In order to generate spaces for exchange, reflection and dialogue that make visible the importance of the territory from the perspective of different indigenous peoples and the associated problems, the Forum “Amazonian ancestral knowledge: A new vision of the future” was held.
During the event, the indigenous leaders stated that many of their territories – and with them, ancestral and current knowledge – are threatened by various infrastructure projects that the State promotes without initiating a dialogue with the indigenous peoples and knowing their vision, one of them being the Bellavista-Mazán-Salvador-El Estrecho road project.
The Forum ended with an open letter signed by the attendees, officially requesting the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) and competent bodies to form and install in the short term, a permanent and multisectoral technical table on Ancestral Knowledge, Territory and Connectivity in Loreto, as a space that promotes the participation of indigenous peoples in decision-making and monitoring of infrastructure projects that may affect their collective rights and the integrity of their communities. ancestral territories.
The open letter also includes the request of representatives of the Maijuna, Kichwa, Murui, Shipibo, Wampis, Awajún, Bora, and Kukama peoples for full respect for ILO Convention 169 and strict compliance with the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples by the State.
The Forum featured high-level panelists such as Jorge Pérez, president of AIDESEP, from the Murui people; Jamner Manihuari, deputy coordinator of COICA, from the Kukama Kukamiria people; Jamer López, president of ORAU, of the Shipibo Konibo people; Wrays Pérez, leader of the Wampis Nation; Never Tuesta, coordinator of FORMABIAP, from the Awajún people; Liz Chicaje, Bora leader and 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize laureate; and Betty Rubio, leader of the Kichwa people. In addition to Víctor Zambrano, environmental defender and president of the Management Committee of the Tambopata National Reserve of the Madre de Dios region, who reflected on the ancestral knowledge related to the territory that the Amazonian peoples treasure.
On behalf of the State, representatives of the Directorate of Prior Consultation of the Ministry of Culture, the Regional Government of Loreto and the Regional Management of the Environment, the MTC, Provías Descentralizado, and the Superior Court of Justice of Loreto, who have the task of guaranteeing the rights over the territory of indigenous peoples and their associated knowledge, were present.
This event was held in partnership with the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Loreto, the Federation of Maijuna Native Communities (FECONAMAI), One Planet Peru, Law, Environment and Natural Resources (DAR) and the Peruvian Society of Environmental Development (SPDA) and was part of the IV Meeting of Amazonian Ancestral Knowledge, which this year had the participation of 15 wise men and women from the Maijuna peoples. Kichwa, Murui, Bora and Ikitu, and had as its thematic axis the importance of the territory for the native peoples of the Peruvian Amazon.
Sustainable Infrastructure
During this meeting, the illustrated and photographic exhibition “An Infrastructure for Life” was inaugurated, promoted by the indigenous organizations ORPIO, CORPI-SL and ORAU, together with DAR and One Planet.
This exhibition presents seven guidelines for sustainable road connectivity in the Amazon: (i) Include a local needs approach; (ii) identify and assess environmental, climate, economic, social, and cultural risks; (iii) Comply with free, prior and informed consultation for road and energy projects in indigenous peoples’ territories; (iv) implement timely supervision and control mechanisms for the execution of infrastructure projects (v) promote effective participation; (vi) implement effective governance; and (vii) articulate the environmental and climate legal framework with the infrastructure legal framework.
The exhibition is still available to the public at the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Loreto (Malecón Tarapacá N° 382, Iquitos).