Indigenous Wisdom for Sustainable Livelihoods
About Us
Our HistoryNote:
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Our History
For too long indigenous voices have been ignored in international discussions on intellectual property rights that affect them. It was felt by many there was a clear need for a forum in which indigenous experts, representatives, community members and elders could meet to develop and present considered policy positions on these complex and fragmented issues.
Call of the Earth Llamado de la Tierra evolved over time. Each of our members has a long-standing record in striving for the recognition of indigenous rights and values, and for analysis and participation in national, regional and international for a relating to indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights.
We are a network of indigenous colleagues, community leaders, lawyers, scientists, academics, researchers, language and customs experts, traditional healers, business leaders, policy creators and decision-makers.
Call of the Earth Llamado de la Tierra was conceptualised in the Peruvian Andes and hailed from the experience of the struggles of the six Andean communities to regain and maintain guardianship of the hundreds of varieties of potatoes that originated from the Andes but have since dispersed to the four corners of the world.
The story of the Andean community potato park is one that is mirrored in other parts of the indigenous world in relation to a wide range of natural and cultural resources. It is the story of a very local situation, that requires indigenous communities to reach out to the world for assistance, explanation, repatriation, reclamation, justice and reconciliation.
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| Community Potato 'Park', Pukara Pantiliccilla, Andes, Peru - 11 September 2001 (meeting that first formed Call of the Earth Llamado de la Tierra). Photo: Aroha Mead |
In September 2001, five members of Call of Earth Llamdo de la Tierra met in Pukara Pantilicclla in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru, together with community representatives, to explore the value of creating a wholly indigenous initiative to work with indigenous communities in their efforts to both protect their cultural heritage from misappropriation while simultaneously striving to gain economic development through culturally appropriate businesses and initiatives.
A proposal and strategic plan was developed, and a meeting with our very first potential sponsor, the Rockefeller Foundation, occurred in March 2002. This was subsequently followed-up by a meeting of the 'Interim Steering Committee' and initial 'Call of the Earth Llamado de la Tierra' Circle held in Bellagio, Italy in November 2002.
Call of the Earth Llamado de la Tierra was officially launched in Geneva at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on traditional knowledge on 13 December 2003.
