President Bachelet: “We still have some way to go to meet our duty to recognize, honor and promote indigenous peoples.”

This morning in the Patio de Los Canelos at La Moneda Palace, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet took part in the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day. She was accompanied by the Minister of the Interior and Public Safety, Mario Fernández, the Minister of Public Works, Alberto Undurraga, the Minister of Health, Carmen Castillo, the Minister of Social Development, Marcos Barraza, and the Minister of National Assets, Victor Osorio.

During the ceremony, President Bachelet stated that “there are areas in which progress has been difficult and we know that there is still some way to go to meet our duty to recognize, honor and promote indigenous peoples. That is our guiding principle and we have worked consistently to address the pending issues.”

Indigenous peoples in Chile celebrate the beginning of the new year in June at the winter solstice. Chilean peoples mark Mapuche We Tripantu, Quechua Inti Raymi, the Aymara holiday Machac Mara, the Rapa-Nui celebration Aringa ora o koro and the Colla festival Huata Mosoj, among others. National Indigenous Peoples Day was decreed in 1998, granting these entities recognition by government agencies.

President Bachelet noted that “thanks to the Constitution that we are writing together, we have the opportunity to make this recognition a reality. We have undertaken a specific process of participation of indigenous peoples in the constitutional discussion with the support of the international community. We want to hear how the communities themselves visualize their participation at the national and local levels. That is why we invited territorial organizations to be part of this effort that we are making as a society.”

During the event, the President stated that “we have to continue to work for peace and security. This has been done calmly but energetically following the paths set out by law because it is the only way to provide guarantees to everyone.”

At the end of her remarks, President Bachelet said that “it has not been easy to make progress in regard to integration with respect for differences, but we are moving forward. I wish that we could move forward much more quickly, but at a rhythm that works for everyone.” She added that “Chile is a much more inclusive country than it was three decades ago. And it will continue to be, because development, coexistence and especially the recognition of the dignity of indigenous people require it.”