It has been shown that the phenomenon of the Latin American democratic processes has not been ever smooth. In this context, Amerindian original nations have played a relevant role into striving to consecrate their rights to autonomy and selfdetermination, commonly clashing against national government policies (Aparicio, 2009). Hence, this article presents some of the social indigenous organization demands for these purposes. It focuses on the analysis of the data provided by the consultation made to the inhabitants of the Central Valley region in Oaxaca, whose autonomy and self-determination demands are manifested through the Civil Zapotec Group known as Coordinator of United People in Defense and Water Care (COPUDA in Spanish), whom have created specific demands that represent some of the various movements in the region.El presente ensayo problematiza el fenómeno de la democracia latinoamericana, en donde los pueblos originarios, desde hace varias décadas, luchan por consagrar sus derechos a la autonomía y libre determinación, muchas veces a contra corriente de lo que determinan los gobiernos nacionales (Aparicio, 2009). Se toma como punto de análisis el proceso de consulta previa libre e informada que actualmente se realiza a comunidades localizadas en la región Valles Centrales de Oaxaca y que conforman un movimiento zapoteco llamado Coordinadora de Pueblos Unidos en Defensa y Cuidado del Agua copuda.