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| Profile of the Indigenous People
of Mexico
Political Movements and Indigenous Organizations
Chapter 9 - Part 2-5 |
by Prof. German Estrada
June 22, 2003 |
5. The indigenous
movement exists at three different levels: (a) local,
(b) regional, (c) national.
a. The local
level movements are characteristically based on the
perceived needs and immediate problems of the groups,
whether based on their ethnicity, community, settlement,
or ejido. The mobilization of people at this level
is limited and based on the discontent over the conditions
of the people. Although the local level movements
are limited in space and time they are the basis for
the regional organizations, and experience gained
in one local organization is carried over by its members
into new organizations.
b. The regional level is integrated
into associations, coalitions of ethnic groups that
aggregate communities, ejidos, and settlements. These
organizations have a broader concept of their needs
and demands and articulate more clearly their cultural
interest.
c. The national level movement began
in 1975 with indigenous organizations that were initially
promoted by the government institutions but that now
exist to advocate for indigenous rights, such as the
National Council of Indigenous Peoples (CNPI) and
the National Association of Bilingual Teachers. Other
organizations represented at the national level include:
Table 9.1
Indigenous Organizations
| National
Indigenous Movement of the National Peasant Confederation
|
Movimiento
Nacional Indigena de la Confederación Nacional
Campesina |
MINI-CNC |
| National
Confederation of Indigenous Peoples |
Confederación
Nacional de Pueblos Indigenas |
CONAIN |
| National
Union of Autonomous Regional Peasant Organizations |
Union
Nacional de Organizaciones Regionales Campesinas
Autonomas |
UNORCA |
| Indigenous
Peoples Independent Front |
Frente
Nacional de Pueblos Indigenas |
FIPI |
| National
Indigenous Council |
Consejo
Nacional Indigena |
CNI |
6. At this time
there are indigenous organizations at the national,
state, regional and local level whose aim is to develop
a variety of activities in order to defend their rights
as peoples and to be included in the democratization
process of the country. Additionally, a key point of
their demands is to be participants in the development
process so that their needs are included, their quality
of life improved, and the extreme poverty in which they
live is eliminated.
Table 9.2
Government Institutions Working with Indigenous Peoples
| CFE |
Comisión
Federal de Electricidad. |
| Conasupo |
Compañía
Nacional de Subsistemas Populares. |
| Coplamar |
Coordinadora
General de Plan Nacional para las Zonas Deprimidas
y Grupos Marginados. |
| SRA |
Secretaria
de la Reforma Agraria. |
| Fifonafe |
Fondo
Nacional de Fomento Ejidal. |
| Fonart |
Fondo
Nacional para las Artesanías. |
| Huicot |
Plan
para los Huicholes, Coras y Tepehuanes. |
| |
|
| ILV |
Instituto
Lingüístico de Verano. |
| INI |
Instituto
Nacional Indigenista. |
| Inmecafé |
Instituto
Mexicano del Café. |
| Pemex |
Petróleos
Mexicanos. |
| Profortarah |
Productos
Forestales de la Tarahumara. |
| SCYT |
Secretaría
Comunicaciones y Transportes. |
| SEP |
Secretaría
de Educación Pública. |
International
Non-Governmental Organizations
7. There are many
international agencies that have been interacting with
indigenous peoples in Mexico. They have been instruments
to promote dialogue and understanding in both the Latin
American context as well as internationally. The Instituto
Interamericano Indigenista (III) has brought together
indigenous intellectuals and professionals in a forum
to exchange experiences and align positions with respect
to certain issues for the past sixty years. In the same
way, the Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA)
has been instrumental in providing grants and scholarships
to indigenous peoples of the continent. The United Nations
through its various agencies such as UNESCO, ILO, IFAD,
FAO, has formulated projects and provided for the exchange
of experiences between governments and indigenous groups.
Sources: Mexican government Institutions
(SEDESOL)
Next week the 3 of 5 part in this
chapter on POLITICAL MOVEMENTS
gestrada@pvnet.com.mx
Prof. Germán
Estrada is the author of the best selling book,
"México
Mágico: Everything You Wanted To Know
About... But Nobody Told You..." available in Puerto
Vallarta at The Net House, Mail Boxes, Etc., Books,
Books as well as directly from the author by internet.
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