[nativestudies-l] TALK: NYC 10/26, Indigenous People of Colombia Battle For Their Land and Dignity

[Alyssa Mt. Pleasant]

Alwan for the Arts, El Movimiento Por la Paz en Colombia, together with/ 
First Voices, Indigenous Radio/ and Deep Dish TV present:

*The Indigenous People of Colombia Battle For Their Land and Dignity*.
A conversation with* Rafael Coicué,*/ Nasa/ leader, former mayor of the 
indigenous/ cabildo/ of Corinto in Cauca, and representative of the 
Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca, Colombia (ACIN).

Sunday, October 26th, 2 PM
Alwan for the Arts
16 Beaver Street, 4th Fl  in Lower Manhattan
 
*TRAINS: 4/5 to Bowling Green; J/M/Z to Broad St.; R/W to Whitehall; 2/3 
to Wall Street; 1/9 to Rector St. or South Ferry*
*BUSES: M1, M6, M9, M16, M20*
*BIKE: Hudson Rvr. Greenway, East Rvr. path, Liberty St., Broadway, 
Water S**t*

Across the world, from Palestine to India to Latin America, indigenous 
people are struggling for their land, culture and human rights against 
repressive and reactionary governments. Confronted with ongoing land 
seizures, and policies that amount to ethnic cleansing, popular 
movements are waging intense, sometimes desperate struggles. 
Unfortunately the essential commonality of these struggles is often not 
seen. Rafael Coicué's report from the people of the indigenous regions 
of Northern Cauca, Colombia dramatically illustrates the similarity of 
the struggles. Their non-violent mass protests have been met with 
military force. In the latest demonstrations, 130 people have been 
wounded and at least two killed by army and police bullets. The 
government and the Colombian media are accusing them of being terrorists. 

*Rafael Coicué* is one of the most respected leaders of the contemporary 
indigenous movement in northern Cauca. He was the indigenous governor of 
Corinto in Northern Cauca. A long time Nasa activist, his brother was 
killed in the 1991 Nilo massacre of 20 Nasa, and  he was shot at and 
lost an eye in July 2008, a direct attempt on his life because of the 
work he's involved in. He will be in Washington, testifying before the 
Inter-American Commission of Human Rights about the consistent 
violations committed against Colombia's indigenous communities by the 
government of Alvaro Uribe, including the backlash carried out by the 
Army and Police against indigenous protesters in Cauca over the past ten 
days. He will be speaking in New York City October 25-27th.

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