The new political constitution in 2009 marked a historical event in Bolivian history with the foundation of the Plurinational State and the recognition of the collective rights and autonomy for the 36 indigenous nations in Bolivia. The idea of the Plurinational State is the recognition of the diversity of cultures, institutions, civilizations, and languages that exist within the country as opposed to the process of homogenization led by the colonial state. The construction and implementation of indigenous autonomy is the mechanism that gives meaning to the pluralist approach, thereby enabling the process of decolonisation. As for self-determination, this is the right of all peoples to define their own ways of life and political, economic, social, and cultural development.
The indigenous people of the territory of Lomerío in Bolivia have been at the forefront for indigenous self-determination in their long struggle for freedom. They were the first territory to declare their political will to assert territorial-based indigenous autonomy.
| Authors | Linne Kronnebrant |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ancestral Knowledge, Environmental justice, Leadership, Social justice |
| Case Report | Volume 2: "Resilience in the Face of COVID-19" |
The new political constitution in 2009 marked a historical event in Bolivian history with the foundation of the Plurinational State and the recognition of the collective rights and autonomy for the 36 indigenous nations in Bolivia. The idea of the Plurinational State is the recognition of the diversity of cultures, institutions, civilizations, and languages that exist within the country as opposed to the process of homogenization led by the colonial state. The construction and implementation of indigenous autonomy is the mechanism that gives meaning to the pluralist approach, thereby enabling the process of decolonisation. As for self-determination, this is the right of all peoples to define their own ways of life and political, economic, social, and cultural development.
The indigenous people of the territory of Lomerío in Bolivia have been at the forefront for indigenous self-determination in their long struggle for freedom. They were the first territory to declare their political will to assert territorial-based indigenous autonomy.
Process that led to the community being resilient (Pre-covid)
The Indigenous Union of Indigenous Communities of Lomerío (CICOL) consist of 29 communities, with ancestors coming from different indigenous groups. When the cattle ranches were being expanded by colonial settlers in the 1800s and indigenous people were treated as property, many fled and found refuge in the forests now comprising Lomerío. For this reason, many different languages are spoken in the territory. The main language being the Monkoxi language Besiro. During the rubber boom, Indigenous people were forced into slavery again. The 1953 agrarian reform did not recognize Indigenous communal land: it only re-distributed individual plots of land, which made the Indigenous communities subordinated to the ranch-owners. It was not until the creation of trade unions and other unions that the oppression started to cease. In the 1980s the Indigenous movements from the lowlands joined forces in defence of their territory and for the recognition of their rights. CICOL was founded in 1982 as a response to the desire for freedom and collective cultural acknowledgement. Since 2006 – after a long process of restructuring – an area of 259 000 hectares of communal land has been legally owned and managed by the 29 communities of Indigenous people of Lomerío, whose legal and legitimate representative is the board of directors of the CICOL organisation. They manage their natural resources, run a forestry project, and are building Indigenous autonomy within their territory.
More than 10 years have passed since Lomerío was given territorial-based autonomy but the Indigenous government in Lomerío has not yet been constituted. Legal obstacles and cumbersome bureaucratic procedures halter the Indigenous autonomy process. The new management of the Plurinational State is being built with old tools. Indeed, there is an ignorance towards the Indigenous reality. The bureaucracy and legal formality give continuity to the colonialist vision and the old logic of power management, thereby denying the procedures and norms of the Indigenous peoples based on their own cultural vision. The Indigenous people of Lomerío are still under the public administration system but they seek to make the transition from municipal government to an autonomous Indigenous government within the framework of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
Despite the slow progress of the new institutional framework, Lomerío is demonstrating that it is possible to establish a framework on its own basis. They are continuing to advance and fight for their rights until Indigenous autonomy has been fully realized. This includes furthering their own political and legal systems, as well as vision of development and community economy based on respect for spiritual values and principles. All of this is with the aim of Nuxianká Uxia Nosibóriki which expresses the idea and dream of living in freedom and the desire to live well which represents the indigenous cosmovision.
How resilience that was established has helped during the pandemic
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic reached the territory of Lomerío and 20 people died, they were able to control further spread of the virus thanks to their organisational structure. Entrances to their territories were blocked and the delivery of biomedical equipment carefully coordinated. In addition, traditional medicines and community care values and relations were revived. Monkoxi leaders Elmar Masay and Maria Chore share that the crisis has made them appreciate their culture once again: the traditional medicines, their families and the community work. They have a variety of plants used for medicine with both preparative and curative characteristics that are essential for them to live well. During the lockdown, they have been cultivating the soil to feed themselves. Families have reunited when youths have returned from the cities to help out with community work in cultivating, fishing and hunting.
Lessons learnt
Having a pre-existing and well established organizational structure, practicing autonomy within their territory and being rooted in shared cultural values and practices are all factors that have helped the Indigenous communities of Lomerío cope with COVID-19. However, to be able to better cope with future crises, the lockdown has also shown that they need to be self-reliant when it comes to food production. Something which they currently are not. Hence, autonomy, economic self-reliance, and food sovereignty are still in need of more attention.
References
- Gonzalez, E. F. 2018. Sueños de Libertad: Proceso Autonómico de la Nación Monkoxi de Lomerío. Santa Cruz de la Sierra: CICOL & CEJIS. https://www.iwgia.org/images/ documentos/Cejis_Suenos-de-libertad.pdf
- Gonzalez, E. F. 2018. Sueños de Libertad: Proceso Autonómico de la Nación Monkoxi de Lomerío. Santa Cruz de la Sierra: CICOL & CEJIS. https://www.iwgia.org/images/ documentos/Cejis_Suenos-de-libertad.pdf
- Gonzalez, E. F. 2018. Sueños de Libertad: Proceso Autonómico de la Nación Monkoxi de Lomerío. Santa Cruz de la Sierra: CICOL & CEJIS. https://www.iwgia.org/images/ documentos/Cejis_Suenos-de-libertad.pdf
- UEA. 2015. On the Road to Freedom - The History of the Monkox People of Lomerio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdeWZXFqcWQ