SPAIN l Spanish FM constitutes Spain’s first apology to the indigenous peoples

teleSUR English

10/11/2025 FTS 04.30 In Madrid, foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares acknowledged the "pain and injustice" caused to indigenous peoples during the invasion of America  teleSUR  These and more stories now!  🌐Join teleSUR's community and be part of a space where your ideas matter.  https://chat.whatsapp.com/KLABTE41aSj3ioYabXQQ6K 🗣 Don't be left behind, join teleSUR's Channel https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va98Z437Noa2tjytCt1N Web💬 https://www.telesurenglish.net/ X🧶 https://twitter.com/telesurenglish Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/telesurenglish/?hl=es Facebook 📱 https://www.facebook.com/teleSUREnglishOfficial Youtube ⏯ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmuTmpLY35O3csvhyA6vrkg Tiktok👌🏼 https://www.tiktok.com/@telesurenglish?_t=8hMLCY0a6z7&_r=1

Transcript

00:00We move on to the topics in Madrid. Foreign Minister José Manuel Álvarez

00:04acknowledged the pain and injustice caused to indigenous peoples during the invasion of America

00:09in the context of the inauguration of the exhibition Half of the World, Women in Indigenous Mexico.

00:16From Spain, our colleague Álvaro Fragua has the details.

00:23The Spanish government speaks for the first time of light and shadow

00:26and of grievances that can neither be denied nor forgotten.

00:29These words come with the exhibition that brings together works by indigenous Mexican women

00:33and reopens a historical debate.

00:37There was injustice, and it is only fair to acknowledge it today and regret it.

00:43From Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum welcomed the gesture and described it as a first step

00:48towards a relationship based on historical truth.

00:50This is the first time that a Spanish government official has spoken of regretting the injustice.

00:59It is important.

01:01From my point of view, it is a first step.

01:08In Spain, indigenous activists demand that recognition be translated into policy,

01:13truth, reparation, and an end to economic interference in indigenous territories.

01:17First, start by conducting a historical review, begin to review and take responsibility for

01:26those sentences.

01:27For example, the sentence imposed on T. Paco Amaro on May 18, 1781, which is direct descendants,

01:34even in Cusco, still demand be annuled.

01:36They also denounce the material and symbolic plundering, return of property, respect for memories,

01:44and guarantees of non-repetition.

01:46It is necessary change methods so that they stop interfering in our internal policies,

01:51so that their transnational companies leave our territories, so that they stop influencing

01:54our internal policies.

01:56Among the indigenous peoples who have been wrong, the Mapuche case stands out.

02:02They have managed to bring their demands to the UN, and are relying on historical treaties

02:06with Spain and Chile to save their future.

02:08In addition, they denounce current extractivism and its human costs.

02:11The ratification of the parliaments and historical treaties we have signed with Spain, based on

02:19the recognition of the rights of the Mapuche people.

02:23While the Mapuche people are imprisoned, violence against their members goes unpunished.

02:30November 8 marks one year since the disappearance of leader Julia Jail.

02:34Her family suspects murder by settlers with forcing interests.

02:37The Mapuche people exist because they are alive and continue to defend their territory, but

02:46at a high cost, a high cost in terms of prisoners and the construction of new structures.

02:53The activists denounce that Spanish companies protected by the government also benefit from

02:59resources in Mapuche land.

03:00The arrival of extractive companies in our territory, such as salmon farms, for example.

03:11We have a long list of companies that take all the natural resources from there.

03:15For example, Donny Canning Company, which is from Barcelona, right?

03:22Words matter, but even more important are the policies that follow them.

03:27Truth, concrete reparations, return of plundered property, and guarantees of non-repetition.

03:32From Mexico to Walmapu, indigenous peoples continue to defend their lives, their memory, and the future of their existence.

03:38Álvaro Fragua, desde Madrid, Parat del Sur.

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