Propaganda campaign against Mining Watch Canada
This past June, José Aviles and Rubén Naichap, two Ecuadorian men who claim to be leaders of indigenous organizations in Ecuador, accused Ottawa-based Mining Watch Canada of supporting 'the Economic, Cultural and Social Genocide of the Shuar people'; and of helping to keep 'the Indigenous People of the Amazon in Poverty.'
In one of two letters written to Mining Watch, Mr. Naichap also says they "endorsed, promoted, and supported a small group of individuals who marched on the EcuaCorriente camp (December 3, 2006)", allegedly intent on "burning down [Vancouver-based Corriente Resources's] exploration camp."
For my position it's impossible to verify what happened on December 3, but I read the so-called endorsement. It's an urgent action notice sent out on December 14 which details the human rights abuses that occurred against the People of Zamora Chinchipe and Morona Santiago, Ecuador, on December 3. Let's be clear now, Mining Watch didn't even write it! They relayed the notice on behalf of the Ecumenical Human Rights Commission (CEDHU). Beyond that, they also sent out two other documents involving Corriente Resources in Ecuador; but that's it.
Mining Watch promptly responded to these allegations:
"[We are] a small organisation dedicated to research and advocacy. Our role, reflected on our web site and in all our published materials, is to ensure that the impacts occasioned by mining can be fully considered by the people who are being affected, and to ensure that policies and practices are adopted by governments and the mining industry to protect the environmental, indigenous rights, workers’ rights, human rights, including economic, social, and cultural rights.
To this end we commonly work with the mining industry and our Government in multi-stakeholder initiatives. We respond to requests from assistance from communities and organisations working with them who are affected by Canadian mining operations to provide independent information and to help them communicate with others in similar situations, find technical assistance, and assert their rights...
...In the case of southern Ecuador, we have provided independent information, otherwise not available in Canada, have given voice to local people who have expressed concerns about the impacts of mining on the forests and ecosystems, and have tried to make sure that the world knows about the conflicts that the proposed mining development has occasioned."
This is by all means true, but it would seem that it's just not good enough for Mr. Naichap, the supposed "leader of the Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe;" and José Aviles, the alleged president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (CONFENIAE).
Just a few days ago they reiterated their libelous claims at a conference in Ottawa.
Frauds them both
As it turns out, neither Rubén Naichap or José Aviles are leaders of any Indigenous Organization; atleast, not now.
Mr. Aviles was the leader of CONFENIAE in the past, but due to poor and irresponsible conduct, Mr. Aviles was ejected one year ago; and CONFENIAE went on to lawfully elected a new leader, Domingo Ankuash (pictured on the right).
As for the leader of the Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe (FEPNASH-ZCH), that person is Angel Awak, according to the Official website of CONFENIAE.
After Aviles and Naichap began their campaign last Summer, CONFENIAE responded with a statement (pdf), which reads in part:
"The mining and oil companies and others that have invaded our territories in Amazonia have
organized a campaign by a false CONFENIAE, lead by José Aviles, who is sending out communiqués
in the international arena, to confuse public institutions, governments, and international cooperation
organizations about what is happening in the Ecuadorian Amazonia.
The indigenous Mafia lies in the most shameless and condemnable way, usurping the name of the
CONFENIAE and of the Federation Shuar de Zamora Chinchipe FEPNASH-ZCH, presided over by our colleague Ángel Awak. They are not ashamed to send communiqués prepared in the public relations offices of the mining companies, affirming such ridiculous things as that mineral exploitation provides education, hospitals, and culture to our communities. If we have received so many benefits, how is it possible that we live in the situation of misery and abandonment that they themselves recognize in their writings?
They falsify the facts so, that they make our organizations responsible of having attacked and injured
members of the national police, when it was in fact they (the paramilitaries of the mining companies),
who shot at them to avoid having them protect our communities that were recovering their territories. It
is certain that there are military detachments protecting the mining companies, which is a shame for the
country, and demands a firm answer from the government of president Correa. It is not possible that our Armed Forces are being used to defend private interests, which in addition threaten the life and well-being of Ecuadorians.
The CONFENIAE rejects this new manoeuvre of the mining companies and condemns the actions of
this indigenous Mafia that tries to usurp the name of our organization. They were allies of the
government of Lucio Gutiérrez and are it implicated in innumerable cases of corruption that are being
investigated so that those responsible may be sanctioned. Neither money nor the lies and the threats
against the CONFENIAE will be able to stop the struggle of our organizations. We will not stop until all
the mining companies leave our territories."
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As a Canadian First Nation I have seen the damage first hand of what NGOs (like Mining Watch Canada) have done in our communities…..
Up until the 1980s our people had a vibrant fur trade that was systematically destroyed by so called-well meaning NGOs who ran around Urban Canada, Europe and the United States raising money to stop a renewable, sustainable industry which has been a part of culture for thousands of years…
As a result of their global (and so called – environmental) efforts against our fur trade – nearly 80,000 of our people were thrown out of work and nothing was offered by these so called “well meaning” environmental groups – now our people live in poverty, ravaged by social, health and economic ills and our people remain on the margins of Canadian society……..
