Indigenous Movements & MobilizationEcuador and Bolivia

Ecuador: Naciones y Pueblos

HighlandsQuichua

nationality (95% of indigenous pop.)

◦ 16 pueblos

Amazon 10 nationalities

(ethno-linguistic groups)

Coast 6 nationalities

Bolivian Indigenous GroupsAymara (25% pop.) Altiplano (high plains) Ayullus Quechua (30% pop.) Temperate valleys –

Cochabamba Historically greater

subordination to haciendas

Amazonian Peoples 30 ethno-linguistic groups Sustained contact with

outside world only in 20th century

Evolution of Indigenous Movement & Political Organizations

1970s – Emergence of Indigenous Organizations & Discourses• Katarista Movement, Bolivia• CSUTCB – National Campesino Union, Bolivia - 1978• Regional indigenous organizations, Ecuador1980s – Unity in Ecuador; Failure of Indigenous Discourse to

Transcend in Bolivia• Katarista Political Parties, Bolivia• CONAIE – Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador

- 19861990s – National & International Actors; Incursion into

Formal Politics• 1990 – Indigenous uprising, Ecuador• 1992 – First Continental Encounter of Indian Peoples, Quito• 1994 – Uprising against neoliberal agricultural law, Ecuador• 1996 – Pachakutik Ecuador & ASP/MAS in Bolivia• 1997 – Constitutional Assembly - Ecuador

Concept of Plurinationality As Quoted in CONAIE’s Political ProjectThe oppression, exploitation and discrimination of the Indigenous Nationalities and Peoples has impeded Ecuador’s consolidation as a nation-state.

The undeniable existence of various Indigenous Nationalities and Peoples, understood as socio-cultural entities, that are fully constituted socio-economically and politically; who share similar spiritual, linguistic, historical and cultural identities which differentiate us from other groups, is the essence and foundation of Plurinationality. That is why the new State must begin from the recognition of diversity as the basis of its structures.

Elements of PlurinationalismSelf-determination, Celebration of diversityAnti-discrimination & affirmative

actionRedistribution of resourcesShare decision over natural resourcesTerritories with equal status as

traditional state divisionsEthnic quotas & representation in the

state

InterculturalityRight to differentness & diversity,

but more emphasis on unity & living together

Inclusion & equality over autonomy

Anti-discrimination & affirmative action

The Indigenous Movement & Correa’s Citizen Revolution

DINEIB – removal of indigenous organizational control over bi-lingual education & other gov’t agencies

Water & mining laws – source of conflict

Racism in Bolivia

Indigenous Autonomies in Bolivia Article 1:

◦ “Bolivia is a united, plurinational, communitarian state, which is free, independent, sovereign, democratic, intercultural, decentralized and with territorial autonomies [municipal, departmental, regional, and indigenous], based on plurality and political, economic, judicial, cultural and linguistic pluralism.”

Article 278: ◦ Indigenous assemblymen will be “elected by the

indigenous, original, peasant nations and peoples according to their own norms and procedures.”