FORUM ON GLOBALIZATION AND THE PRESERVATION OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES AND CULTURES: THE ROLE OF YOUTH & TECHNOLOGY

August 8, 2019 - Washington, DC

Her Excellency, Ambassador Yolande Smith, Chair of the Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the OAS
Distinguished Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives and Permanent Observers
Distinguished experts who will present on the forum’s important theme, Globalization and the Preservation of Indigenous Languages and Cultures: the Role of Youth & Technology
Artistic luminaries Miguel Angel Pelau of Chile and Yahaira Tubac Toj of Guatemala who will share their talents with us today
Representatives of Civil Society, Social Actors, Academia, youth of the Americas, invited guests , OAS colleagues

It is my honor to welcome you to the House of the Americas, particularly  during a space designed into the annual schedule of the OAS to celebrate the Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples.   This year’s celebration is being held under the theme, Indigenous Languages of the Americas. As we reflect on the historic reality of the lands which have come to be known as The Americas, and consider the souls who lived, toiled and died over centuries past, communicating in languages, some extinct and others near extinction, I challenge you at the very outset to consider the significance of the contribution of indigenous peoples to the Americas.

Today’s presentations will urge us to contemplate the value that must be attributed to the preservation of indigenous languages and cultures in speaking to a hemisphere whose diversity is born of a colorful, people-centered woven tapestry, central to which is the legacy of our indigenous families; for any loyal historical account of our lands must address the way of life of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, their religious practices, and the languages which they spoke and continue to speak.

In February 2018, OAS Permanent Council Resolution PC/RES. 1094 (2144/18) declared that the Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples be marked around August 9 each year.  This was a significant step in line with the 2017 General Assembly adoption of the Plan of Action for the Implementation of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2017-2021).  Since then, my Office has worked steadfastly with the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity to propose for the consideration of Member States a series of activities to focus attention on matters of pressing importance to Indigenous Peoples and their descendants.

The declaration by the United Nations of 2019 as the year of indigenous languages demands a special focus on how national efforts, combined with those of civic actors and international organizations, can spur urgent action for their revitalization, promotion and preservation, and spark renewed interest in cementing their value-added as catalysts for strengthening cultural retention and the on-passing of traditional knowledge.  In recognizing the importance of indigenous languages as critical assets to communities, the United Nations underscores their utility as tools not just for development, but more consequentially for long term, sustainable development, as well as in the protection of human rights, in peace building and in the search for reconciliation.

Permit me to share with you a brief synopsis which could center our thoughts on the breadth and significance of the stark statistics relative to our indigenous hemispheric family. According to data found in online and other sources of the World Bank, UNDP, and UNESCO:

• Approximately 370 million indigenous persons are spread over 90 countries in all geographical regions of the world, representing 5000 different cultures. 
• The World Bank approximates a population of 42 million indigenous people in Latin America, equating to 8% of the general population
• Poverty impacts approximately 43% of indigenous homes in Latin America
• The lifespan in indigenous communities is up to 20 times less than that of the average individual, due in large measure to inadequate access to health services and information.
• Only 1 in every 3 indigenous children speaks their native tongue upon completing formal education.

Lenguas indígenas como un derecho

Si bien es desconcertante afrontar tal realidad en una región que se enorgullece de su diversidad y el respeto a los derechos humanos, nos llena de mucha satisfacción que organizaciones como la nuestra y las Naciones Unidas han estado a la vanguardia de elevar sus causas como prioridad de acción, avanzando la convocatoria para el fortalecimiento de los derechos humanos básicos de todos los pueblos, en particular los derechos de los pueblos indígenas.  Por ejemplo, el derecho de una persona a utilizar el idioma de su preferencia es un requisito previo para la libertad de pensamiento, de opinión y de expresión, y es un derecho fundamental reconocido tanto en Naciones Unidas como en la OEA.

La OEA tiene un papel destacado en la defensa de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas.  Nuestra Organización, con 70 años de trayectoria histórica como luchador en temas de desarrollo, seguridad, democracia y derechos humanos, está aún mejor posicionada hoy en día para ejemplificar con más dinamismo su rol como defensor cada vez más valiente de los derechos de los pueblos de las Americas.

En los años ochenta se registran las primeras decisiones de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH).  En la década de 1990, se inició el desarrollo jurisprudencial de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, y se creó la Relatoría sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas para reforzar el papel de la CIDH en la materia.

