On November 20th, a commission consisting of various government agencies was created to find funding to compensate those who have properties that are in the indigenous areas of the country.
Currently, the country has eight indigenous tribes, spread across 22 territories or reserves, one of which is the Matambú Indigenous Reservation, located in Hojancha Canton and part of Nicoya.
The committee includes representatives of the Ministries of Culture, Education, Government and Presidency as well as the National Directorate for Community Development (DINADECO – Dirección Nacional de Desarrollo Comunal) and the Agrarian Development Institute (IDA – Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario).
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Indigenous Affairs (CONAI - Comisión Nacional de Asuntos Indígenas) will be the link between the government and aboriginal inhabitants, according to Victor Hernandez, executive director of CONAI.
Hernandez explained that monies will only be given to those who obtained properties before the year 1977, when the Indigenous Law No. 6172 (Ley Indígena) became effective, as provided in Article 5. |
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Elders of Matambú play dominos every afternoon. Photo Pinar Istek |
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The Chorotegas used metates, to mill the grains. Photo Pinar Istek |
Hernandez determined that there are three types of owners: 1) land holders who acted in good faith, whose land was registered before the Indigenous Law; 2) those who didn't act in good faith, who acquired property after the enactment of the Law, and therefore the sale is void and an eviction is ordered without compensation; and 3) the properties of the Rural Development Institute (INDER - Instituto de Desarrollo Rural), i.e. in state hands.
Jose Vibian Aguirre has lived in Matambú for 52 years. He is one of the few direct descendants of indigenous Chorotegas remaining in the reserve. He is currently the president of the Matambú Development Association and principal of the community school.
He recalled that in 2008 the Land Registry Regulation Program implemented by the National Register detected 19 farms in the hands of "white men" that are within the boundaries of the indigenous reservation and were registered before 1977; for that reason they have to be relocated and compensated.
Naun Masis, former member of the Development Association, explained that the Land Registry Regulation Draft defined the total area of the Matambú reserve as 1622 hectares. For now the commission will draw up a strategic plan to attract the required funds and give them to those who have a property in accordance with the requirements of the law within the Indigenous communities.
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