Rights, Conservation, and Governance: Indigenous Peoples- National Parks Collaboration in Makuira, Colombia By Julia M. Premauer A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources Natural Resources Institute University of Manitoba Winnipeg Copyright © 2013 by Julia M. Premauer THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES ***** COPYRIGHT PERMISSION Rights, Conservation, and Governance: Indigenous Peoples-National Parks Collaboration in Makuira, Colombia By Julia M. Premauer A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree Of Doctor of Philosophy In Natural Resources and Environmental Management (PhD) © 2013 by Julia M. Premauer Permission has been granted to the Library of the University of Manitoba to lend or sell copies of this thesis, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or sell copies of the film, and to University Microfilms Inc. to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made available by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced and copied as permitted by copyright laws or with express written authorization from the copyright owner. Abstract This thesis investigates the contexts, rationales, and practices of collaborative governance between Wayúu indigenous chiefs and Parks (national parks authority) in Makuira National Park, northeast Colombia. The study looks into the Wayúu institutions for territorial governance; policies for conservation, participation and indigenous rights; and key aspects of cross-cultural park governance. The field research was based on an in-depth qualitative case study. I used an ethnographic approach with document review, semi- structured interviews, participant observation, and use of existing qualitative data. The Wayúu people have a system of customary territorial governance that comprises institutions regarding ownership, access, use, and control of territory and its resources. Wayúu sacred places in Makuira Mountains follow spiritual institutions for proper behaviour and respectful relations with supernatural beings. However, Wayúu territorial governance and autonomy is affected by broader contexts of social-political and economic processes. ―Parks with People‖ policy seeks to enhance governance in protected areas by addressing conflicts, recognizing indigenous territories, authority, and mutual collaboration. Co-government is approached as a ―signature of agreements‖ by Parks in Bogotá, as an ―ongoing process‖ by Makuira National Park staff and as an ―alliance‖ by indigenous peoples. While formal co-government process is mostly led by Parks, Wayúu institutions influence informal day-to-day practice. Most Wayúu rights are recognised however, self-determination is not fully recognised. Wayúu park staff helps facilitate cross-cultural respect and achieve more horizontal relations. These research findings highlight the importance of collaborative approaches for conservation that address historically informed national and local contexts and conflicts that at the same time recognise territorial and self-government rights. Supporting and building upon local institutions and customary management practices are important components of a more inclusive and rights-based practice of conservation. These findings provide for a more nuanced understanding of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs). While indigenous territories do have protected features; they are combined with other territorial practices that can be regarded as ―incompatible‖ with conservation by other actors. This limits ICCAs ability to leverage for full recognition of indigenous rights. This study demonstrates that such rights recognition should happen at the constitutional level and not be attached to conservation objectives. i Acknowledgments The project of a PhD research, field work, and writing the dissertation has been a most challenging and rewarding process I have been through. I have many people to thank for their intellectual, operative, financial, and emotional support, hard work, generosity, patience, and understanding. In La Guajira, I am grateful to Marta Pimienta and her close (Jairo, Hujjat and Sami) and extended family in Riohacha. In Nazareth, a special thanks to Eduardo Suárez Uriana and family Doña Ligia, Rita, Evilasio, Livio his wife and her family, and Raul and Luis for their hospitality, kindness, and friendship. I am greatefull to the Makuira Park Staff: Alfonso, María Fernanada, Orlando, Miladis, Onésimo, and Heptimio, for their support and interest in the research process. Many thanks to my advisor Dr. Fikret Berkes who has been very supportive in this process; to my