NATIVE NATIVE SOVEREIGNTY SOVEREIGNTY

IN THE AMERICASIN THE AMERICAS

Dr. Zoltan GrossmanDr. Zoltan GrossmanFaculty member in GeographyFaculty member in Geographyand Native American Studies,and Native American Studies,The Evergreen State College, The Evergreen State College,

Olympia, WashingtonOlympia, Washingtonhttp://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz

Canadian TreatiesCanadian Treaties1,200 tiny reserves today1,200 tiny reserves today

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Inuit (Eskimo) territory of NunavutInuit (Eskimo) territory of Nunavut

Canada

1999Inuit fully control 18% of new territory;Inuit fully control 18% of new territory;

What will happen to Dené region of NWT?What will happen to Dené region of NWT?

Near-Secession of Quebec, 1995Near-Secession of Quebec, 1995

Most French-speakers (blue)for independence from Canada

English-speakers and immigrants voted “No”

First nations against dams, etc.Cree & Inuit vote to stay Canada

CreeCree

InuitInuit

EnglishEnglish

50.6%49.4%

MohawkMohawk

InnuInnu

Nunavik

EeyouAstchee

Nitassinan

Hydropower dams on Hydropower dams on Quebec Cree lands Quebec Cree lands

Huge diversions of rivers

Hunting lands flooded

Mercury contamination of fish

Shorelines inaccessible

NY, VT consumers objected, delayed

Some tribes, individuals

did not accept the U.S.

Citizenship Act or

Canadian citizenship.

Indigenous passports

have been honored

by some countries.

““Trappings” of full sovereigntyTrappings” of full sovereignty

GreenlandGreenland

• Eskimo (Inuit) territory of Denmark

• Achieved Home Rule as Kalaallit Nunaat, 1981

• Separated from EU; minority favors independence

Kalaallit Nunaat

Kuna Yala (Panama)Kuna Yala (Panama)

Kuna Yala

•Kuna Indians along San Blas Islands coast

•Autonomy since 1920s

•Strengthened since 1989 U.S. invasion

Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region, NicaraguaNorthern Atlantic Autonomous Region, Nicaragua

• Misikto, Sumu and

Rama Indians

• War with Sandinista

government, 1980s;

won autonomy

• Conflicts with right-wing

gov’ts, miners, 1990s

R.A.A.N.

Zapatista revolt in MexicoZapatista revolt in Mexico

Began in Chiapas (Mayan state) when NAFTA implemented, January 1994

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GuatemalaGuatemalaMayan majorityMayan majority

CIA overthrows civilian government, 1954

Civil war between government & leftist rebels, 1961-96

Military & death squads genocide vs. 200,000 Indigenous

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Rigoberta Menchú,Nobel Peace Prize

recipient, 1992

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VenezuelaVenezuela

President Hugo Chavez

backed by many Indigenous

Oil, timber, mining industries

trample Amazon Natives

New promises of land returns,

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Brazilian AmazonBrazilian Amazon

Native peoples minorityconcentrated in \rainforest

Lands coveted for gold,timber, cattle. “Wild West”Violence against Indigenous

Indian movement has little support;Lands “safety valve” for urban poor

Yanomami Reservationoften invaded for resources

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Civil War in ColombiaCivil War in Colombia

• Civil war between

rightist government/

paramilitaries and

leftist rebels

Indigenous peoples caught

in middle; both sides want

resources, oppose land rights

U’wa U’wa vsvs. Oxy in Colombia. Oxy in Colombia

U’wa oppose oil drilling

by Occidental Oil

Support protests in L.A.

Tribal members repressed

by military, also rebels

3 Native supporters killed

in 1999

Oil in EcuadorOil in Ecuador

• Ecuador 2nd largest S. America producer

– 70% of exports

• Drilling in Amazon rainforest

Opposition to oil Opposition to oil companiescompanies

• Construction of roads, pipelines on Indian lands

• Displacement of Indians,

deforestation

• Oil leaks into rivers larger than Valdez spill

Ecuador Native occupationsEcuador Native occupations

Texaco withdrew 1992,Arco met demands

Lawsuit againstTexaco inU.S. courts, 1999

Ecuador coupsEcuador coups

Flag of the Indigenous Alliance, with Native leader Rumiñahui.

• 2001 junta includes

indigenous leader

New president ousted 2005

““Water War” in BoliviaWater War” in Bolivia

Cochabamba residents protestingBechtel privatization of

municipal water system, 1999

Bolivian electionBolivian election

• President Evo Morales victory symbolizes majority indigenous rule, 2005

• Quechua and Aymara, including miners

• Conflict with U.S. over coca eradication • Nationalized gas industry; activists in charge of water and mining ministries

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