Ambassador Chartier Attends Indigenous Leaders Meeting in Bolivia

November 24, 2023

In follow-up to the May 2023 meeting in Colombia of Indigenous leaders from the Andean region of South America, including leaders from Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador and Colombia, a meeting of the Governing Council of the Indigenous Peoples and Nations of Tawantinsuyu (Tawantinsuyu Council) was held in La Paz, Bolivia on October 24-25, 2023.

Ambassador Clément Chartier who has attended all their meetings to date, brought greetings from President David Chartrand, Cabinet and the citizens of the National Government of the Red River Métis - the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF).

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the draft constitution reviewed at the May meeting and to report back on their subsequent consultations with their leadership.

Along with furthering the adoption of a constitution for the Tawantinsuyu Council which they established in May, the meeting also dealt with the adoption of the aims and objectives which would guide the Council in its work.

It was also decided to register the Council in Colombia, where the Regional Council of the Indigenous Peoples of Cauca (CRIC) will provide office space in Bogota, Colombia. As reported in May, Ancizar Majin of CRIC was elected President of the Tawantinsuyu Council.

The Council further affirmed that their organization will be part of the American Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP).

A discussion also took place with respect to engagement of Indigenous women and the potential for collaboration between the leaders of women's councils or institutions within each of their organizations and the MMF - National Government of the Red River Métis. Ambassador Chartier committed to follow-up on this potential.

The next meeting of the Tawantinsuyu Council will take place in Ecuador sometime in 2024 to be convened and hosted by ECUARUNARI, a national Indigenous organization in Ecuador.

It was also agreed to hold an event in Cusco, Peru on May 18, 2024 marking the 243rd anniversary of the murder and dismemberment of Tupac Amaru, along with the killing of his wife and children by the Spanish invaders. This event will be organized and hosted by CONAIP, an Indigenous organization in Peru, in partnership with the American Council of Indigenous Peoples.

The Council Members along with other delegates also attended the Bolivian Senate and had an opportunity to speak with Senator Andronico Rodriguez, a Quechua, who got elected to the Senate in 2020. With his election and popularity, Senator Rodriguez was elected as President of the Senate, a position he has held since 2020.

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