CONFENIAE
From NativeWiki
CONFENIAE (Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas de la Amazonía Ecuatoriana or Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon) was established in 1980 as a regional organization to battle for the common interests of the Indigenous peoples (Kichwa, Shuar, Achuar, Sionas, Secoyas, Cofan, Huaorani, and Zápara) of the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin.
The Shuar Federation, FOIN, OPIP and other groups formed CONFENIAE at the First Regional Conference of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon. CONFENIAE is the regional affiliate of CONAIE, the the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE). It is also part of the Amazon Basin Indigenous organization COICA.
CONFENIAE struggled against the colonization of the Amazon and the invasion of oil corporations. Its principal objective was the struggle for social, political, and economic equality for Amazonian Indigenous communities, and to gain respect for their cultures within the Ecuadorian state. In addition, it promoted programs in culture, education, health, and territorial rights. Its goals include protection of Indigenous territories, advancement of Indigenous unity, representation of native interests in governmental development projects, furtherance of sustainable development projects, promotion of bicultural education, and respect for the practice of Indigenous medicine. CONFENIAE represented the ascendency of an organizing strategy based primarily on ethnic discourse and a cultivation of political alliances with NGOs.
