This photograph that was taken during the Signing Ceremony of the first ever Indigenous Forum with the Presidential Candidates of Panama, where 5 of the 7 Presidential Candidates signed a legally binding, comprehensive Covenant with the Indigenous Peoples of Panama.
I was honored by the Indigenous Peoples of Panama to be the Honored International Indigenous Witness to this historical process.
The Presidential Candidate, Juan Carlos Navarro greeted every Indigenous Nation in their language! It is interesting to note that after signing the Covenant with the Indigenous Peoples of Panama, who represent 10 % of Panama's population, Mr. Navarro took the lead, for the first time, in the presidential polls for President of Panama to be held on May 4th.
This is no accident! My Uncle Vine Deloria Jr.specifically told me, many years ago, that if we were united, beyond partisan politics, we had the spiritual and political power to be the deciding factor in any close political election!
We will continue to pray that the unprecedented, unified action of the Indigenous Peoples of Panama will result in this outcome!