Quito, February 24 (RHC-teleSUR) -- Representatives from grassroots indigenous groups throughout Ecuador issued a call Monday to engage in a direct dialogue with the government of President Rafael Correa.

Their call for dialogue stands in sharp contrast to the position taken by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), which purports to represent the interests of indigenous people at a national level.

Earlier in February, grassroots indigenous representatives gathered in Quito to reject CONAIE's confrontational approach with the government of President Correa.

These grassroots representatives feel that a more constructive approach will be more productive for their peoples and generate more results for their demands.

During the gathering, representatives put together proposals that cover economic, political, and social spheres. Representatives are seeking to have direct dialogue with the president in order to deal with pending issues facing indigenous peoples such as bilingual education, land reform, and the struggle against racial and ethnic discrimination.

Representatives also stated they were interested in the development of public policy that will allow for a more sincere inclusion of indigenous peoples in the administration of the state. They also decided that a political program representing the views of the grassroots should be developed in time for elections in 2017.