5.2 Political organizing and advocacy

Indigenous political movements have long fought for self-determination and cultural preservation. These collective actions aim to protect lands, assert rights, and advocate for Indigenous interests in the face of ongoing colonialism and marginalization.

Indigenous advocacy organizations play a crucial role in amplifying voices and building alliances. From national NGOs to grassroots groups, these organizations work to advance Indigenous rights through political advocacy, legal action, and community organizing.

Indigenous political movements

• Collective actions taken by Indigenous communities to assert their rights, protect their lands, and advocate for their interests in the face of ongoing colonialism and marginalization
• Rooted in a long history of resistance to colonial domination and the fight for self-determination, autonomy, and cultural preservation
• Movements often intersect with broader struggles for social justice, environmental protection, and decolonization across the Americas

Goals of organizing

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• Asserting Indigenous sovereignty and the right to self-governance over their territories, resources, and affairs
• Protecting ancestral lands from exploitation, dispossession, and environmental degradation by extractive industries (mining, logging, oil drilling)
• Revitalizing and preserving Indigenous languages, cultural practices, and traditional knowledge systems
• Demanding recognition of Indigenous rights enshrined in international law (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)
• Seeking redress for historical injustices, such as forced removal, cultural assimilation, and genocide

Strategies and tactics

• Direct action and civil disobedience, such as blockades, occupations, and protests to resist resource extraction and development projects
• Legal challenges and litigation to assert treaty rights, land claims, and constitutional protections
• Media campaigns and public awareness-raising to garner support and solidarity from non-Indigenous allies
• Participation in international forums (UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues) to pressure governments and corporations
• Building alliances with other Indigenous nations and social movements to amplify their collective voice and impact

Challenges faced

• Criminalization and repression of Indigenous activists by state security forces, often in collusion with corporate interests
• Internal divisions and conflicts within Indigenous communities, sometimes exacerbated by government divide-and-conquer tactics
• Limited financial resources and capacity compared to the deep pockets of their adversaries (governments, multinational corporations)
• Ongoing legacies of colonialism, racism, and discrimination that marginalize Indigenous peoples and undermine their political power
• Difficulty in gaining mainstream media attention and public support for their causes, especially when framed as obstacles to "development" and "progress"

Indigenous advocacy organizations

• Formal groups and institutions dedicated to advancing Indigenous rights, self-determination, and well-being through political advocacy, legal action, and community organizing
• Play a crucial role in amplifying Indigenous voices, mobilizing resources, and building alliances with non-Indigenous allies and supporters
• Range from national and international NGOs to grassroots, community-based groups rooted in specific Indigenous nations and territories

National and regional groups

• Operate at a country or regional level to advocate for Indigenous rights and influence national policies and legislation
• Examples include the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in the US, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in Canada, and the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin (COICA) in South America
• Engage in lobbying, litigation, and public education campaigns to shape government decision-making and hold authorities accountable

Grassroots and community-based

• Emerge from and are accountable to specific Indigenous communities and their struggles for self-determination and cultural survival
• Often have limited resources but deep local knowledge, legitimacy, and mobilizing capacity within their own nations and territories
• Focus on issues such as land defense, cultural revitalization, and community development through direct action, popular education, and local organizing
• Examples include the Unist'ot'en Camp in Wet'suwet'en territory (Canada) resisting pipeline construction and the Consejo Regional Indígena del Cauca (CRIC) in Colombia fighting for land rights and autonomy

Role in political change

• Serve as critical intermediaries between Indigenous communities and external actors (governments, corporations, NGOs, media)
• Provide platforms for Indigenous leaders and activists to articulate their demands, propose solutions, and negotiate with decision-makers
• Help to build the capacity and political consciousness of Indigenous peoples through training, education, and leadership development programs
• Act as watchdogs and whistleblowers to expose and challenge abuses of Indigenous rights by state and private actors
• Contribute to shifting public discourse and policy debates in favor of Indigenous self-determination and decolonization

Representation in government

• The inclusion and participation of Indigenous peoples in formal political institutions and decision-making processes at local, regional, and national levels
• Seen as a key avenue for Indigenous communities to have a direct say in the policies and laws that affect their lives, lands, and futures
• Historically, Indigenous peoples have been severely underrepresented and excluded from electoral politics due to systemic barriers and discrimination

