World Conference on Indigenous Peoples

Cultural Survivals Indigenous Rights Radio got in touch with Professor Michael Yellowbird via Skype in July 2020 after hearing about how indigenous peoples in Brazil and indeed other places in the world, are struggling to come to terms with the less obvious effects of COVID-19.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Professor Michael Yellowbird
Music: Lights in the Forrest by Yarina. Used with permission.
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.

Because of colonisation, many Indigenous Peoples face issues of discovering who they are, in terms of identity. Sometimes, this is as a result of education or religion.
Sometimes we question our own indigeneity, and perhaps, in some cases, there are reasons for this.
Each of us has a different past, a different coming together of events, that has led to who we are, and where we come from.
Cultural Survivals Avexnim Cojti spoke to Cathy Fournier, from the University of Torronto, in Canada.

"Within each body is an archaeological site that holds the details and wisdom of our extraordinary life story, composed of generational, spiritual, and personal experiences. Historical amnesia locks these stories in the body, manifesting as pain, disease, addictions, emotional patterns, and repetitive circumstances. Somatically excavating your personal legend unearths memories of the past that can be reconciled and healed in order to create a new myth-for your body and for your Earth."
The above quote describes a book, My Body, My earth, by Dr. Ruby Gibson.

In this program, Indigenous Rights Radio producer Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan, South Africa) speaks to Janene Yazzie (Navajo, USA), Sustainable Development Coordinator at International Indian Treaty Council, about the impacts of COVID-19  on the Navajo Nation.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Janene Yazzie
Music
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.

When Victoria Tauli-Corpuz was appointed as UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in May 2014, she was ready to take on the challenge of investigating the plight of the world’s Indigenous Peoples and then making her findings public. After a six year stint as special rapporteur, according to her, the mandate was “an uphill battle.” In this program we hear more from Victoria on her tenure as Special Rapporteur.

Jayd Smith from Eldos FM introduces this program, where presenter Diana Morat interviews operations manager for epidemic preparedness Dawn Kgaje.
This program is produced by Eldos FM, a community radio station in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Music
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
Saxaphone by Tyso
Production and editing: Jayd Smith
Voices: Jade Smith, Diana Morat
Image: Mixer at community radio station
Interviewee: Dawn Kgaje

In Asia, the ancestral lands of many Indigenous Peoples have been cut across national borders. Since anti-terror laws and counter insurgency laws were introduced, Indigenous Peoples have been suspected of being insurgents or terrorists, and have been barred from traveling across borders to visit relatives. There should be no borders for Indigenous Peoples as they have existed in those territories long before these nation States came into being.

Governments or states make use of geographical boundaries to demarcate territories. Political entities come to agreements on which area belongs to whom. In some cases, borders are agreed upon by two countries, and in other cases it may have been suggested by a third party like an international conference.  In many cases, borders are imposed on places, without taking into consideration the people who live in that area. In this program, we speak to Aslak Holmberg from the Saami Council in Finland, who tells us how borders have affected his life, as well as his environment.

There are many issues that Cultural Survival has covered and fought for as an organization over the past 47 years, and these issues include but are not limited to land rights, Indigenous languages, traditional knowledge, self-determination, freedom of expression and so on. One thing that stands out for our Executive Director Galina Angarova, and is very close to her heart, is the topic of The Sacred Feminine. 

Desde las radios comunitarias se producen y trasmiten los conocimientos ancestrales. En este programa podemos conocer sobre la Parteria que aún se sigue practicando en una de las comunidad Indígenas de Ecuador. !Escuche, descargué y comparta!

Imagen:
Capturado por Cultural Survival

Esta es una producción de Radio Cotacachi y distribuido por Cultural Survival. Este programa es gratuito para escuchar, descargar y compartir.