committee members Dr. Iain Davidson-Hunt and Dr. Kelly McKay for the advice they have given me in dealing with specific sections and issues in the thesis; to Dr. Astrid Ulloa for her enormous support and guidance during field work in Colombia, and for her input to help me to think and give shape to specific sections of the thesis. At the NRI, I also would like to thank Jackie, Dalia, Tammy, and Shannon for their on-going help. To my friends Jim, Jessica, Andrés, Grace, (Aurora and Stella), Laura, Shadow, Tim, Julián, Kate, Vanessa, Andy, Shirley (Sam), Catie, Nathan (Hugo and Miriam), Micaela, Prateep, Alejandra Orozco, Erika, Alejandro Guarín, Paula Ungar, María Castilla, Nathalie Sviedrys and Andrés Maz, who at different times and in diverse ways supported my endurance in this endeavour with the gift of friendship. Deserving a special mention for both their friendship and enormus help with this document are Jim, Laura, Paula and Julián for proof-reading many chapters. To the Sims family (Grant, Gord, Derek, Trevor, and of course Laura) for being my unforgettable and supporting Canadian family. ii To my loving husband Johann for his patience, faith, and enormus support. To my parents Constanza, Martin and my sister Anna (Ara), for their love and unconditional support. Finally, with regards to funding, this PhD would not have been possible without the support of the University of Manitoba with the award of Graduate Fellowship, the International Student Entrance Scholarship, the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) with the Doctoral Research Award that covered the cost of my fieldwork in Colombia, as well as the finantial support of the Canada Research Chair program in Community-Based Resource Management. iii Table of Contents Abstract i Acknowledgments ii List of Tables x List of Figures xi List of Boxes xi List of Photos xii Acronyms xiii Glossary of Spanish Terms xiv Glossary of Wayúunaiki Terms xv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background and Theoretical Orientation 2 1.2 Purpose of the Study and Research Objectives 5 1.3 The Field Context 5 1.4 Research Methods 10 1.5 Main Contributions to Knowledge 10 1.6 Organisation of the Thesis 11 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 13 2.1 Introduction 14 2.2 Indigenous Peoples and Conservation 16 2.2.1 Indigenous Peoples’ Community Conserved Areas and Territories 18 2.2.2 The Paradox of ICCA Recognition and Support 24 2.2.3 Indigenous Resource Conservation Practices 26 2.2.3.1 Disturbance and Renewal at a Landscape Level 27 2.2.3.2 Enhancing Agricultural Plant Diversity 28 2.2.3.3 Sacred Areas: Taboos on Species and Sites 28 2.2.4 Indigenous Peoples and Conservation Debate 31 iv 2.3 Common Property Institutions and Conservation 32 2.3.1 Commons Basics 32 2.3.2 Early Developments of Theory 34 2.3.2.1 Property Rights and Bundles of Rights 35 2.3.3 Institutions and Context: Critiques to Commons Theory 38 2.3.4 Commons as Complex Social-Ecological Systems 40 2.3.5 Commons Institutions and Cross-Scale Linkages 41 2.4 Co-Management and Indigenous Peoples 43 2.4.1 Defining Co-Management 43 2.4.2 Perceived Advantages of Co-Management 46 2.4.3 Co-Managing Protected Areas 47 2.4.4 Conditions for Successful Co-Management 48 2.4.5 Critiques of Co-Management 52 2.5 Wayúu Cultural Background and Brief Historical Perspective 54 2.5.1 The Wayúu People: A Brief History 54 2.5.2 Wayúu Economic Activities 56 2.5.3 The Wayúu Stronghold and Cultural Continuity 58 2.5.4 Wayúu Cultural Background 60 2.5.4.1 Cosmology Underpinning Wayúu Society 61 2.5.4.2 Wayúu Social Organisation 61 2.5.4.3 Wayúu Territory 63 2.5.4.4 Wayúu Chiefs, Palabreros, and Leaders 64 2.5.5 Systems of Reciprocity and Redistribution: Wayúu Notion of Development 67 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY AND METHODS 70 3.1 Research Worldview Assumptions 71 3.1.1 Case Study Research Strategy 72 3.2 Research Methods 73 3.2.1 Document Review 73 3.2.2 Participant Observation 74 3.2.3 Daytrips in the Serranía and Visits to Wayúu Cemeteries 75 3.2.4 Semi-Structured Interviews 76 3.2.5 Use of Existing Qualitative Data 77 3.3 Methods and Questions for Research Objectives 78 3.3.1 Objective 1 78 3.3.2 Objective 2 79 3.3.3 Objective 3 80 3.4 Consent and Confidentiality 81 3.5 Validation and Reliability of Data 82 v 3.6 Analysis of Data 83 3.7 Research Timeline 83 3.8 Implementation Challenges 85 CHAPTER 4: WAYÚU PEOPLE AND GOVERNANCE OF TERRITORY 91 4.1 Introduction 92 4.2 Broad Overview of Wayúu Culture and History 93 4.3 Wayúu Customary Institutions for Land Governance 97 4.3.1 Wayúu Homelands: Territories of Origin