Indigenous elected officials

• Indigenous individuals who have successfully run for and won elected office at various levels of government (local councils, state/provincial legislatures, national parliaments)
• Examples include Evo Morales, the first Indigenous president of Bolivia, and Deb Haaland, the first Native American US Cabinet secretary
• Often face challenges in navigating and reforming colonial political institutions while remaining accountable to their Indigenous communities and values
• Can play important roles in advocating for Indigenous rights, influencing policy decisions, and challenging dominant power structures from within

Barriers to participation

• Systemic inequalities in education, socioeconomic status, and political access that disadvantage Indigenous candidates and voters
• Geographical isolation and dispersal of many Indigenous communities, which can make electoral mobilization and representation difficult
• Racist attitudes and discrimination among non-Indigenous voters and political elites, who may view Indigenous candidates as unqualified or threatening
• Electoral systems and processes that favor dominant political parties and interests over Indigenous voices and agendas
• Lack of campaign financing and resources compared to mainstream political actors and organizations

Impact on policy decisions

• Greater representation of Indigenous peoples in government can lead to policies and laws that better reflect and respond to their needs, priorities, and rights
• Indigenous legislators have successfully pushed for reforms in areas such as land rights, resource management, language revitalization, and anti-discrimination measures
• Increased visibility and influence of Indigenous politicians can help to challenge and transform dominant narratives and assumptions about Indigenous peoples and their place in society
• However, Indigenous representatives often remain a minority within government institutions and face ongoing resistance and backlash from entrenched power structures
• Achieving substantive policy change in favor of Indigenous self-determination and decolonization requires sustained organizing and pressure both inside and outside of formal politics

Alliances and coalitions

• Collaborative relationships and networks formed between Indigenous peoples and other marginalized or oppressed groups to advance shared goals and struggles
• Based on a recognition of the intersectionality of different forms of oppression (racism, colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy) and the need for solidarity and collective action to challenge them
• Can involve alliances at various scales, from local community partnerships to national and transnational social movement coalitions

With other marginalized groups

• Indigenous peoples have a long history of building alliances with other groups facing similar challenges and fighting for social justice
• Examples include coalitions with African American civil rights activists, Chicano/a and Latino/a farmworkers, and Asian and Pacific Islander immigrant communities in the US
• In Latin America, Indigenous movements have often allied with peasant, labor, and Afro-descendant organizations to resist neoliberal policies and demand land reform and social rights
• These alliances can help to build broader public support and political leverage for Indigenous struggles by connecting them to wider demands for equality and justice

Benefits and challenges

• Alliances can bring increased visibility, resources, and capacity to Indigenous movements by tapping into the strengths and networks of partner organizations
• Collaborative campaigns and actions can put greater pressure on governments and corporations to respond to Indigenous demands and respect their rights
• However, building and maintaining effective alliances also poses challenges, such as navigating differences in priorities, strategies, and cultural worldviews among partner groups
• There is a risk of Indigenous struggles being co-opted or sidelined within broader coalitions if their specific demands and leadership are not adequately centered and respected
• Overcoming histories of mistrust and conflict between Indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups (e.g., settler-Indigenous relations) requires ongoing dialogue, relationship-building, and mutual accountability

Examples of successful partnerships

• The alliance between the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and environmental activists in resisting the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) in the US, which drew global attention and solidarity
• The coalition of Indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and peasant organizations in Colombia that successfully mobilized for the inclusion of ethnic and territorial rights in the country's 2016 peace agreement
• The transnational movement against the Belo Monte dam in the Brazilian Amazon, which brought together Indigenous communities, environmentalists, and human rights advocates from around the world
• The cross-cultural solidarity between Māori and Pacific Islander activists in Aotearoa/New Zealand challenging the impacts of colonialism, racism, and economic marginalization on their communities
• The alliances between Indigenous women leaders and feminist organizations across the Americas advocating for gender justice, reproductive rights, and an end to violence against women and girls

International advocacy

• The efforts of Indigenous peoples and their allies to advance their rights and self-determination through engagement with international institutions, legal frameworks, and solidarity networks
• Reflects a recognition of the transnational nature of Indigenous struggles and the need for global action to challenge the ongoing impacts of colonialism and extractivism on Indigenous communities
• Involves advocating for the recognition and implementation of Indigenous rights standards, holding states accountable for violations, and building cross-border alliances and campaigns

