VENEZUELA: Indigenous exchange proposed

Marcus Pabian, Ciudad Bolivar

On August 3, our solidarity brigade group ventured out early to visit 16 young Indigenous students at the National Experimental University in Ciudad Bolivar.

As we arrived, a veteran indigenous leader was addressing them on the need to become leaders. They had come from many universities, but most studied at the Bolivarian University of Venezuela, an institution created by the revolution.

These students came from the Karina, Permon, Wanay and Mopoya indigenous communities and were studying law, social communication, integrated education, environment, economics and information studies at university. Two were high school students.

We briefly explained the horrible treatment and conditions Aboriginal people in Australia have suffered as a result of colonisation. They too had been treated this way in Venezuela before the revolution began, but now they are back on the rise.

The young indigenous students proposed that an exchange with Aboriginal people in Australia be organised.

From Green Left Weekly, August 10, 2005.

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From GLW issue 637