Letter by Gobierno Propio from Vaupés – COVID 19 (3-21-20)

Letter issued by Gobierno-Propio, an indigenous organization from Vaupés relating to the pandemic outbreak and the impact on their territories

Dear Salser@s,
I am sharing with you a letter issued from Gobierno-Propio, an indigenous organization from Vaupés. This organization is interested in circulating the letter widely as it relates to the pandemic outbreak and the impact in their territories.
Sincerely,

Juan Castrillón
Doctoral Candidate, Ethnomusicology

Music Department – UPENN
middleear.net

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Sirs.

Mitú, March 16, 2020

Great Indigenous Reservation of Vaupés, East Side Resolution No. 0086 of 1982 and No. 144 of INCORA Self-Governance NIT. 900.944.813-7 Recognized through CERT. 15-000002986-DAI-2200 Indigenous, Rom and Minorities Directorate, 2015

DEPARTMENT OF VAUPÉS
MAYOR’S OFFICE OF MITÚ
VAUPÉS POLICE DEPARTMENT
COLOMBIAN ARMY
ASSOCIATIONS OF TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS AUTHORITIES OF THE GREAT RESERVATION OF VAUPES, EAST SIDE
TOURISM OPERATORS IN VAUPÉS

THE MAIN COUNCIL OF SELF-GOVERNANCE FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE GREAT RESERVATION OF VAUPÉS AND ITS ANCESTRAL TERRITORIES.

In exercise of the faculty conferred to the mandate of the Main Assembly of traditional authorities of indigenous people of the Great Reservation of Vaupés, Mitú, East side, conferred by Resolution Number 086 of 1982 of INCORA, currently National Land Agency, Law 21 of 1991 and Decree 1953- Articles 11, 12, and 13.

WE DECLARE: State of prevention and health emergency across all the territory of the Great Indigenous Reservation of Vaupés, East side, and Ancestral Territories of indigenous Bará, Barasano, Cabiyarí, Cacua, Carapana, Carijóna, Curripaco, Desano, Itana, Juhda, Juhú, Kubeo (Yurémava, ~Hehéneva, Hɨhɨrɨva Tarabiavɨ…), Letuama, Makuna, Matapi, Piratapuyo, Pisamira, Siriano, Taibano, Tanimuka, Tariano, Tatuyo, Tukano, Tuyuka, Wanano, Yahuna, Yuruti.

Facing the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, and to avoid the spread in the territory of the great indigenous reservation and ancestral territories of Vaupés Department.

In our condition of Self-Governance of the Great Indigenous Reservation of Vaupés and Ancestral Territories, recognized through CERT 15-000002986-DAI-2200 Indigenous, Rom and Minorities Affairs Directorate, Ministry of Interior 2015, from our Law of Origin and Self- Governance. We declare that starting March 16, 2020, it is restricted for non-indigenous population across all territory of the Great Indigenous Reservoir of Vaupés to participate in meetings and workshops with zonal organizations, and to enter to the city of Mitú with the

intent of mobilizing foreign and national tourists, project advisors. The mobility from the City of Mitú and from other cities of the country towards indigenous communities of the Great Reservation of Vaupés is restricted, and mobility (air, fluvial, and terrestrial) will be controlled until further notice and based on how the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic evolves; considering that the Department of Vaupés, and Mitú, do not count with health infrastructures and conditions to manage the epidemic spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

We clarify that all types of medical brigades and health commissions in the Department and the indigenous reservation WILL NOT be restricted to mobilize throughout the territory by any mode of transport.

The members of the indigenous groups and communities can mobilize across the territory with measures to control the epidemic.

We thank the National Government of Colombia, the Department of Vaupés, the Vaupés Police Department, the Colombian Army and all Control Entities for taking the necessary measures to control and avoid a potential epidemic disaster of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our communities of indigenous people, and inhabitants of Vaupés.

Issued in Mitú on March 16th, 2020.

SIMON VALENCIA LOPEZ, Consejero Mayor de Gobierno Propio

JESSICA MILENA GONZALES VALENCIA, Consejera Secretaria General del Consejo Mayor de Gobierno Propio

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