CONAIE - History

History

CONAIE was founded at a convention of some 500 indigenous representatives on November 13-November 16, 1986.

Initially explicitly rejecting the use of the electoral process, CONAIE developed an economic and political strategy to redefine and implement participatory democracy. Simultaneously, CONAIE called for the conversion of Ecuador into a multi-nation state recognizing the national autonomy of 12 indigenous nations, run by "popular parliaments".

Throughout the 1990s, CONAIE repeatedly mobilized thousands of indigenous campesinos to shut down Quito, clogging the streets with traditional dance, art and song while making demands of the political structure via direct negotiation. These protests often came in response to International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies.

CONAIE adopted a programme with these 16 demands:

  1. A public declaration that Ecuador is a plurinational country (to be ratified by the constitution)
  2. The government must grant lands and titles to lands to the nationalities
  3. Solutions to water and irrigation needs
  4. Absolution of indigenous debts to FODERUMA and the National Development Bank
  5. Freezing of consumer prices
  6. Conclusion of priority projects in Indian communities
  7. Nonpayment of rural land taxes
  8. Expulsion of the Summer Institute of Linguistics
  9. Free commercial handicraft activities
  10. CONAIE protection of archaeological sites
  11. Officialization of Indian medicine
  12. Cancellation of government decree that created parallel land-reform granting bodies
  13. The government should immediately grant funds to the nationalities
  14. The government should grant funds for bilingual education
  15. Respect for the rights of the child
  16. The fixing of fair prices for products

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