In 2015, at the time of the COP in Paris, several leaders of indigenous peoples, joined by activists, united with the call of the Amazonian leader Raoni to form an “Alliance of guardians of nature”.
Mindahi Bastida, member of the Otomis, an indigenous people of Mexico, was present as a representative at the World Conservation Congress in Marseille.
He took the time to chat with 20 Minutes, accompanied by his friend Gert-Peter Bruch who is currently releasing
Terra Libre
, a documentary retracing 30 years of indigenous struggle.
In 2015, at the time of the COP 21 in Paris, several leaders of indigenous peoples, joined by activists, united with Raoni's call to form an “Alliance of guardians of nature”. Mindahi Bastida, member of the Otomis, an indigenous people of Mexico, was present as a representative at the World Conservation Congress in Marseille. He took the time to chat with
20 Minutes
, accompanied by his friend Gert-Peter Bruch who is currently releasing
Terra Libre
, a documentary retracing 30 years of indigenous struggle.
What
is your feeling about this
congress and more broadly that of the indigenous peoples
?
First we must understand that these congresses are highly necessary to protect life and cultural diversity, because we cannot separate biological diversity and cultural diversity.
So our role is to bring our awareness and the wisdom of our ancestors to how to live in peace and integrity with "mother earth".
Do you feel that you have listened to and taken yourself more seriously in recent years?
It is a process of growth, which is not simple, like any social struggle in the world.
We are persevering and see a very, very slow progression in the consideration we are given, but it is not yet enough.
In the United Nations system or in other intergovernmental organizations, they ask us to be present but we remain outside the decision-making process because we are not a nation, as they say.
However, we are gaining more respect from society, so we must continue and continue to ally with associations, parliamentarians, politicians or even the private sector who understand the crisis that is killing us.
We must work together and bring out our own ideal.
Are you not annoyed to be confined in institutions to a representative, almost totemic role?
It's true, we are not taken into account in the decision-making process. And yet we deserve it, because what the world calls “conservation” is really our territory. We do not just take care of the biodiversity in our territories, but that of the world because mother nature is a whole, and we are part of nature. A second thing is that the market system is causing a lot of damage to the world. So today, we are being sold the "Redd" system, which was later called "Redd +", this carbon offsetting system, generally called "nature-based solution" and it's a big problem. . Because in our eyes, these kinds of strategies are just another way of exploiting nature. We are really worried, because if their intentions seem good,they still alter nature and are a new justification for continuing to pollute the atmosphere, what we call "father sky". These carbon emission coupons are permits to kill.
Do you have hope anyway?
We need to work with governments and businesses to take care of nature.
But how many summits have taken place in the past?
Are we getting better?
Policies continue, polluting industries are not closed and countries like India and China justify their actions by saying that others have done it in the past and that they are entitled to their growth too.
This paradigm will not give us the well-being that we need.
So we have to enter into a process of unifying the world in order to act.
There is the prophecy of the eagle and the condor *, we are in a critical time.
How to reverse this domination of humans over other species and other humans and change not only the narrative but also the actions?
Would you be tempted to rejoice in the ongoing disaster and say, in short, "we warned you and we were the first victims"?
It would be very sad to say that we would be satisfied.
But of course, this confirms what we have been seeing for many years now.
The change affects our communities which are on the front lines.
We know what is happening, the extinctions, the refugees, the fires… It is an ongoing process and it is getting worse and worse.
What we are witnessing is not just climate change or a “crisis”.
What we are facing now is a trial, a trial of what this time has produced and what men have produced with their behavior.
So we are in a very complicated position now.
And not just companies or states but citizens, peoples and many species.
Do you think you can turn the tide of history?
How to bring back the white rhino and the hundreds of lost species?
It is not possible.
So the first thing to do is slow down.
On the other hand, we can reverse this vicious circle, these ways of doing and being that are not good for us or for other species.
For example plastics: the law should not just ban them, but the use of chemical petroleum should be restricted by law.
You are Mexican. What do you think of the Zapatista movement, which is also leading an indigenous struggle there?
I am not for the use of arms but I respect the ideal of movement.
I respect the fact that he is aiming for a certain self-determination.
But I think this kind of movement should work better with institutions, including local ones.
The different peoples of Mexico and elsewhere in the world should be able to be represented in institutions.
Alas, so far we are really folklore.
* Amerindian belief of an alternation of time between that of the condor, bird of the south embodying wisdom and that of the eagle, bird of the north, embodying science and progress.
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