URL: http://www.amazonteam.org/index.php/218/Indigenous_Gatherings_and_Exchanges
Indigenous Gatherings and Exchanges
Since 1999, ACT has organized intertribal and international gatherings between indigenous healers and leaders from various corners of the Amazon. Face-to-face meetings between our indigenous partners present a unique opportunity for them share their perspectives concerning the state of their environment and their communities. ACT is committed to enabling indigenous healers to exchange ideas with one another, which can improve the quality of their decision-making, generate new approaches to common problems, and create opportunities for deeper collaboration.
History
ACT's exchange program had its beginnings in 1999 in the Colombian Amazon, where ACT sponsored a gathering of 30 indigenous healers from seven tribes of the departments of Caquetá and Putumayo to enable them to coordinate a unified response to the erosion of their cultures and environment. From this event, the healers issued a declaration of their joint intent, formed a union, UMIYAC (Unión de Médicos Indígenas Yageceros de la Amazonía Colombiana, The Union of Yage Healers of the Colombian Amazon), and drafted The Beliefs of the Elders: Code of Ethics for Indigenous Medicine of the Colombian Amazon, a document outlining the beliefs and guidelines regarding indigenous medicine developed and upheld by UMIYAC. Since then, ACT has sponsored annual plenary gatherings of UMIYAC for planning and evaluation.
Progress
The success of UMIYAC's intertribal gathering led its leaders to extend outreach activities and participation to other indigenous leaders from across the Colombian Amazon. These too enjoyed success, and prompted its participants to seek to expand their scope yet again.
In 2006, ACT organized its first international gathering, hosted by the Waurá people of Brazil's Xingu Indigenous Reserve. The gathering assembled members of 13 distinct indigenous groups from Brazil, Suriname, Colombia, Canada and the United States. For most participants, the event was unprecedented because it marked the first time many groups had ever encountered members of indigenous communities of other nationalities, much less set foot in another country. A resolution was drafted by the representatives to continue international-level gatherings with rotating hosting responsibilities.
In 2007, ACT's indigenous partners in Suriname hosted the subsequent international gathering; 2008 saw the annual gathering return to its roots in Colombia, hosted by UMIYAC; and 2010 brought the assembly to the Brazilian Amazon. So long as our partners continue to place great value on one another's input and solidarity, ACT will continue to sponsor these gatherings.
Read more about Indigenous Gatherings in Colombia