MLR and indigenous communities follow up on the relationship agreement

On October 27, the monitoring commission of the Mayangna communities of the Mayangna Arungka Matumbak Indigenous Territory and MLR Forestal held a working session to review the progress of the 2021 action plan that contains the relationship agreement signed between the Matumbak Territory and the agroforestry company.

The meeting was attended by members of the Indigenous Territorial Government and authorities from the Pansuhwas, Mukuswas and Ispayulilna communities. On behalf of MLR Forestal, Mabel Lazo Quino, head of Social Management, was present.

Mayangna nation has a radio station

On the part of the indigenous populations, it was reported that for two months they have had a radio station called Radio Asangba located in Rosita. This radio not only benefits the Mayangna Arungka Matumbak Indigenous Territory, but the entire Mayangna Nation. MLR Forestal will collaborate with radio spots in this communication medium as a way to support their promotion and development.

Following the communication line, the training process for the launch of the Matumbak website continues. This site will be administered by a group of community members that make up the Website Commission.

Follows technical assistance plan in cocoa

Other activities that continue are: the review of the complaint and suggestion boxes located in the communities and the technical assistance plan in cocoa. In November, the cocoa specialist from MLR Forestal will visit the plots of the families of Pansuhwas, Mukuswas and Ispayulilna.

More agreements discussed at the meeting

Employment opportunities: The possibility of incorporating workers from the Matumgbak territory is kept open, in the number of people they wish, regardless of the community of origin. The places available are in field work or wages. MLR will carry out an awareness-raising process with other mestizo workers, to avoid any kind of discrimination on issues such as language and inclusion.

Territory Student Internships: MLR will keep spaces open for when the need arises.

Specialization Scholarship: It was agreed that for the next meeting, they will have a proposal from the Indigenous Territorial Government.

About the Relationship Agreement

The Pansuhwas, Mukuswas and Ispayulilna communities of the Mayangna Arungka Matumbak territory and MLR Forestal signed a five-year community relations and mutual cooperation agreement in January this year. It establishes as main axes the protection of the environment and natural resources, and the social development of these populations, within the framework of respect for native peoples, their rules and governance authorities and their customs.

The approval process for this relationship agreement directly included the authorities of the Matumbak Indigenous Territorial Government (GTI Matumbak), community authorities and residents of the three Mayangnas communities. The agreement directly benefits these three communities, which are the closest to MLR Forestal’s operation in Bonanza, in the North Caribbean.