INTERNACIONAL CONVENTION ABOUT THE INTER-AMERICAN INDIAN CONFERENCE AND THE INTER-AMERICAN INDIAN INSTITUTE
(December 1940)

The Governments of the American Republics, inspired by the desire to create efficient instruments for collaboration in the solution of their common problems, and recognizing the fact that the Indian problem is a question of interest to all America;that it is desirable clearly to state and solve said problem;that in many of the American nations it offers similar and comparable aspects; the Governments of said republics further recognize the fact that it is highly desirable to clarify, stimulate and coordinate the Indian policies of the various nations, said policies being construed as the aggregation of desiderata, standards and measures that should be applied for integral improvement of the living standars of the Indian groups of the Americas; and whereas establishment of an Inter-American Indian Institute was recommended for study, by the Eighth International Conference of the American Nations, assembled at Lima in 1938, in the following resolution: That the Continental Conference on Indian Life study the advisability of establishing an Inter-American Indian Institute and, if the occasion arises, set forth the basis for its organization and take the necessary steps for its immediate installation and organization; and whereas the First Inter-American IndianConference that was held at Patzcuaro in April 1940, passed a resolution creating theInter-American Indian Institute and recommended the conclusion of a Convention to that end:

Now therefore, the Governments of the American Republics have decided to conclude the present Convention, which will be signed in the manner provided by article XVI, in order to give form to said recommendations andpurposes, and have agreed to the following:

The contracting Governments hereby agree to elucidate the problems affecting the Indian groups within their respective jurisdictions, and to cooperate with one another, on a basis of mutual respect for the inherente rights of each to exercise absolute liberty in solving the “Indian-Problem” in American, by means of periodical meetings, by means of an Inter-American Indian Institute and of National Indian Institutes, whose organization and functioning shall be governed by this Convention in accordance with the following articles:

ARTICLE I

Organizations

The Contracting states shall seek to achieve performance of the aims and purposes set out in the preamble hereof, by means of the following organizations:

1. An Inter-American Indian Conference

2. And Inter-American Indian Institute, managed by a Governing Board.

3. National Indian Institutes.

In its own right, every State may be represented at the Conference and on the Governing Board of the Institute.

ARTICLE II

Inter-American Indian Conference

1.- The General Conference shall be held at intevals not exceeding four years.The seat of the Conference and the date at which each Congress is to meet shall be determined by the preceding Conference.However, the data scheduled for a meeting may be advanced or postponed by the Organizing Government, at the request of five or more of the participating governments.

2.- The gobernment of the nation constituting the seat of the Conference, hereinafter referred to as the “Organizing Government”, shall fix the place and final date of the meeting:said Government shall likewise extend invitations to the Conference through the proper diplomatic channels at least six month in advance, sending therewith the respective Agenda.

3.- The Conference shall be composed of delegates appointed by the member Governments and by a representative of the Pan American Union.An effort shall be made to include members of the National Institutes and Indian members among the staff of the delegations.Each member State shall have one vote.

4.- Persons of recognized interest in Indian Affairs may also attend as observers, provided they are invited by the Organizing Government and authorized by their respective Governments.Such persons shall not be entitled either to speak or to vote at plenary sessions and shall only be entitled to express their opinions through the official delegations of their respective countries, but may participate in discussion at technical comittes sessions.

5.- The expenses of organizing and carrying out the Conference shall be paid by the Organizing Goverment.