World Council discussed 'discovery' of America

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A committee of Native people was formed recently to discuss ways to protest the upcoming Fifth Centennary of the Discovery of the Americas.

The committee is the result of discussions held at the World Council of Indigenous People (WCIP) held July 11 ? 16 in Lima, Peru. The 1992 Centennary in question will commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America. Native people lived in North America long before Columbus arrived and do not feel they were "discovered" by Columbus.

The committee has no concrete plans as yet for the protest, but is looking to the Aboriginal people of Australia as an example. In 1988 Australia is celebrating the bicentennial of the first European landing on that continent, and the Australian Natives have similar objections to the perspective of the Europeans "discovering" their continent. North American Natives may boycott the celebrations or decide to participate only to a limited degree, depending on the findings of the committee.

The Peru assembly was the fifth World Council of Indigenous Peoples meeting, which convenes every three years. The non-funded group was formed in 1975 in Port Alberni, B.C. with goals of combating racism, reducing genocide, insuring unity among indigenous peoples, facilitating the exchange of information and encouraging the social, cultural and political development of indigenous peoples. The North American Region, which includes Canada and the United States, is headed by Smokey Briere.

The Council also decided to support the efforts of indigenous groups involved in land claims in their own countries. Two methods of support were discussed: Native groups offering support to one another and WCIP Executive Council offering support to individual groups. Council support will likely be verbal and extend as far as resources permit.

This year's assembly was attended by representatives of 23 countries. The next World Council assembly will take place in 1990.