Ambassador Chartier attends the 54th Session of the OAS GA

July 2, 2024

The 54^th session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly took place in Asuncion, Paraguay on June 26-28, 2024. Clem Chartier, MMF, the National Government of the Red River Métis Ambassador for Inter-Nation and International Relations attended on behalf of the Red River Métis.

On July 25^th, the day prior to the GA taking place, there were several side events, including one held by the governments of Canada and Chile addressing the "Improvements to the Mechanisms for the Participation of Civil Society" within the OAS. Stuart Savage, Canada's Ambassador to the OAS and Sebastian Kraljevich Chadwick, Chile's Ambassador to the OAS were the co-chairs of the session. Ambassador Chartier made an oral presentation accompanied by a written brief. He emphasized that Indigenous peoples, nations and governments are not non-governmental organizations (NGOs), nor part of Civil Society. That as the Indigenous peoples of the Americas with the right of self-determination, recognized in both the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (ADRIP) we have the right to our own representation with the OAS.

As such, Ambassador Chartier re-iterated, as has been stated for the past two decades, that there must be an accommodation provided for Indigenous peoples outside of Civil Society and Social Actors, as dedicated space occupied by Indigenous representative institutions and governments.

On June 26^th, members of Civil Society and Social Actors had a four-hour session with the Secretary General (Luis Almagro) and members of the OAS GA, mostly attended by Ambassadors. There were 34 interventions by Civil Society and other Social Actors, with only two of the 34 by Indigenous representatives. In the months leading up to the GA, we (American Council of Indigenous Peoples - ACIP) were informed that there were only two Indigenous coalitions allowed to make interventions. This is something which needs to be addressed for future GAs.

During this session, Ambassador Savage stated: "While Canada appreciates the voice of every group with us here today, please allow me to recognize the participation of Indigenous Peoples. The time has come to recognize a distinct space for their participation, separate from the umbrella term 'other social actors' within civil society."

On the morning of June 27^th, Ambassador Chartier had an opportunity to meet with Global Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Robert Oliphant, Head of the Canadian Delegation. Chartier discussed the need for Canada to continue its support for Indigenous peoples' participation in the OAS and to strongly consider endorsing the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (ADRIP) and to become engaged in the newly established working group which was adopted by the OAS GA in 2023 as the mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the ADRIP. This was received positively by the Parliamentary Secretary.

In his subsequent speech in the General Assembly later that day, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant stated: "Our engagement with Indigenous partners in the enhanced participation of Indigenous peoples is also important to Canada, including here at the OAS".

While the GA dealt with several issues and internal business, one of the resolutions adopted was on Nicaragua and the political and human rights abuses taking place in that country. This one was of particular importance as reference was made to Brooklyn Rivera and Nancy Elizabeth Henriquez who were both arbitrarily arrested in late September 2023, with Mr. Rivera's situation not yet known. Brooklyn Rivera is the leader of the Indian organization, YATAMA, as well as the Secretary of the American Council of Indigenous Peoples. Ms. Henriquez is the President of AMICA an Indian women's organization.

Secretary General Luis Almagro, who has participated in three of our MMF/ACIP virtual meetings and who has been receptive to engaging with us, is entering his final year in office. His successor will be elected next year.

It was also announced that the next OAS GA will take place in June 2025 in Antigua and Barbuda and the Summit of the Amerces next Fall in the Dominican Republic, both in the Caribbean.

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