Abya Yala Fund (AYF) strives to further Indigenous Peoples' vision of living in respectful harmony with Mother Earth and with each other, while honoring 500 years of indigenous resistance. |
Abya Yala Fund seeks to:1) bridge the gap between Indigenous Peoples and prospective funders; and 2) promote the indigenous vision of development as a holistic process which integrates the human, natural and spiritual worlds. |
We are grateful to the many individuals and foundations that are helping make this dream a reality. |
Special thanks to Victoria Ward, Public Welfare Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Share Our Strength, Richard & Rhoda Goldman Foundation, Foundation for Deep Ecology, Indiasca Forbunden, Funding Exchange, Solidago Foundation, Aurora Foundation, Resist Foundation, Needmor Fund, Maya Miller, La Fetra Foundation, Non-Profit Services and the many other people who have supported AYF with gifts, volunteer help and moral support! |
The mission of Abya Yala Fund (AYF) is to strengthen the self-reliance of the original nations of Abya Yala - from an indigenous perspective and through our own models - by supporting Indigenous Peoples' priorities, initiatives and processes. AYF provides training, grants and technical assistance for self-development projects that originate in and are controlled by indigenous communities and organizations.
| Indigenous prophesy tells of certain signs leading to the end of
civilization—one is increasing winds; the other poor treatment of our
children. We are witnessing disturbed weather patterns, from hurricanes to
floods, likely the result of global warming. And we see more children living
in poverty than ever before. Governments have eased the way for transnational
corporations to wield unchecked power, while the welfare of people is neglected
and Mother Earth is destroyed. Yet hope is not lost; the prophesy is not
written in stone.
I am encouraged by the growing consciousness of the interconnectedness of all beings. This consciousness—one that Indigenous Peoples have promoted for centuries—must expand if we are to heal our broken Earth. The models of self-development being pursued by Indigenous Peoples has a significance that extends far beyond the physical limits of indigenous territory to the entire world. Abya Yala Fund was established by indigenous leaders from Mexico, Central and South America to give these fledgling approaches a chance to survive and flourish.
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Abya Yala Fund (AYF) took form in 1994, but has been a dream of
Indigenous Peoples for decades. AYF was created to meet the demands of Indigenous
Peoples to participate directly in all aspects of the development of our
communities and regions—from deciding community priorities and securing
funding for our initiatives to evaluating the impact of the completed
project.
AYF channels funds and provides support to indigenous projects which move beyond the growth-oriented focus of current development approaches toward increased local autonomy, equitable benefits distribution and enhanced community cooperation while maintaining harmony with the natural world. We bolster Indigenous Peoples' efforts to confront destructive governmental policies and economic globalization which continue to threaten our existence. Yet, we are not content to simply react, we intend to emerge from this struggle with our indigenous vision and culture intact. With your help, we will succeed!
Nilo Cayuqueo |
$32,000 to organize eight conferences to train indigenous women as advocates for their rights at every level of society, including national politics. * Description *
$20,000 to purchase materials and construct a well to provide potable water for the community, llama breeding, a nursery of traditional medicinal plants and communal gardens. * Description *
$7,000 to construct small local offices in each of the seven Mosquitia zones
to coordinate Moskitu efforts to legally demarcate their traditional homeland
and protect it from external logging, ranching and military interests.
* Description *
$20,000 to hold local and national training workshops and seminars to raise
awareness of human rights–from a gender perspective–and analyze
the meaning and effects of recent peace accords on the indigenous Mayan women.
* Description *
$32,000 to organize eight conferences to train indigenous women as advocates
for their rights at every level of society, including national politics.
* Description *
AYF plans to provide increasing funding each year for grants to indigenous communities and organizations. We are also in the initial stages of implementing a technical assistance program to provide organizational and project development trainings for indigenous communities and their organizations in Meso and South America.
Over the next two years, AYF will be allocating special resources to consolidate this program and assist indigenous organizations in strengthening their organizations, as well as the Fund itself. As part of the program, AYF will research and document traditional and new indigenous approaches to survival and development of our communities and cultures.
All funded projects will include integrated organizational development and/or technical assistance components (see summaries of approved projects).
(Click on the board member to see their country report in Spanish; some are
linked to projects with which they are involved.)
Alicia Canaviri - President
Rufino Dominguez - Treasurer
Abraham García Hernandez
Margarita Gutiérrez
Luis Macas - Secretary
Marcela Machaca
Aurelio Ramos Allen
* Note: The Board of Directors plans to invite a representative from Council of All Lands in Chile to be integrated in their membership prior to their Spring 1999 Board Meeting.
Nilo Cayuqueo Mapuche from Argentina. Founding member of the South & Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC). Director of Abya Yala Fund. abyayala@earthlink.net
Andrew Kang Bartlett Central America activist with specialty in community development planning and evaluation; development coordinator. abyayala@earthlink.net
Mariana Bustamante Activist for Latino and international issues with specialty in communication; communications coordinator. abyayala@earthlink.net
Wara Alderete Calchaqui from Argentina. Epidemiologist, Ph.D. Public Health wara@uclink2.berkeley.edu
Adriana Ballén Native of Columbia, Development Professional
José Roberto Borges Environmentalist, Rainforest Action Network amazonia@igc.apc.org
Araceli Burguete Native of Chiapas Independent Front of Indigenous Peoples
Guillermo Delgado Quechua Professor, University of California at Santa Cruz
Elizabeth Bobsy Draper Journalist ebdraper@cruzio.com
Charles Hale Professor of Anthropology, Univ. of Texas at Austin
Debra Harry Pauite Indian from Nevada, Development Professional
Antonio Hernandez Maya-Tojolabal, Congressman of Mexico
Ailton Krenak Krenak from Brazil. Founder of Union of Indigenous Nations and director of the Indigenous Research Center. Played a key role in introducing reforms in the Brazilian Constitution, approved in 1992. Recipient of the Letelier-Moffit Award of the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS).
Atencio Lopez Kuna from Panama. Coordinator of the Kuna Legal Office and international journalist napguana@pty.com
Maya Miller Social Activist
Glen Switkes Journalist / Filmmaker, International Rivers Network glen@nutechet.com.br
Leopoldo Tzian Maya from Guatemala. Director of the Mayan Council
Stéfano Varese Professor, Director of Native American Studies, University of California at Davis
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