No one in their right mind can deny the historical humiliations and oppressions indigenous peoples were subjected to by the Spaniards, mestizos, Gamonales and church authorities. Although it should be taken into account that each of them had honorable exceptions.

Nor can it be denied that the indigenous peoples themselves were subjected to their peers. The Quichu and Maya empires did not subjugate peoples by pampering them. The Mitimi, whose descendants inhabit the corners of our country, bear witness to the power struggles that took place with those who became their subjects and who displaced the entire population, as in the current wars.

What is known about the mobilization announced in Ecuador for this March 8, 2023

So close to us, and even now, the situation of women is not the best in indigenous communities. Until not too long ago, fathers came to sell their daughters and hand them over to men from their community, just to mention some of the repressive practices that ravage the fields. The respected Ana María Huacho, who works to overcome abused women, is only a testimony of this disastrous practice.

The government minister, Henry Cucalón, rejected statements by “certain leaders” that they were not continuing the dialogue; He said that on behalf of the Executive, the channels were still open

I lived in Yaruquíes, Chimborazo, very close to the indigenous communities, I sold with them in the San Alfonso market. It was a common practice for the natives to shake hands by wrapping them in a poncho, they were not considered worthy to shake hands with whites; that in buses they had to sit in the back, even though the bus was empty, and in churches they squatted in the aisles because they could not occupy the white pews on which there was a plaque with their names.

While the oppressions must not be ignored, nor the harm done, fear cannot be generated….

Human history is full of these aberrations and others, even worse. We invented concentration camps, torture, dictatorships, inequality, we encouraged hunger and exploitation, and although we are able to reach other planets, discover galaxies and black holes, we are not able to eliminate hunger from our earth, nor respect the nature of which we are a part. The indigenous people are the most sensitive guardians of biodiversity and the whole country should thank them for defending the Amazon, which is the defense of the planet.

Although the oppression must not be ignored, nor the damage caused, fear cannot be generated, discontent capitalized by threats of violent actions that can lead to brutal conflicts between Ecuadorians, with sacrificed lives in between, in order to achieve the justice that all citizens aspire to. If it is found that a spark is burning, it is correct to put it out, and not encourage it by blaming the authorities for the fire, because the one who points it out is also an authority and is responsible as well as those to whom it is pointed out.

The path of democracy is arduous and many times slower than we want, it must respect the laws that are the result of historical collective agreements, as important as the historical agreements in indigenous communities. There are no more important than others, everyone has failures and successes. Creating anger does not lead to solutions, but leads to revenge and violence that is difficult to control. In these moments, unity, firmness, justice in actions, priority attention to the most urgent problems and calmness are needed. (OR)