February 06, 2014

Dear indigenous sisters and brothers, Warm greetings to each of you on behalf of the Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas. ECMIA is a twenty-year old alliance of national indigenous women organizations and leaders representing mixed-gendered indigenous organizations in twenty-three countries throughout North, Central and South America. Upon consultation within our network, we have agreed to encourage a unified position by Indigenous Peoples to continue dialogue with the President of the General Assembly to ensure that, in his effort to advance the coordination process of the HLPIP/WCIP, the full and equal participation of State and Indigenous Peoples representatives is upheld. Upon careful review and discussions on the options to proceed with the WCIP, the PGA's option is unacceptable to Indigenous Peoples. In consideration of the two options proposed by a member-state, Option 1 promotes an equal footing for states and IPs and is the most acceptable, but it has been rejected and is no longer being considered. Option 2 is a viable solution that may be acceptable to Indigenous Peoples, if the following is included: Should the President of the General Assembly decide to implement this option, it is of utmost importance that the PGA expresses a written commitment to appoint advisors to the PGA and promptly define their roles, ensuring full and equal participation in numbers and level of influence of States and Indigenous Peoples, up until the creation of the Outcome Document. Also, we ask the PGA to confirm that formal and informal consultations will be held with Indigenous Peoples. We firmly continue to support the decision by Indigenous Peoples worldwide for the appointment of Mr. John Henriksen as our Indigenous representative in this process. Consequently, any consideration of additional Indigenous Peoples representatives to serve as advisors to the PGA should be determined and nominated by the consensus of Indigenous Peoples, as was Mr. Henriksens. This position is endorsed by the International Forum of Indigenous Women (FIMI). Also, it is supported by the Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indigena (CAOI) and Alianza de Mujeres Indgenas de Centroamrica y Mxico, whose representatives input was provided, while participating at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

We are optimistic that these recommendations can lead to a credible solution that Indigenous Peoples can support. Warm regards, Tarcila Rivera Zea, Continental Coordinator ECMIA Eva Gamboa, Coordinator ECMIA South Nancy Henrquez, Coordinator ECMIA Center Fabiola del Jurado, Coordinator ECMIA Mxico Rosalee Gonzalez, Co- Coordinator ECMIA North

Joanne Ottereyes Co-Coordinator ECMIA North