People of the pines drowning

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The advent of electricity means progress to most populations, bringing a convenient power source for light and heat.

But to Indigenous peoples around the world, the production of electricity often signifies the loss of land and culture, specifically through hydroelectric dam projects. For Natives in developing countries the loss is compounded by a complete lack of input into projects which profoundly affect their lives.

Now Natives throughout Latin America are demanding to be involved in development projects, focusing on environmental hooks to bring national and international attention to their situation.

"This paradise is dying slowly, killed by its own children, killed by the great myth of economic development, said Alexandro Swaby of Costa Rica, at a recent conference on Indigenous peoples and water resources.

The are two reserves in the country, Telamanca on the Atlantic Side of Costa Rica, and Voluca, on the Pacific. Talamanca is in a fertile valley, producing 80 per cent of the nation's banana crop, and 48 per cent of its cacao. Hydroelectric projects threatens to flood 25,000 hectares of reserve land, displacing 18,000 Bribri-Telamancans.

"We do not see any possibility of negotiations at this point because there simply is no place for us to be relocated," Swaby said.

True progress includes Indigenous participation in development, and Native peoples need to support each other to be heard by institutions and governments, he said. Chile stretches along the west coast of South America, a long, narrow country with varied climatic regions embracing mountains, fertile valleys and rigid Antarctic lands.

The country is well-known for music, wine and politics. Few people outside Chile know of the Indigenous peoples populating the country. Which is not unusual concerning the Chilean government didn't recognize Natives for years either, said Rodrigo Valenzuela.

Valenzuela is involved with the action Group for the BioBio, a 400-kilometre-long river threatened by hydroelectric projects. The group is seeking to protect the river's unique ecosystem and involve Indigenous population in environmental reviews and impact reports on the region. The river, which flows through the south central region of Chile, is part of a mega project that will see 35,000 hectares flooded, displacing thousands of Natives. But for decades, the presence of 10,000 Pehuenche Indians in the area have been denied, said Valenzuela.

"Since 1960 to 1989 there has been no mention of any people living in the area that will be flooded," he said. "The hydroelectric project was approved two years before the environmental review. And according to the review, there will be zero impact on the area, and the project will better the lives of all the people involved."

Pehuenche means "People of the pines." Pine nuts are traditional food staples of the Pehuenche, with the trees providing building material for them and food for a variety of animals in the region.

With increased media coverage and public pressure, the power companies contracted specialists to undertake social and economic impact studies of the proposed BioBio project. The results were so biased, the Chilean government denounced them and the foundation which produced them, said Valenzuela.

The foundation was composed of five hydroelectric representatives and two Aboriginals. One report by an anthropologist stated Natives were better off assimilating because their culture was dying anyway.

"There's no sense trying to preserve this decaying culture, what's more, it would be integrated completely," Valenzuela read from the report. ""Inevitably, these people will disappear, especially those who don't appreciate these important social changes."