Regional Roundtable
August 9, 2022 (virtual event)
As part of Canada’s commitment to advance the rights of Indigenous peoples around the world through its bilateral, multilateral and regional collaboration, the Embassy of Canada in Mexico has been organizing since 2021 a series of roundtables with the participation of civil society and representatives from academia and the governments of Mexico and Canada. These dialogues offer a unique opportunity to strengthen cooperation on Indigenous affairs in North America and beyond, amplifying Indigenous voices and promoting exchanges on cultural, socioeconomic and political issues.
With the goal of promoting regional dialogue in the Americas, we partnered with the Canadian Embassies in Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama and Peru to co-organize the first regional roundtable in the framework of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (August 9, 2022) and the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032. The purpose of this roundtable was to facilitate an exchange of experiences, perspectives, lessons learned and recommendations among Indigenous women from six countries in the Americas regarding the role of Indigenous women in the protection and promotion of Indigenous languages and cultures. We also invited government representatives from the participating countries to learn about the programs and initiatives implemented by their governments to promote and strengthen Indigenous languages and cultures.
Participants by country:
Canada
- Laura Burnouf, Minister of language with Metis Nation Saskatchewan
- Amanda Shannon, Director, Indigenous Languages Policy, Canadian Heritage
Ecuador
- Yana Lema Otavalo, poet and Indigenous activist
- Daniela Castillo, Director of Public Policy for Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture and Heritage
Guatemala
- Ana Elizabeth López Ramírez, President of Mam speaking community, Mayan Languages
- Mina Griselda González, Private Secretary to the Vice-President
Mexico
- Rubí Celia Huerta Norberto, Integrante, Purépecha Language Academy Habesha
- Juan Gregorio Regino, Director General, National Institute of Indigenous Languages
Panama
- Omayra Casamá Samana, Indigenous activist and founder of AMARIE (Asociación de Mujeres Artesanas Emberá)
- Ausencio Palacio Pineda, Vice Minister of Indigenous Affairs
Peru
- Briset Karen Saldivar Huaman, Indigenous activist and member of the Indigenous Professional Program of the Canadian Embassy in Peru