Major Group: Indigenous Peoples
1
Commission on Sustainable Development 13
Interactive discussions ? Linkages among the themes including
cross cutting issues.
Indigenous Peoples. 13.4.2005
Estebancio Castro, International Indian Treaty Council, Mercedes Pierre, American
Indian Law Alliance and Lucy Mulenkei, Indigenous Information Network
Indigenous Peoples believe that the time has come for translating concepts and
ideas into policies. The importance of the three thematic areas of water, human
settlement and sanitation services lies in enabling the international community to
address these important issues effectively. We therefore agree with those who
argue that we should move away from conceptual debates to concrete policies.
Indigenous Peoples have much to offer within IWRM. Indigenous Peoples'
traditional systems of water management and use are based upon principles and
practices that balance immediate needs with the needs of the environment and
other living things, plants and animals, as well as other people, and consider the
sustainability for future generations. Integrating this Indigenous Traditional
Ecological Approach to IWRM would contribute to meeting the goals of the
Millennium Development Goals. Indigenous Peoples have an important role in
sustainable water resource management and management assessment tools.
Our concern is that once water and sanitation services are privatized, the
essence of life itself, which is the sacredness of water, would be determined and
defined by the market system. Under the mechanism of privatization, the delivery
of water services is then based on the ?ability to pay?, which means that poor
communities frequently end up without adequate services and therefore poor
health. Madame Chair, we propose the following recommendations:
· Legal protection for indigenous peoples? rights in development processes,
planning and implementation of accessible water, sanitation, labor, and
other infrastructure projects for human settlements are some of the
outstanding obstacles that must be addressed.
· Financial contributions need to be increased from all main sources, such
as, national governments, donors, multilateral financing institutions,
commercial lenders, private investors, voluntary donations and other
sources, and made available to reach countries most in need for water
supply, human settlement and sanitation services.
· National and international capital should be available at local levels to
enable Indigenous peoples and local communities to finance small-scale
appropriate technology water infrastructures and sanitation services.
2
· Capacity building and appropriate technological transfer initiatives must be
implemented which recognize indigenous traditional practices of water
management that are dynamically regulated systems. Capacity building
includes developing education programs on Indigenous TEK of water
systems.
· Political, technical and legal mechanisms on the national and international
level must be developed so that the States, private sector and
international financial institutions could be held accountable for their
actions that threaten the integrity of water systems.
· Governments must enhance the participation and mutual partnership of
indigenous peoples, in all aspects of agricultural water use, development
and management of water resources, development of water and sanitation
services and to recognize indigenous peoples? interests on water use,
allocation and customary uses.
In conclusion, fundamental principles such as equality, equity, nondiscrimination,
transparency, accountability and the full and effective participation
of Indigenous Peoples and all the stakeholders are the central elements for
ensuring the realization of effective policies on water, human settlement and
sanitation services for the better health of our peoples.
Thank you Madame Chair.
Commission on Sustainable Development 13
Interactive discussions ? Linkages among the themes including
cross cutting issues.
Indigenous Peoples. 13.4.2005
Estebancio Castro, International Indian Treaty Council, Mercedes Pierre, American
Indian Law Alliance and Lucy Mulenkei, Indigenous Information Network
Indigenous Peoples believe that the time has come for translating concepts and
ideas into policies. The importance of the three thematic areas of water, human
settlement and sanitation services lies in enabling the international community to
address these important issues effectively. We therefore agree with those who
argue that we should move away from conceptual debates to concrete policies.
Indigenous Peoples have much to offer within IWRM. Indigenous Peoples'
traditional systems of water management and use are based upon principles and
practices that balance immediate needs with the needs of the environment and
other living things, plants and animals, as well as other people, and consider the
sustainability for future generations. Integrating this Indigenous Traditional
Ecological Approach to IWRM would contribute to meeting the goals of the
Millennium Development Goals. Indigenous Peoples have an important role in
sustainable water resource management and management assessment tools.
Our concern is that once water and sanitation services are privatized, the
essence of life itself, which is the sacredness of water, would be determined and
defined by the market system. Under the mechanism of privatization, the delivery
of water services is then based on the ?ability to pay?, which means that poor
communities frequently end up without adequate services and therefore poor
health. Madame Chair, we propose the following recommendations:
· Legal protection for indigenous peoples? rights in development processes,
planning and implementation of accessible water, sanitation, labor, and
other infrastructure projects for human settlements are some of the
outstanding obstacles that must be addressed.
· Financial contributions need to be increased from all main sources, such
as, national governments, donors, multilateral financing institutions,
commercial lenders, private investors, voluntary donations and other
sources, and made available to reach countries most in need for water
supply, human settlement and sanitation services.
· National and international capital should be available at local levels to
enable Indigenous peoples and local communities to finance small-scale
appropriate technology water infrastructures and sanitation services.
2
· Capacity building and appropriate technological transfer initiatives must be
implemented which recognize indigenous traditional practices of water
management that are dynamically regulated systems. Capacity building
includes developing education programs on Indigenous TEK of water
systems.
· Political, technical and legal mechanisms on the national and international
level must be developed so that the States, private sector and
international financial institutions could be held accountable for their
actions that threaten the integrity of water systems.
· Governments must enhance the participation and mutual partnership of
indigenous peoples, in all aspects of agricultural water use, development
and management of water resources, development of water and sanitation
services and to recognize indigenous peoples? interests on water use,
allocation and customary uses.
In conclusion, fundamental principles such as equality, equity, nondiscrimination,
transparency, accountability and the full and effective participation
of Indigenous Peoples and all the stakeholders are the central elements for
ensuring the realization of effective policies on water, human settlement and
sanitation services for the better health of our peoples.
Thank you Madame Chair.