There is a huge gap between the legal and real situation concerning the indigenous populations in Argentina. New public policies are needed in order to solve this gap and give the recognition of the indigenous community as people with the right of self determination.

In Argentina there are 24 indigenous people organized in more then 900 rural communities. They speak 14 languages and represent 10% of the country's population (4 million persons). The socio-economic situation of most of them is terrible, suffering malnutrition and hunger.

In 1994, the national constitution included the recognition of the cultural and ethnical preexistence of indigenous populations. This should have required recognition of territories, of institutions and rights, which until now have not been seen in practice.

The online journal "Revista Pueblos" denounces that although the constitution recognizes the communitarian property of the land, in the last years several evictions and usurpations have been performed with violence and threats. Several examples are cited, like the eviction of communities by multinational companies; irregular selling of lands by the local government (also for ridiculous prices: 1,14 Argentinean pesos/hectare, around 0,35U$); the invasion of indigenous territories by settlers; petroleum exploitation and contamination of the population with heavy metals; etc. Soya plantations also became a practice of slow genocide, once the monoculture has already consumed 75% of the native forests in Argentina and continues to expand itself illegally.

In order to have their legal right recognized, the indigenous populations in Argentina are going through a long and tough way. The peoples themselves are not recognized as "peoples", but as communities (Law no. 23.302 of 1985).

This factor obstructs the implementation of own autonomy territories  and their management. Moreover, the federal and local representative bodies are disconnected and act in a disarticulated way. The federal institution in charge of applying national policies regarding indigenous subjects (INAI – Instituto Nacional de Asuntos Indígenas) was founded in 1985 as a part of the Social Development Ministery – body questionable to be paternalistic, because not really acting with political aims.

Finally, in 2006 a new institution has been created: the "Dirección de Pueblos Originarios y Recursos Naturales" (Directorate of Native People and Natural Resources) inside of the National Environment Secretary. This organism includes indigenous representatives. They have been involved since the beginning to discuss their rights and the questions concerning the territory and its co-management. During the same 2006, it was adopted the law no. 26.610 due to violent evictions occurred towards indigenous communities. This law establishes the participation of an indigenous council, composed by representatives of the indigenous people of Argentina. Hopefully, this council can become a useful tool for several indigenous organizations, as an instrument of dialogue with the national government, in order to reach a federal pact and to build a real 'multi-national' State.

04.06.2008

Wenddi Burger is a Brazilian biologist with a Master in Environmental and Resource Management, held in Germany. During her studies and work experiences, she took in consideration the people as an intrinsic component in dealing with environmental problems. All the aspects involving environmental understanding, awareness, habits, actions and governance, form part of a her research field, meaning that "sociological" and "environmental"  approach proceed parallelly. As a part of this perspective, indigenous populations play an appealing role and therefore, subjects related with indigenous areas and the accomplishment of their human rights complement her career interests.

Images:
Argentina map: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Argentinien
Woman with child: http://www.guarani-indianer.de/