United Nations involvement

• The UN has become an important arena for Indigenous peoples to assert their rights and push for international recognition and protection
• Key milestones include the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007 and the establishment of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in 2000
• Indigenous activists and organizations regularly participate in UN forums and mechanisms, such as the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
• They use these platforms to raise awareness about violations of Indigenous rights, advocate for policy changes, and pressure governments to comply with international standards

Organization of American States

• The OAS is a regional intergovernmental organization that includes all 35 independent states of the Americas
• It has several mechanisms and bodies relevant to Indigenous rights, such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
• Indigenous peoples have used the Inter-American human rights system to bring cases against states for violations of their rights, such as land dispossession, environmental destruction, and violence against Indigenous leaders
• The OAS has also adopted regional instruments on Indigenous rights, such as the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2016, which builds on and reinforces the UNDRIP

Transnational solidarity networks

• Indigenous peoples have built cross-border networks and alliances to support each other's struggles and campaigns beyond the formal spaces of international institutions
• Examples include the Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas (ECMIA), the Abya Yala Indigenous Forum, and the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
• These networks facilitate information-sharing, capacity-building, and joint advocacy among Indigenous communities facing similar challenges across different countries and regions
• They also help to mobilize international solidarity and support for specific Indigenous struggles, such as the resistance to the Coastal GasLink pipeline in Wet'suwet'en territory (Canada) or the defense of the Amazon rainforest by Indigenous peoples in Brazil and Ecuador
• Transnational Indigenous solidarity is rooted in a shared history of resistance to colonialism and a common vision of self-determination, cultural survival, and harmony with the natural world

Future of Indigenous politics

• The ongoing evolution and prospects of Indigenous peoples' struggles for self-determination, decolonization, and social justice in the face of changing political, economic, and environmental conditions
• Reflects both the resilience and adaptability of Indigenous movements and the persistent challenges and uncertainties they face in asserting their rights and reshaping their futures
• Involves the emergence of new generations of Indigenous leaders, the exploration of innovative strategies and alliances, and the continued resistance to the impacts of globalization, extractivism, and climate change on Indigenous communities

Emerging leaders and voices

• The rise of a new generation of Indigenous activists, organizers, and intellectuals who are taking up leadership roles and shaping the direction of Indigenous movements
• Often characterized by a strong grounding in Indigenous cultures and languages, a critical analysis of colonialism and capitalism, and a commitment to intersectional and decolonial approaches to social change
• Examples include xiuhtezcatl martinez, a young Indigenous climate activist from the US, and Moira Millán, a Mapuche leader and co-founder of the Movimiento de Mujeres Indígenas por el Buen Vivir in Argentina
• These emerging voices are challenging traditional hierarchies and bringing new perspectives and energy to Indigenous struggles, while also building on the legacies and wisdom of earlier generations of leaders

Opportunities for advancement

• Growing global awareness and support for Indigenous rights and environmental justice, as reflected in the adoption of the UNDRIP, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Sustainable Development Goals
• Increasing recognition of the value of Indigenous knowledge systems and practices in addressing global challenges such as biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and climate adaptation
• Expansion of Indigenous-led initiatives and enterprises in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism, which can provide economic opportunities and support self-determination
• Advances in digital technologies and social media, which have enabled Indigenous peoples to connect, organize, and mobilize across borders and to amplify their voices and stories to global audiences
• Potential for greater Indigenous representation and influence in formal political institutions through electoral campaigns, policy advocacy, and constitutional reforms

Ongoing struggles and resistance

• Persistent threats to Indigenous lands, resources, and ways of life from extractive industries, agribusiness, and infrastructure projects, often backed by state and corporate power
• Continued marginalization and discrimination of Indigenous peoples in dominant political, economic, and social systems, as reflected in disparities in health, education, employment, and access to justice
• Intensifying impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities, including more frequent and severe droughts, floods, wildfires, and sea-level rise, which exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and inequalities
• Ongoing violence and criminalization against Indigenous leaders and activists who defend their rights and territories, with hundreds of cases of murder, assault, and intimidation reported each year
• Challenges in maintaining cultural and linguistic diversity in the face of globalization, assimilation pressures, and intergenerational trauma from colonial legacies of displacement and abuse
• Need for continued mobilization, resistance, and solidarity to assert Indigenous self-determination and to transform the colonial structures and mindsets that perpetuate their oppression and marginalization