The United Nations Economic and Social Council

Committee: The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Topic B: Promoting economic development in indigenous communities Written by: Ivanna Jadra, Carolina Zarazua, Rodrigo Llaguno, Emilio Carrillo and Melisa Vargas

I. Committee Background

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the United Nations’ (UN) “central platform for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable development.” It was established in 1946 and it is one of the six main organizations of the UN. Currently, ECOSOC has 54 member states, which are appointed by the General Assembly every three years. The committee’s headquarters is located in New York City and its current president is Marie Chatardová. Right now, the main focus of ECOSOC is the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a series of goals designed to promote economic development, end poverty and world hunger, encourage gender equality, etc. (About ECOSOC, ECOSOC, 2018). Moreover, ECOSOC furthers its mandate through collaboration with several subsidiary bodies such as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (Subsidiary Bodies, ECOSOC, 2018).

II. Topic information

A) History of Topic

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indigenous communities are populations “that live within, or are attached to, geographically distinct traditional habitats or ancestral territories, and who identify themselves as being part of a distinct

cultural group.” These communities are found all around the world and many countries have some located in strategic areas, while others are sometimes scattered throughout all of the territory. The UN estimates that there are around 370 million indigenous people living in more than 70 countries around the world. (WHO, 2007). On the other hand, economic development refers to “the adoption of new technologies, transition from agriculture-based to industry-based economy, and general improvement in living standards” (Business Dictionary, 2018).

In various reports, the United Nations states that the rights of indigenous communities are violated daily. It also describes that these communities are some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in the world. This has led to little economic development and a lack of opportunities for them. Many indigenous communities live in extreme poverty and lack access to clean drinking water, electricity, medical centres and education, these communities are often isolated from the rest of the country’s population as well. According to Stephen Corry of The Guardian, governments tend to provide these communities with minimal interest because they are seen as “others” because of their beliefs, cultures and traditions, which are extremely important to indigenous communities and are often misunderstood by outsiders. Corry asserts that governments make little efforts to learn more about these communities and interpret their wanting to hold onto traditions as a rejection of progress that goes against the country (Corry, The Guardian, 2011).

Colonialism also plays a strong role in why many indigenous communities lack economic development and support. The Guardian stated that the purpose of was to “take away their self-sufficiency, on their own territory, and lead them to glorious productivity, as menials, on someone else's.” This means that under colonialism, indigenous communities were not able to grow because their efforts were only to benefit their oppressors. Nothing went back into their own communities,

creating a continuing cycle of poverty and destitution. Moreover, colonial stereotypes about indigenous communities continue to linger and this has caused great damage (Corry, The Guardian, 2011). For instance, the World Bank states that education is a must in order for economic development to occur. Without an education, people cannot obtain jobs, earn money and pay taxes which are then invested into the building of schools, hospitals, etc. (Patrinos, The World Bank, 2016). For many indigenous communities, access to education does not exist due to government budgets and investments. Furthermore, many indigenous communities do not trust government supported educational institutions due to a history of abuse and mistreatment towards indigenous children. (Corry, The Guardian, 2011).

Non-profit organizations are attempting to help communities take control of their own economic development. Indigenous communities are now being encouraged to mix traditional with modern technology in order to earn a fair wage. For example,the company provides the community with a free online platform to sell indigenous fashion and textile items, all while promoting them as fair trade and sustainable. All profits return back to the communities and are then used to purchase necessary items such as medicine, books, etc. (Indigenous, 2018). Also, in order to meet educational needs, the Indigenous Education Institute (IEI), trains teachers within indigenous communities and funds the constructions of schools. The organization’s educational program is a mixture of indigenous knowledge and tradition with the learning standards of the local government (IEI, 2018).

B) Current Issues

Australia: According to the Australian government, the country is committed to ensuring that members of indigenous communities have the same economic opportunities as non-indigenous citizens. In its Indigenous Economic Development Strategy report for 2011-2018, the government outlined its plan for making economic

development more equal. It aims to offer more educational opportunities with more schools, teachers and scholarships. This is important because Australia believes education teaches skills which will enable keep indigenous communities to obtain “meaningful work and to build financial self-reliance” (Australian Government, 2011). However, this plan has been widely criticized by indigenous communities because it does not provide them with opportunities for their input. Yawuru leader Patrick Dodson said, “There's a lot of aspiration and maybe good intention, but unless you get participation from Indigenous entities at a local level and community level, it's not going to work” (Robinson, ABC News, 2016).

