SUCCESSFUL OR FAILURE STORIES OF MINORITIES AND INDIGENOUS CONSIDERING THEIR WATER ACCESS RIGHTS

Contextualization

The session discussed, from the perspective of representatives of some indigenous populations of Brazil, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada, the access and uses of these societies to water. Some challenges faced by indigenous peoples represented there are: the water insecurity of indigenous peoples; slowness or absence of land demarcation; non-recognition of the relationship that forest peoples have with water; poor participation and decision-making at local, national and global levels; major impacts caused by large enterprises that eventually destroy local biomes and contaminate the water resources used by indigenous peoples; and lack of recognition of nature’s rights would define greater accountability for environmental impacts. Indigenous peoples generally recognize in water a value far greater than just its use. They consider that civilization’s current mode of water management does not recognize the values and way of life of indigenous peoples – and their understanding of water as a sacred element, essential to the balance of life. Since colonization, the ancestral rivers of these peoples have been used for mining, power supply (through hydroelectric dams), paper production and agribusiness irrigation. These practices dam and pollute waters used by these populations to survive, changing the fishing regime and promoting its contamination by the use of pesticides. There is no prior consultation with these populations, whose relationship with rivers is secular, of life, existence, leisure and subsistence.

Recommendations

It is recommended to give greater decision-making power, offering opportunities for participation in management and space for dialogue between indigenous peoples and governments; recognize ancestral knowledge of conservation and adaptation to nature, disseminating it to be a reference for water management; conservation of indigenous lands, guaranteeing these peoples water in quantity and quality and their right of access to water and a balanced environment; prevent environmental damage from reaching indigenous reserves / lands; and enable communities to empower themselves to make their own decisions about their territories, and to command the production of knowledge.

Conclusions

It was concluded that the indigenous seek to broaden the role of their future for themselves by monitoring the impacts of inhabited territories, participating in meetings and discussions and also helping to find solutions (within their community and with local authorities) so that their ancestral vision is incorporated into public policy. Indigenous and traditional peoples today have the ability to articulate themselves by relying on technology to exchange knowledge and expand their voice. It is critical that they use this so that ancestral wisdom is respected and enforced in public policy.