Article XVII. National incorporation of indigenous legal and organizational systems
1. The states shall facilitate the inclusion in their organizational structures, the institutions and traditional practices of indigenous peoples, and in consultation and with consent of the peoples concerned.
2. State institutions relevant to and serving indigenous peoples shall be designed in consultation and with the participation of the peoples concerned so as to reinforce and promote the identity, cultures, traditions, organization and values of those peoples.
I. INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND PRECEDENTS
1. Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN 1994)
Article 19: "Indigenous peoples have the right to participate fully, if they so choose, at all levels of decision-making in matters which may affect their rights, lives and destinies through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures, as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous decision-making institutions."
Article 20: "Indigenous peoples have the right to participate fully, if they so choose, through procedures determined by them, in devising legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.�
2. C 169, Convention on Indigenous and Tribal People (ILO Convention 1989)
Article 4(1):
1. "Special measures shall be adopted as appropriate for safeguarding the persons, institutions, property, labor, cultures and environment of the peoples concerned.
2. Such special measures shall not be contrary to the freely-expressed wishes of the peoples concerned."
Article 6:
1. "In applying the provisions of this Convention, governments shall:
(a) consult the peoples concerned, through appropriate and in particular through their representative institutions whenever consideration is being given to legislative or administrative measures which may affect them directly;
(b) establish means by which these peoples can freely participate to at least the same extent as other sectors of the population, at all levels of decision-making in elective institutions and administrative and other bodies responsible for policies and programs which concern them;
(c) establish means for the full development of these peoples' own institutions and initiatives, and in appropriate cases provide the resources necessary for this purpose.
2) The consultations carried out in application of this Convention shall be undertaken, in good faith and in a form appropriate to the circumstances, with the objective of achieving agreement or consent to the proposed measures."
Article 33:
1. "The governmental authority responsible for the matters covered in this Convention shall ensure that agencies or other appropriate mechanisms exist to administer the programs affecting the peoples concerned, and shall ensure that they have the means necessary for the proper fulfillment of the functions assigned to them.
2. These programs shall include:
(a) the planning, co-ordination, execution and evaluation, in co-operation with the peoples concerned, of the measures provided for in this Convention;
(b) the proposing of legislative and other measures to the competent authorities and supervision of the application of the measures taken, in co-operation with the peoples concerned."
3. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, General Recommendation XXIII (51) Concerning Indigenous Peoples (August 1997)
Para. 4: "The Committee calls in particular upon States parties to:
d. ensure that members of indigenous peoples have equal rights in respect of effective participation in public life, and that no decisions directly relating to their rights and interests are taken without their informed consent."
II. DOMESTIC AUTHORITIES AND PRECEDENTS
4. Canada
- Charlottetown Constitutional Agreement
"Constitutional commitment by the federal and provincial governments and the Indian, Inuit and Metis peoples in the various regions and communities of Canada to negotiate in good faith with the objective of concluding agreements elaborating the relationship between Aboriginal governments and the other orders of governments. The negotiations would focus on the implementation of the rights of self government, including issues of jurisdiction, lands and resources, and economic and fiscal arrangements. Self government negotiations should take into consideration different circumstances of the various aboriginal people.�
- Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Vol 4 Recommendations, 4.6.22
“Traditional knowledge be incorporated in all appropriate institutions, including cultural and research institutes, regulatory boards and the education and training system.�
- Anishnaabe Government Agreement in Principle, Part 5 Law Making Authority
“Under this Part, the First Nation laws may:
(a) Provide for the creation of offences and for the imposition of penalties,including fines, restitution and imprisonment for the violation of First Nation laws, within the monetary and temporal limits set forth for summary
conviction offences in the Criminal Code of Canada; and,
(b) Provide for the use of alternative sentencing and diversion, including community service orders, for the violation of First Nation laws.�
5.8.1
“Subject to clause 5.8.4, the First Nation may make laws with respect to public works and community infrastructure on First Nation land.�
5.8.2
“Law-making authority shall extend over the design, construction, renovation,
acquisition, operation and maintenance of facilities, networks or structures.�
- Nisga’a Agreement
“Nisga'a Government has standing in any judicial proceedings in which custody of a Nisga'a child is in dispute, and the court will consider any evidence and representations in respect of Nisga'a laws and customs in addition to any other matters it is required by law to consider.�
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“Nisga'a Lisims Government may make laws to provide for the constitution, maintenance, and organization of a Nisga'a Court for the better administration of Nisga'a laws.�
5. Colombia
Ley 31 de 1967
ArtÃculo 7: “En los juicios penales a miembros de comunidades indÃgenas se deben tomar en consideración las costumbres y normas de estos grupos en materia penalâ€?.
6. Ecuador
Constitución PolÃtica del Estado Ecuatoriano
ArtÃculo 84: El Estado reconocerá y garantizará a los pueblos indÃgenas, de conformidad con esta Constitución y la ley, el respeto al orden público y a los derechos humanos, los siguientes derechos colectivos a los pueblos indÃgenas: (14) Participar, mediante representantes, en los organismos oficiales que determine la ley.