Peru: In , 45% of its 30 million inhabitants identify as indigenous. The majority of the indigenous population reside in remote areas that are rich in natural resources. However, due to government policies and the promotion of big corporations, the indigenous communities do not have access to what is around them. Instead, they live in poverty, unable to sell or utilize the natural resources in their own communities. Moreover, most indigenous communities in Peru do not own the land they live on, making it even harder to promote economic development. Recently, the government granted more land rights to indigenous communities, however, reliance on governmental programs for food, water and medicine is still common (Murtough, Public Policy Peru, 2016).

Fiji: In Fiji, the population is a almost evenly divided between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. However, within the country, the indigenous population are the dominate land owners and hold a majority in the government. Following the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, the government in Fiji began to debate the exact definition of the word “indigenous”. It later revealed that since indigenous communities within the nation were economically well developed, more needed to be done for non-indigenous groups. So, Fiji is unique since its indigenous communities

have not been suppressed by years of colonialism, discrimination and inequality. Moreover, the indigenous population do not want to see poverty inflicted on others and have taken action in order to lift up non-indigenous groups living within the country (Allen and Xanthaki, ed., Reflections on the UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, 2011).

Mexico: In Mexico, indigenous communities are more likely to live in poverty than non- indigenous communities. Around 12% of the country’s population identifies as indigenous. According to the UN, indigenous communities are discriminated against in Mexico due to cultural misunderstandings and racism. The organization also said that indigenous communities in Mexico have historically faced higher levels of poverty and economic insecurity. For instance, 80.6 percent of nation’s indigenous population live in extreme poverty and the majority of indigenous children live under the poverty line on less than two United States dollars a day. The lack of food and opportunities makes it difficult for children to attend school, obtain employment and lift their families out of poverty. So, within Mexican indigenous communities poverty is often hereditary, with parents passing it onto children and so on, making it a never-ending process unlikely to end soon due to a lack of government action in recent years (Heath, Panoramas, 2016).

Russia: Russia has around 30 northern indigenous communities. Most of them live in Siberia or other remote areas. Many struggle with difficulties such as high infant mortality rates, low life expectancy, high homicide rates, suicide and substance abuse problems. The UN has attributed these problems to Soviet Union era policies which brought about “the closure of so-called "futureless" indigenous villages, forced relocation of native populations into larger, often multi-ethnic settlements (where the leadership was often non-native), an increase in the removal of children from their families for residential school-based education, and heightened state interference in traditional economic activities (reindeer husbandry, hunting, fishing).” Many indigenous

communities have not been able to recover and lack the resources, education and government support to move forward. The cycle of poverty for Russia’s indigenous communities is ongoing with little to no room for economic development as survival is often the main focus of indigenous populations (Poelzer and Fondahl, Quarterly Magazine, 1997).

United States: In the United States (US), indigenous communities are beginning to band together and collectively invest in ventures such as “hotels, golf courses, manufacturing, entertainment venues, solar and wind technology, tourism and the hospitality industry, health care, and gambling enterprises.” These investments have helped to lift many indigenous communities out of poverty and large revenues have been put back into improving indigenous schools, clinics and basic infrastructure. However, most indigenous communities reside on reservations which are often underfunded or completely ignored by local and federal government officials. Prejudice and racism have also meant that indigenous people are excluded from society and find it difficult to obtain work or an education outside of their designated reservations. So, while indigenous communities have taken an active role in their own economic development, much more could be done by the US government to further lift all indigenous communities out of poverty (Alvarez, Urban Land, 2011).

Solomon Islands: Currently, the Solomon Islands are trying to balance the protection of lands, traditions and cultures of its indigenous communities with that of economic development. The government knows land is limited and would like to modernize by inviting large corporations to invest in its future, however, these plans often interfere with indigenous lands. In order to deal with this issues, the government has met with indigenous community leaders and other indigenous groups from countries such as Australia. The government takes this issue very seriously, but also acknowledges that

the country needs to make changes in order to move ahead and secure an economic future for all of its citizens (Radio New Zealand, 2015).

