I INDIGENOUS CONGRESS 1945
by CristinaQuisbert | May 17, 2009 at 7:25 PM
woman_indigenous_leader.jpgLast Thursday May 14, 2009 at the Hall of the Plurinational State Vicepresidency it was inaugurated a Program of Conferences entitled “Retrieval of ideological identity from bolivian indigenous movements and leaders” . The first Conference referred to the “I Indigenous Congress” that took place in La Paz, Bolivia in 1945. During five days delegates from different cities from Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Tarija, Chuquisaca, Potosi, Beni, Pando, Oruro discussed about the situation of indigenous peoples and their demands to the government of that time. As it happened in that time where indigenous men and women participated, during the conference there were leaders of indigenous organizations as Cristina Barreto.
She was born in a rural town in Inquisivi province in La Paz. She is an indigenous aymara leader member of the biggest indigenous female organization in Bolivia, called Bolivian Confederation of indigenous women Bartolina Sisa. During her speech she said that “it is important to listen to our grandparents since they keep the knowledge inherited from the past”. She also added that “although many indigenous women didn´t have the possibility to finish school, now we have an opportunity to learn “.
Comments
Grandparents are great
I think it is vital that we can collect their stories from them and make them more widely available. It can seem so hard when it seems everything is youth oriented to feel valued and it si great to read posts like this to show that their wisdom is available to us if we only take the time to ask.
That part about finishing schooling is so true. Up here at our local university you see such a wide age variety because a lot of people who are going back to finish their degrees. It is too common to have to stop for whatever reason then feel too old to go back when it is important to know that at any age you can learn and grow.
thank you for your posts that are always interesting to me, I love hearing what other indigenous groups are up to!
Maria
Learning from grandparents
Maria,
In indigenous peoples here, we consider grandparents to our ancient leaders, for example Tupac Katari, he was killed in 1781 but he is our grandfather for us, He and his wife, Bartolina Sisa, left us a message to keep our culture and identity.
Access to education for women was always limited, that´s why there a lot of illiiterate women in Bolivia. During two last years there was a big campaign to illiterate people how to read and write. Now, it is being developed a second phase of the program which refers to improve their abilities to read and write. President Morales, says it is very important that all the people should have access to education and continue studies.
Cristina
Hi Cristina! I'm so eager to
Hi Cristina! I'm so eager to hear from you. I just want to share with you that the indigenous people's organization here in the Philippines arre very much active. I've read in the news paper that last April the Cordillera indiigenous groups had their celebration of Cordillera Day and this May , the Tumandoks of Panay have their 7th General Assembly. It's nice to have you in this community.
much love,
malayapinas
Indigenous peoples of the world
Hi Malayapinas,
Thank you very much for the information. I think that it is the time when all voices of indigenous peoples of the world should be listened. I think that our mother Earth needs and will need the wisdom hidden in the indigenous peoples of the world. It is great indigenous peoples in Philippines can have their meetings and keep their culture.
Kind regards,
Cristina
indigenous point of view
Hi! thanks for the response! just opening my email after more than a week of hibernation. Lots of things happening in the pulsewire, got interested about Bolivia after browsing some comment in the posts. I'm interested to know your insights. Hope to see your comments here in Pulsewire, It"s not easy to organize meetings here in the Philippines especially among groups who are critical with the present administration and pushing for basic reforms. We have a woman president but this president doesn't represent the interest of the people nor the interest of the indigenous people and grassroots women.
more power to you!