Call for Gathering of the Indigenous People of the Americas

Transcript of the call for participation on the Gathering of the Indigenous People of the Americas. If you don’t mind, feel free to skip it.

Considering that 515 years after the first invasion of our ancestral territories, the war of conquest, the plunder, and capitalist exploitation have not altered their course, but rather have become a new war of extermination, a war designed for the destruction and utter plunder of all the original peoples of the Americas;

Considering that the long history of wars of independence and numerous revolutions that have taken place on our continent have not yet changed the condition of colonized people, nor have they allowed for a full recognition of our rights in the nation states that formed in the last two centuries;

Considering that despite a long history of domination, our resistance has sustained itself and that our people continue to live and struggle, and that this struggle has been encouraged by the uprising of the Zapatista National Liberation Front (EZLN) in the first days of 1994;

Considering that the strategies of the national governments of the Americas have always sought the division of our people through the establishment of borders, reservations, and legislation designed to fragment us and to neutralize our efforts of autonomy;

Considering that the strengthening and the unity of the struggles of liberation of the indigenous people of the Americas will be possible as our peoples meet and come to know each other;

Considering that for our people it has proven necessary that their struggles be made known world wide in order to be supported by all honest movements that struggle for a society effectively just, free, and democratic;

All indigenous communities, tribes, and nations of the Americas are called to

THE GATHERING OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE AMERICAS

Which will take place the 11st, 12nd, 13rd, and 14th days of October, 2007 in the community of Vícam, Yaqui Territory, Municipality of Guaymas, State of Sonora, Mexico, to address the following…

TOPICS

1 The war of capitalist conquest in the indigenous communities in the Americas.
2 The resistance of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and our defense of
mother earth, our territories, and our cultures.
3 Why do we, the indigenous peoples of the Americas, struggle?

ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES

1st Principal. Delegates, observers, and communications media workers attending the Gathering will abide by the regulations of the Yaqui Tribe devised by their Traditional Authorities in order to govern their presence while in attendance.
2nd Principal. All participating indigenous communities, tribes, and nations are invited to demonstrate their clothing, songs, dances, and other traditional forms of expression.
3rd Principal. Authorities and Representatives of indigenous communities, tribes, and nations of the Americas are invited to participate as delegates with voice and vote.
4th Principal. Individuals and members of social movements and civil organizations in solidarity with the struggles of indigenous peoples of the Americas invited by the organizing commission will be able to participate as observers.
5th Principal. National and international communications media workers that are accredited by the organizing commission will be able to cover the event.
6th Principal. All agreements adopted at the Gathering will be made by consensus of the participants and not through the method of voting.
7th Principal. Organization of the Gathering, the national and international distribution of its publicity, as well as accreditation of participating delegates, invitees, and any unforeseen issues will be resolved only by the organizing commission in conformity with the Traditional Authorities of the Community of Vícam, Yaqui Tribe, The National Indigenous Congress (CNI), and the Sixth Commission of the Zapatista National Liberation Front.

Information: 1. Office of the Sixth Commission of the EZLN, located on Zapotecos St. No 7 Col.Obrera, C.P. 06800 Mexico, D.F. Telephone: (01 or 011) 55 67 61 42 36 Monday thru Friday, 10 AM – 8 PM., Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM.
webpage: www.encuentroindignea.org e-mail: informes@encuentroindigena.org
2. Official Precinct Office of the Traditional Guard of the Yaqui Tribe, Vicam Station ,Colonia Yaqui, Municipio de Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. Telephone: (045 or 001) 64 49 98 94 08.
3. Office of the Organization of Indigenous and Campesino Communities, de Tuxpan, Jalisco, in Nicolas Bravo, No. 65 , Tuxpan, Jalisco,. Telephone: (01 or 011) 371 41 764 15 from Monday – Saturday, 10 AM – 8 PM. e-mail: comunidad_tuxpan@hotmail.com

Written - April 22nd, 2007 in Tohono O’Odham Territory of the Tohono O’Odham Nation, Sonora, Mexico.

Attentively,

Wa-a itom yo Lutu-ria yoribetchibo, intoka a Wiutinepo Amani
(Por el respeto a nuestros usos y costumbres, nuestra identidad y cultura y nuestra verdad que permanezcan en el tiempo y no se olviden)

Never Again, a Mexico Without Us ~ Liberty, Justice, and Democracy