Indonesia: For decades Indonesia economic development was based off of the exploitation and exportation of its natural resources. However, this development was often detrimental to its indigenous communities. Much of the land that the country’s indigenous groups live on have been given away to big corporations, meaning the indigenous communities cannot use resources from the land that they live on to earn money. It is simply not theirs to give even if it was grown in their own gardens or carved from stone found in the ground. This is now beginning to change as the government has become more aware of indigenous communities and their rights. For example, some land has been reclaimed and those communities are now thriving. They can grow their own food, produce their own items and also sell them to markets and tourists. Essentially, with land rights many indigenous communities could become self-sufficient and success, driving forward their own economic development and saving the government a lot of money (Affandi, World Resources Institute, 2018).

C) UN Action

The United Nations is committed to promoting the economy of indigenous communities around the world. It has established special sub-committees, the Division for Social Policy and Development of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for example, in order to discuss, plan, and educate governments around the world about the rights and needs of these indigenous communities. The lack of economic development in many of the world’s indigenous communities has been called “a continuing injustice” by the organization. The UN has highlighted that governments need to do more to offer opportunities to their indigenous communities in order to break long standing cycles of poverty. It

believes that education is key and therefore states that this area is its number one priority for indigenous economic development (UNPFII, 2018).

III. Conclusion

Around the world, many indigenous communities live in extreme poverty with little access to education, clean drinking water, food or medicine. Mixed with racism and discriminatory practices and policies, indigenous communities cannot move forward. The UN has dedicated itself to fighting for the rights of indigenous communities and is urging countries to change their policies in order to offer more opportunities. Without help, indigenous groups will continue to suffer. Therefore, the committee must find a way to bring all involved parties together and reach an agreement that balances economic development with cultures, traditions and ways of life that are very much different from each other.

IV. Essential Questions

1. Which indigenous communities reside in your nation?

2. What is economic development?

3. What is your country doing to solve this topic? Has it been successful? Why or why not?

4. What is the United Nations doing to promote economic development in indigenous communities?

5. What other international organizations are focusing on resolving this issue? Is your country currently working with any of them? If so, how?

6. Why do many indigenous communities live in extreme poverty? What can be done to remedy this situation?

7. Are there any laws in your country that protect the rights of indigenous communities? If so, which ones?

8. How has your country’s history with indigenous communities impacted their economic development?

V. Resources

"About ECOSOC.” United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). United Nations, 2018. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

"About Us.” Indigenous Education Institute (IEI). Indigenous Education Institute, 2018. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

Affandi , Dean. "No Better Time for Indonesia's Indigenous Communities to Reclaim Land Rights.” World Resources Institute. World Resources Institute, 08 Feb. 2018. Web. 12 Feb. 2018. .

Allen, Stephen, and Alexandra Xanthaki, ed. Reflections on the UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Hart Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-84113-878-7.

Alvarez, Annette. “Native American Tribes and Economic Development.” Urban Land. Urban Land Magazine, 19 Apr. 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

"Artisans: Overview.” Indigenous. Indigenous, 2018. Web. 12 Feb. 2018. .

Corry, Stephen. "Do indigenous peoples benefit from 'development'?” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 25 Nov. 2011. Web. 12 Feb. 2018. .

"Economic and Social Development.” United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). United Nations, 2018. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

“Health of indigenous peoples.” World Health Organization (WHO). United Nations, Oct. 2007. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

Heath, Hilary. “Mexico's Indigenous Population Continues to Face High Rates of Poverty.” Panoramas. Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, 15 Jun. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

"Indigenous Economic Development Strategy, 2011-2018.” Australian Government. Australian Government, 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

Murtough, Katie. "Balancing Peruvian Development with Indigenous Land Tenure and Property Rights.” Public Policy Peru. Public Policy Peru, 23 Mar. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

Patrinos, Harry A. "Subsidiary Bodies of ECOSOC.” The World Bank. The World Bank, 17 May 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

Poelzer, Gail and Greg Fondahl. "Indigenous Peoples of the Russian North.” Cultural Survival Quarterly Magazine. Cultural Survival, Sept. 1997. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

Robinson, Natasha. "Closing the Gap 'doomed to fail' without more Indigenous input, activist Patrick Dodson says.” ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 08 Feb. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

"Solomons talks land rights with indigenous Australians.” Radio New Zealand. Radio New Zealand, 17 Nov. 2015. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

"Subsidiary Bodies of ECOSOC.” United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). United Nations, 2018. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .

“What is economic development?” Business Dictionary. WebFinance Inc., 2018. Web. 11 Feb. 2018. .