YACHAY WASI
Indigenous Spirituality at the Core of Conference on Indigenous Sacred and Cultural Sites Cusco, Peru, 5 thru 11 April 2009ORGANIZER: Yachay Wasi, Non-Governmental Organization in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, associated with the UN Department of Public Information and maintaining Official Relations with UNESCO. Yachay Wasi (Quechua: House of Learning) is based in New York, NY, USA and in Cusco, Peru. CHANGE OF SCOPE AND VENUE:
Yachay Wasi Conference on Indigenous Sacred and Cultural Sites in Acopia, Peru - (April 5 thru 11, 2009)
After our NGO’s hopeful contacts and meetings with UNESCO officers during more than one year, UNESCO officially informed Yachay Wasi that they were willing to send two speakers from World Heritage Centre (Culture sector) and Natural Sciences sector to the then called International Conference on Indigenous Sacred and Cultural Sites in Cuzco, but expected Yachay Wasi to fund the Missions’ cost.
A similar response was received from the Secretariat on Convention of Biodiversity.
On 4 December, with no surprise on our part, one major funder advised us that it will not fund the project.
Our second funder is following up on its earlier commitment, but has asked us to drastically shrink our budget and resubmit a new proposal for a small conference, not involving international travel and hosting.
Mr. Luis Delgado Hurtado, President of Yachay Wasi, has decided not to cancel this conference, but to change it to a local conference to be held in his native Quechua speaking Andean village of Acopia.
Two hours drive from Cuzco, Acopia is located at a higher altitude (3,600 meters – 11,800 feet) than the ancient capital of the Inkas. Transportation by bus from Cuzco to Acopia and back will be provided.
Same dates for conference: April 5 – 11, 2009 – Free lodging and meals in Acopia during length of Conference.
Topics will remain the same: Protection of Indigenous Sacred Sites and its relationship to Climate Change, Desecration of Indigenous remains and their exploitation; Sustainable Tourism as part of the 7th Millennium Development Goal: Ensuring Environmental Sustainability; Protection of Natural Resources...
Speakers, mostly local, to be announced. Languages: Quechua, Spanish, English.
Conference logistics and programme will be available in January 2009. Deadline for registration is 1 March 2009.
Webpage:
http://www.yachaywasi-ngo.org/SS2009.htm
For reference:
A 2001 Indigenous Encounter was held in Acopia (Scroll down to bottom of page)
http://www.yachaywasi-ngo.org/encounter.htm
RELATED PAST EVENTS BY YACHAY WASI:
19 May 2006: Panel Discussion entitled “Sacred Sites and the Environment from an Indigenous perspective”, hosted by UN Environment Programme at UN Hqrs, with the participation of Indigenous representatives, a member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and an officer of the Secretariat for the Convention on Biodiversity.
- 9 November 2003: Second “Encounter of Indigenous communities in the High Andes and Amazon” in the Andean village of Mosoqllacta, Peru. Main speaker for the event was Mr. Ole Henrik Magga, Sami from Norway, Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
15 May 2002: Panel Discussion entitled “Cultural Heritage and Sacred Sites: World Heritage from an Indigenous perspective” at New York University School of Law, with the participation of Indigenous representatives and officers of UNESCO NY office and World Heritage Centre, OHCHR and the Secretariat for the Convention on Biodiversity.
.17-21 June 2001: First Encounter of Indigenous Communities in the High Andes in the Andean village of Acopia near Cuzco in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which sent a representative.
During this First Encounter, Yachay Wasi faxed a letter signed by Andean participants to UNESCO World Heritage Centre protesting the September 2000 chipping of the Intiwatana (sundial) by a falling crane during the filming of a beer commercial in Machu Picchu. As a result, Yachay Wasi was invited to participate in the UNESCO WHIPCOE Workshop in Winnipeg, Canada (5 - 8 November 2001)
. Prompted by a NY Times article May 8, 1996 “Archeologists in Peru oppose loan of Inca Mummy to US” announcing the May 21- June 19, 1996 exhibit of a 500 years old Inca young girl’s remains at Washington DC headquarters of National Geographic Society, Yachay Wasi started its Inka Challenge Campaign against desecration of Indigenous remains with a petition against the exhibit and a media campaign. This continued during other USA exhibits featuring pre-Columbian human remains such as the 1998 Florida Museum exhibit.
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