Avances y Buenas Prácticas en el Fomento de lenguas indígenas

Esta labor constante ha traspasado un camino tanto arduo como exigente, lleno de retos y de éxitos mínimos y grandes.  No obstante, los pueblos indígenas han mantenido un trabajo persistente para mantener su autonomía, lo cual ha sido favorecido por medio de reformas constitucionales en diferentes países, y se han ido posicionando sus derechos en las legislaciones y la institucionalidad de los Estados.  A través de su gran respeto para el medio ambiente y sus esfuerzos particulares sobre el tema, las comunidades indígenas son líderes en la protección de recursos naturales, de la biosfera y el medio ambiente.  Muchos pueblos originarios están reivindicando su cultura por medio de la academia, la música, la escritura, incluso, las redes sociales son ahora un espacio que se ha apropiado para comunicarse en la propia lengua. Les comparto algunos ejemplares:

• En Colombia, en departamento de Guainía, en la selva amazónica, más de 3.600 indígenas colombianos recibieron tabletas digitales para seguir cursando estudios básicos en su propia lengua.  La iniciativa permitirá que indígenas de entre 15 y 50 años vuelvan a estudiar, con el objetivo de promover la formación de los alumnos en matemáticas, lenguaje, ciencias sociales y biología.
• En Canadá, más de 100 comunidades han recibido capacitación en desarrollo de habilidades digitales a nivel local gracias al apoyo del Consejo de Tecnología de las Primeras Naciones, una organización sin fines de lucro liderada por indígenas que brinda capacitación digital gratuita para personas indígenas.  Además, el Consejo está trabajando para lograr un acceso equitativo a la tecnología para las comunidades indígenas con el fin de promover la soberanía en la era digital.
• Indígenas de Hawái han promovido su lengua a través de la educación en escuelas públicas.
• En Chile hay legislaciones y políticas orientadas a la protección de nueve lenguas indígenas aunque con el desafío de la enseñanza de solo cuatro de esas lenguas en los colegios, solo y cuando hay más del 20 % de estudiantes indígenas.
• En Bolivia, se han dado pasos importantes en la regulación del derecho de consulta de los pueblos indígenas en cuestiones que les afectan directamente. Se aprobó la Ley de Minería, que regula también el derecho de consulta en proyectos territoriales que los afecten.
• En Costa Rica se ha establecido el sub-sistema educativo indígena, dentro del cual se les reconoce el derecho de los puebles indígenas a ser educados en su idioma, por maestros indígenas, y que dicha educación incluya sus tradiciones, costumbre y cosmovisión.

Y como estos hay varios otros ejemplos destacados en las Américas.

Globalization, Technology, Indigenous languages, and Youth Populations

The clear nexus between efforts at preservation and the long term survival of indigenous languages is the education agenda which must underpin the realization of such objectives.  Without question, any such outreach to young indigenous populations must inspire a hunger to learn more, generate interest in the traditional and other lessons to be derived, excite and stimulate active use of these languages not just by the broader indigenous population of elders, but with targeted avenues to capture the interest of the youth, including through the use of technology.

Indigenous youth have much to contribute to the world as empowered individuals with a profound understanding of their indigenous identity, cultural heritage, and connection to their lands and territories.  We should capitalize on this potential and collectively promote more training of indigenous youth to be qualified professionals with leadership skills so that they can partake effectively in the socio-political and cultural aspects of their communities.

Government support such as funding and acknowledgement of language in media, schools, and offices can drastically increase the probability of language revitalization.  For example, in Canada, Members of Parliament can now speak indigenous languages in the House of Commons through on-site interpreters.

Globalization and technology have connected the world in unprecedented ways. It has enabled thousands of people to communicate from different geographical regions and in different languages. These same benefits can be channeled to indigenous communities.  In México, for example, several young entrepreneurs sought innovative ways to preserve indigenous languages by creating an app called "Kadikinda" (which means "Let's play"), which enables users to learn the Mixtec number system.  It is available to be used on Android platform.

Social media platforms can also facilitate knowledge sharing. Wikitongues, for example, is an online database of crowd-sourced videos of people speaking their native tongue.

Furthermore, popular language learning sites such as Duolingo and Rosetta Stone now have languages from communities such as Navajo, Iñupiat, Chickasaw, and Chitimacha .

Given the economic and structural barriers faced by indigenous youth, we must re-imagine the traditional education system. Teaching of indigenous languages should be supported at the primary school levels.  This could also be implemented in community spaces to encourage children and youth to continue learning and practicing their language.

Conclusion

Globalization has brought both immeasurable benefits and disadvantages to our world.  Its attendant technological advances have undoubtedly increased human interaction and inter-cultural communication.  These advances unfortunately have also led to a stark global divide which has created a world of inequality. Progress and development many times leave vulnerable groups in the margins of our societies. In the case of our indigenous brothers and sisters, this marginalization not only exists, but also continues to grow.  There are many challenges facing our indigenous communities and also many stories of triumph.  It is our hope that we can do our part in helping indigenous communities to retain their culture and identity through preservation of their language. We look forward to the presentations today and the musical performances to follow.

I thank you