ArtÃculo 224: El territorio del Ecuador es indivisible. Para la administración del Estado y la representación polÃtica existirán provincias, cantones y parroquias. Habrá circunscripciones territoriales indÃgenas y afroecuatorianas que serán establecidas por la ley.
ArtÃculo 230: Sin perjuicio de lo prescrito en esta Constitución, la ley determinará la estructura, integración, deberes y atribuciones de los consejos provinciales y concejos municipales, y cuidará la aplicación eficaz de los principios de autonomÃa, descentralización administrativa y participación ciudadana.
ArtÃculo 241: La organización, competencias y facultades de los órganos de administración de las circunscripciones territoriales indÃgenas y afroecuatorianas, serán reguladas por la ley.
ArtÃculo 275: El Tribunal Constitucional, con jurisdicción nacional, serán designados. Uno, de la terna enviada por los alcaldes y los prefectos provinciales. Uno, de la terna enviada por las centrales de trabajadores y las organizaciones indÃgenas y campesinas de carácter nacional, legalmente reconocidas.
7. United States
- Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25 USC §450a(a).
Declaring it to be the policy of the United States to assure "maximum Indian participation in the direction of educational as well as other Federal services to Indian communities so as to render such services more responsive to the needs of those communities."
8. Mexico
- Constitución PolÃtica de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
ArtÃculo 4: “En los juicios y procedimientos agrarios en que aquellos sean parte (indÃgenas), se tomarán en cuenta sus pácticas y costumbres jurÃdicas en los términos que establezca la leyâ€?.
- Ley de derechos de los pueblos y comunidades indÃgenas del Estado de Oaxaca
ArtÃculo 31: “Para garantizar el efectivo acceso de los pueblos y comunidades indÃgenas al ejercicio del derecho de petición, toda promoción que se presente ante las autoridades estatales, por cualquier pueblo o comunidad indÃgena o por cualquier indÃgena que no hable español, podrá ser redactada en su propia lengua. Las autoridades tienen el deber de recibirla, previniendo en términos de ley la intervención de un traductor y de darle respuesta escrita en los términos prescritos por la Constitución PolÃtica del Estadoâ€?.
9. Panama
Constitución PolÃtica de la República de Panamá
ArtÃculo 141: “La Asamblea Legislativa se compondrá de los Legisladores que resulten elegidos en cada Circuito Electoral, de conformidad con las bases siguientes:
1. Cada Provincia y la Comarca de San Blas se dividirán en Circuitos Electorales.
2. La Provincia de Darién y la Comarca de San Blas tendrán dos Circuitos Electorales cada una, y en éstos se elegirá un Legislador por cada Circuito Electoral.
3. Los actuales Distritos Administrativos que, según el último Censo Nacional de Población, excedan de cuarenta mil habitantes, formarán un Circuito Electoral cada uno y en tales circuitos se elegirá un Legislador por cada treinta mil habitantes y uno más por residuo que no baje de diez mil. El Distrito de Panamá se dividirá a su vez en cuatro Circuitos Electorales, de conformidad con el numeral cinco de este artÃculo y según lo disponga la Ley. En los Circuitos Electorales en que debe elegir a dos o más Legisladores, la elección se hará conforme al sistema de representación proporcional que establezca la Ley.
4. Excepto la Provincia de Darién, la Comarca de San Blas y los Distritos Administrativos actuales a que se refiere el numeral tres, anterior, en cada Provincia habrá tantos Circuitos Electorales cuantos correspondan a razón de uno por cada treinta mil habitantes y uno más por residuo que no baje de diez mil, según el último Censo Nacional de Población, previa deducción de la población que corresponde a los actuales Distritos Administrativos de que trata el numeral tres. En cada uno de dichos Circuitos Electorales se eligirá un Legislador.
5. Cada Circuito Electoral tendrá un máximo de cuarenta mil habitante y un mÃnimo de veinte mil habitantes, pero la Ley podrá crear Circuitos Electorales que excedan el máximo o reduzcan el mÃnimo anteriores, para tomar en cuenta las divisiones polÃticas actuales, la proximidad territorial, la concentración de la población indÃgena, los lazos de vecindad, las vÃas de comunicación y los factores históricos y culturales, como criterios básicos para el agrupamiento de la población en Circuitos Electorales. “
10. Paraguay
Constitución de la República de Paraguay
ArtÃculo 65: "Del Derecho a la Participación: Se garantiza a los pueblos indÃgenas el derecho a participar en la vida económica, social, polÃtica y cultural del paÃs, de acuerdo con sus uso consuetudinarios, ésta Constitución y las leyes nacionalesâ€?.
11. Venezuela
Constitución PolÃtica de la República de Venezuela
ArtÃculo 125: “Los pueblos indÃgenas tienen derecho a la participación polÃtica. El Estado garantizará la representación indÃgena en la Asamblea Nacional y en los cuerpos deliberantes de las entidades federales y locales con población indÃgena, conforme a la ley. â€?