This book forms an essential contribution to the process of legitimising the recognition and exercise of the world’s Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination in domestic and international law. It further offers a space for analysis, dialogue and debate aimed at coordinating visions and sharing experiences of the difficult path to building and practising autonomy and self-government. As the book Building Autonomies describes, the implementation and recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination is a challenge for both States and Indigenous Peoples themselves, the main issue being to get such exercise fully recognised within the legal framework of each State. In most countries, the traditional political and economic sectors have been legally and politically founded on conditions of exclusion, racism, racial discrimination, and a lack of consultation with and distancing from Indigenous Peoples. The blinkered nature of legislation, and of the traditional political and economic sectors’ outlook, has resulted in different forms of imposition, and the Indigenous Peoples’ struggles to defend their lands, territories and natural assets have often been criminalised. National legislative frameworks have enshrined a unitary vision that ignores the pluricultural, multilingual or plurinational nature of the countries. This book offers an overview of the events and processes being implemented and built by Indigenous Peoples around the world. It also shares the progress made by States as regards constitutional or legislative aspects related to individual and collective indigenous rights. It recounts situations and experiences from America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania, demonstrating the wealth of potential within the indigenous movement to obtain the legitimisation of their right to self-determination. Opportunities for dialogue must be supported between Indigenous People and States if their individual and collective rights are to be legitimised and recognised. Such dialogue could prevent suffering, repression and confrontation, enabling Indigenous Peoples to live dignified and fulfilled lives. Finally, it is important that progress in these processes for legitimising self-determination, initiated by both Indigenous Peoples and States, is monitored.
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Building Autonomies
