Third Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities of Abya Yala: From Resistance to Power

Abstract

Thousands of indigenous activists from 24 countries gathered in Guatemala in the last week of March 2007 for the Third Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities of Abya Yala. The gathering strengthened both local and transnational indigenous organizing efforts. The summit was entitled ‘From Resistance to Power,’ reflecting key concerns of how to move beyond resistance to oppressive regimes in order to claim positions of power in government. Evo Morales’ recent election as Bolivia's president inspired many activists to explore similar paths to challenge state power in their own countries. The meeting represented a merging of issues that had previously divided indigenous organizations, including disagreements over whether to follow an ethnic ‘Indianist’ or a leftist ‘Popular’ line. At the same time, a new focus on electoral paths to power raised threats of opportunism from candidates who pursue their own self-interests while compromising on key issues such as opposition to neoliberal economic policies. Nevertheless, the Guatemala summit reflected advances toward new levels of unity and points to a promising future for continental indigenous organizing initiatives.

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