IRI-Colombia participated in the workshop “Weaving autonomy: indigenous people from Colombia and Peru dialogue on self-government and community economy”, on December 3 in Bogotá.
The meeting, convened by the Ethnollano Foundation and the Norwegian Rainforest Foundation (RFN) with the purpose of advancing in the recognition of indigenous systems of government and economy.
This conference was the continuation of a process developed in the department of Vichada (Colombia). There, delegations of indigenous peoples from both countries shared their practices around indigenous governance and the development of community economies.
During this meeting, valuable common learnings and shared challenges were identified, which consolidated the vision that governments and their own economic dynamics are fundamental pillars for their life plans and territorial autonomy.
In turn, the workshop held in Bogotá was designed as a space for intercultural and horizontal dialogue. The indigenous authorities who have led the process had the opportunity to deliberate with a variety of strategic allies, including state entities, cooperation agencies, academia, and social organizations.
The main objective was to share the reflections and challenges that arose in Vichada to jointly build actions towards 2026. These initiatives will focus on strengthening institutional adequacy and seeking full recognition of indigenous systems of government and economy.
