| Proposed
Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indigenous Peoples and Protected Areas |
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This proposal aims to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indigenous Peoples and Protected Areas as called for by Recommendation 5.24 of the Fifth World Parks Congress held in Durban, South Africa, September 8th to 17th, 2003. Recommendation 5.24 states that “many protected areas of the world encroach on and are found within and overlap with lands, territories and resources of indigenous and traditional peoples. In many cases, the establishment of these protected areas has affected the rights, interests and livelihood of indigenous peoples and traditional peoples and subsequently resulted in persistent conflict.” “[G]lobal assessment of displacement from national parks in rainforest areas concluded that millions of ‘conservation refugees’ have been displaced or are facing physical displacement risks within the coming years (Geisler 2001).” [1] Furthermore, the Indigenous Peoples’ Declaration to the World Parks Congress states that “forced expulsion and systematic exclusion of Indigenous Peoples from their lands and territories for the creation of protected areas . . . results in cultural genocide.” To address these grievances, the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus to the World Parks Congress has proposed the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indigenous Peoples and Protected Areas. (WPC Recommendation 5.24, paragraph 1(j).) It is proposed that the mandate of the Commission will be to create an impartial historical record of violations and abuses of indigenous peoples’ rights associated with the creation of protected areas. The Commission aspires to respond to the needs of victims; promote healing and reconciliation and prevent repetition of violations and abuses. It also proposes to establish appropriate mechanisms for restitution and redress of grievances. The proposed general function of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indigenous Peoples and Protected Areas will be to investigate and report on the causes, nature and extent of violations and abuses, and on the context of such occurrences. Indigenous peoples attending the World Parks Congress suggested that this Commission examine both internal and external factors in these events. In this respect, the Commission should evaluate the role and contributions that both national and foreign individuals, groups, institutions and governments have played. It is proposed that the Commission is composed of members from diverse sectors including Nobel Laureates, representatives of Indigenous Peoples and Governments and the principal conservation agencies of the world. It is suggested that the Commission be housed at the United Nations. To overcome a history of dispossession and exclusion of and violence against Indigenous Peoples in Protected Areas, it is best to deal with the past through investigation, truth recovery, justice and change. Such change should be geared to elevating the moral and ethical grounds of conservation activities so that future policies and laws can reflect the social and political transformation of our times. We need constructive remembering and this must be done not in isolation but in dialogue with the conservation community and all actors concerned to ensure a better and brighter future for all of humanity. [1] Cernea, Micheal M. & Schmidt-Soltau, Kai, National Parks and Poverty Risks: Is Population Resettlement the Solution?, paper presented at the World Parks Congress, Durban, South Africa, 8-17 September 2003, p. 11. |
