
We insist on the incorporation in school texts of the wisdom of
Indigenous Peoples and their contribution to humanity, especially in
history and philosophy, in addition to the elimination of racial
stereotypes that are currently being taught.
We propose the effective implementation of bilingual and intercultural
education including the requirement of teaching of the rights of
Indigenous Peoples to all students.
We recomend the execution of programs for indigenous youth that have
as their primary objective the affirmation of indigenous cultural
identity.
We demand the active participation of indigenous youth in governmental
procedures and in decision-making processes that directly affect us.
Contributing organizations representing Indigenous youth:
Indigenous Association for the Argentinian Republic
The Association Aymara Inti-Marka, Chile
The Association Ixä Ca Vaá for Indigenous Information and Development,
Costa Rica
Parliament of the Qullana-Aymara Peoples
Kuna Youth Movement, Panama
Student Mapuche Chile Organization
Youth Mapuche Collective Wvñoy Kuifikenewen”, Chile
Aboriginal Pastoral Organization (COOPA), Costa Rica
CAPAJ and CADMA, South America
International Indian Treaty Council