NGOs like Mining Watch Canada under the guise of environmentalism have no interest in the well being of people economicaly, culturally or socially and really are raising funds for their own agenda. They could care less that the majority of our remote northern communities have nothing but welfare – yet once upon a time we had vibrant fur trading communities and I remember as a boy how these environmental NGO types told my dad and grandpa that we can do eco-tourism which was suppose to solve our communities unemployment problems as a result of no longer having a fur trade. Well – eco-tourism hasn’t solved our poverty issues and as a matter of fact Canadian First Nations people rank 63rd on the human development index while I am sure that the people at Mining Watch Canada rank in with non-First Nations people of Canada at having the 4th best quality of life on the planet……
I also find it very ironic that once again we see a similar situation to what happened to our fur trade at the hands of NGOs in Ecuador, whereby Indigenous leaders want to access their resources to create a life with hope and diginity for their people while NGOs like Mining Watch Canada want to keep Indians poor……
Be rest assured though, I will be sure to contact as many of our First Nations communities and leaders here in Canada in support of these Ecuadorian Indigneous leaders as it is very clear to me that all Mining Watch wants to do is raise money keep Indigenous peoples poor……
Jeff
First Nations
Member
Canada)
Hi Jeff. I whole-heartedly agree with you about the problems with NGOs. As a general note I don’t trust any NGO because most of the time they are governed by the very same mandate as colonial society. That is, they’re really no different from the governments and corporations have been doing for 500 years. They expect us to conform to their agenda, and they always exploit and infantilize (treat like children) us for their own benefit.
Having said that, what NGOs do against the people is minuscule compared to what Governments and Corporations do against Indigenous people; and from what I’ve observed over the last two years, mining watch has done nothing against the people.
I’m not going to sit here and try to convince you of that though. I know you believe that what you’ve been told is right and I know you’ve dedicated yourself to outing Mining Watch. I can respect that. But Jeff, don’t just take the word of these two so-called leaders. I mean, one of them has already been proven to be a fraud; are you really willing to stand beside these people without knowing the full facts?
I think you have a good heart Jeff, and I would hate to see that two years from now you discover that you’ve been used, and that you utterly wasted your time by supporting a group that DOES NOT have the real needs and wants of the People at heart.
I mean, the issue here is not just about development or trying to stop Indigenous people from being rid of government-imposed life poverty and destitution. It’s also about defending culture and protecting the land.
Ecuador’s Indigenous people opposing the proposed development schemes is their informed choice. Mining Watch has not conned them into choosing a life of poverty.
I mean, Indigenous People the world-over were living in advanced social and political societies when white people were still bopping each other on the head with sticks. And even though a great many people have been disconnected from that traditional life, we still carry with us the wisdom of the ages, and we are still very much capable of knowing what’s right and what’s wrong for ourselves. We don’t need an NGO to tell us one way or another. And when an NGO does speak up or act, we are not so blind or naive that we can be tricked.
The opposition to development in Ecuador, as it is in Canada, Australia, Africa, Brazil, Mexico, America, Indonesia, the Phillipines, Bangladesh, Burma, Peru, Colombia, and so on–is because development almost always comes with a price so great that it is better to continue living in poverty. These are not my words, Jeff–
this is what I read and hear on almost a daily basis from around the world. In the face of environmental destruction, displacement, and cultural genocide, is it really so hard to believe that some people would say NO? Is it really inconceivable that a people would not see it as an acceptable trade-off?
This is what the cult of development brings Jeff. Of course, there are many ways to do things so development is non-invasive and truly beneficial to the people, but governments and corporations as a force of habit, refuse to invest in that. Am I wrong?
I whole-heartedly support responsible development, but what’s going on in Ecuador is neither responsible or acceptable.
You’re definitely right here; but ultimately indigenous People are not poor because of NGOs. Sure, they played a major role in ending the fur trade, but if we’re going to point fingers, we first have to point to the government–at colonial society in general–because our inability to live sustainable, poverty-free lives is directly because of their actions. After all, they imposed the reservation system; they forced us to get rid of our traditional leadership; they stole, abused, and indoctrinated our kids; they banned our traditions and languages; they massacred the Buffalo; they forced us to look at ourselves with contempt and look on their white man god as our own. NGO’s didn’t do this.
Secondly, Poverty is not just about having no money. Poverty is the inability to meet our own needs.
Before the Europeans came we were fulfilling our needs perfectly. There wasn’t even a fur trade market back then. In fact, there was an intercontinental trade network; within which, we traded “value for value.” Never mind trading 100 pelts for three guns with the English, which they, in turn, would sell for 50 guns that would be used on us. We traded food, medicine, stories, knowledge, and our unique skills, trades, and tools. No one ever went without. There was no such thing as poverty.
But now we’re trapped… Forced to compare ourselves to those living ‘the good life,” and wanting everything they have like some jealous neighbour. Many Indigenous people, especially in North America, even think it’s OK to sell their sovereignty, land, and traditions; even though the people say know to this. The idea of thinking for the next seven generations has become a cheap cliche.
It’s happening all over the place… There’s only talk about money, and doing anything to get it.
To really end poverty, we must invest in ourselves. Not just with money, but with plans and initiatives of our own design.
Eco-tourism is one idea, but it’s a small one as you explain. There’s also the possibility of re-creating our trade network, sharing value for value once again. Really, there’s an endless number of things we can do on our own which don’t involve any outside group, and which have none of the necessary dangers that come with nearly all modern development schemes.
More and more people are coming to realize this, fortunately.
Well Jeff, that’s all I wanted to say. But thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, here. I deeply appreciate it.
I am an indigenous person from Ecuador and you are totally right Ahni we are not poor , we are rich in many ways .
Mr. Aviles judging by the name is a mestizo person (not entirely indigenous) who is infiltrated in our comunity to divide us and working for mining companies interests . He is worring alot about money that we do not .
We are going to defend our land where we have lived for thounsands years until the end .
As a First Nations person I have to agree with Jeff and Ahni in that groups like Mining Watch continue to try to manipulate our Indigenous peoples here in Canada and throughout the World.
As Indigenous we have been subjected to European colonization which for centuries waged war on our traditional way of life. Next came the church who tried to destroy our spirituality and assimilate our people, now we have the NGOs like Mining Watch who prey on the poverty and capapcity of our people.
Most of our communities struggle with providing just for our basic needs and NGOs like Mining Watch want to continue our poverty by saying no to mining and the jobs and economic opportunities that mining brings…..
It is time the World recognizes that NGOs like Mining Watch are merely tools of manipulation and assimilation of Indigenous peoples and that the people who work there do not understand the generational and suffering that we as Indigenous peoples have experienced for centuries…..
Jackson Threefingers
As an Ecuadorian citizen I strongly believe that Mining is the only true hope that our country and our people has to overcome the state of poverty we are immersed in. Responsible mining is, indeed, a source of income, training and a variety of services (health, transportation and education).
Through this forum I would like to ask one simple question, what has Mining Watch ever done to improve the life or conditions of the indigenous people they claim to protect as much. Besides cashing their own fat paychecks, what have they done to benefit others than themselves?
Jorge,
I agree with you 100% – what have groups like Mining Watch Canada done for Indigneous people? NOTHING!!!!!!!
In my country this group preys on the capacity of our people and distort the truth – they raise money on conflict…..
Who holds them accountable while our people remain in poverty? What do they offer our communities in solving poverty?
They never report that Mining is the number one employer of Aboriginal people in Canada providing nearly 20,000 direct and in-diect jobs. They never talk that our people have benefited from mining through Impact Benefit Agreements.
It is obvious that Mining Watch Canada cares little for our people and how we have suffered through the impacts of generational poverty.
This group raises money off of an un-suspecting well intended Canadian public, but if Canadians really knew that they are nothing more than eco-racists and that their sole purpose is to keep First Nations and our Indigenous brothers and sisters throughout the World in poverty they would never recieve another from the Canadian people……
Jeff
I’m a bit pressed for time for I’m going to keep this short:
Jorge:
Responsible mining is, indeed, a source of income, training and a variety of services (health, transportation and education).
Responsible mining can be good, but the issue here is about companies illegally encroaching on indigenous lands (according to ILO Convetion 169, for starters), threatening to displace them from their homes, threatening to destroy and contaminate their land, and threatening to disintegrate their cultures, their traditions, and their social structures… and a small group of individuals making false claims and trying to justify mining by throwing around industry rhetoric, while claiming one NGO is evil (a claim to which there is no proof. Just hearsay.)
what has Mining Watch ever done to improve the life or conditions of the indigenous people they claim to protect as much.
If they’re following their mandate then I think they’ve done plenty, by informing communities of what’s going on, by disseminating information on their behalf, and by helping to ensure the government and the companies obey the law. That’s what MW does, and I for one applaud them for it.
Lastly, I just wish to say that I respect your guys’ opinion, and I completely understand your positions, but you’re beating a broken drum here. Where’s the proof about all this money they’re getting, that the communities disagree with MW’s actions, that the communities want mining, etc?
Where’s the proof?
Dear Ahni,
There is all kinds of data in Canada with respect to employment levels of First Nations people working directly and in-directly in the mining sector. In fact nearly 6% of the entire mining workforce in Canada is Aboriginal – Source: Government of Canada (NRCAN & INAC). Companies like Syncrude, SanGold Resources, INCO, Teck, Potash Corp, Barrick, EKATI, BHP are huge employers and contractors of First Nations and Aboriginal people.
As for Mining Watch how many First Nations people do they employ?
While our people remain the poorest of the poor, their staff live large in their plush offices in Ottawa.
Why does Mining Watch Canada not mention all the successful mining projects that are in Canada – as there are over 1200 active mining and exploration programs in Canada most within 200 km of our communities? (Source: NRCAN)
Why doesn’t Mining Watch talk about the recently signed agreement between the Assembly of First Nations and the PDAC whereby our people endorse mining as a tool for development. (Source: AFN 2008 Press Release)
The reason why they don’t is that this organization has its own agenda which is to make money off the backs of the Canadian people.
No sir its a crime that this organization continues its eco-racism war against our people………….
Jeff