Language and Culture

Can language be used as a skill? - The South African Nama Development Association is an organization who is recognizing the value in teaching youth the Nama language, an ancient language spoken by Indigenous Southern African people in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Lelani Jacobs (Nama)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission

Sound and Soil is a live, collaborative, and experimental performance that took place in Nababeep, South Africa. Situated in the far Northern Cape Province, 50 kms north of Springbok and 65 kms from the Namibian border post Vioolsdrift, the performance included a collaboration with the Nama Stap Dansers from Steinkopf. Craig Beckett from Indigenous Youth Exchange Africa attended the event.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee Craig Beckett (Naro, Nama)
"Lights in the forest" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.

The theme of the twenty-second session of the UNPFII will be “Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health, and climate change: a rights-based approach”.
Cultural Survival attended the conference and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Avexnim Cojti (Maya K'iche) and Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Starlett Beardy (Pimicikamak Cree Nation )
Image: Cultural Survival
Music "Canmandalla" by Yarina, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission

Indigenous Women all around the world are subjected to marginalization and inequality.
As we commemorate International Women's Day, we celebrate the work of Lukretia Booysen (Griekwa, Nama), an Indigenous change maker who is the curator of The Koena Art Institute. Booysen tells us about the Institute's collaboration with the Iziko Art Museum.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Lukretia Booysen (Griekwa, Nama)
"Anania by the Baba Project, Used with Permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission

Leya Hale lives in St. Paul. She was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She is Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Navajo. She is a storyteller, a documentary filmmaker, and a producer with Twin Cities PBS (TPT), where she’s been working for the past eight years. Her  film, "Bring Her Home," addresses the epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in the United States. 

Of the estimated 7,000 known languages globally, 32 percent of them, which means as many as 2,300 languages are spoken by Indigenous Peoples living in Asia. But lately, because of many reasons, Indigenous languages are disappearing at an alarming rate globally.

Cultural Survival attended UNESCO's High-level Launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages in Paris in December 2022. In this interview, we spoke to Ulla Karin Sarri (Sami).
Produced by Avexnim Cojti (Maya K'iche')
Interviewee: Ulla Karin Sarri (Sami)
Remember Your Children by Salidummay, Used with Permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.

Cultural Survival attended the High-level Celebration of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. In this interview, we spoke to Binota Dhamai.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Binota Moy Dhamai (Jumma - Tripura)
Remember Your Children by Salidummay, Used with Permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.

Cultural Survival attended the High-level Celebration of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. In this interview, we spoke to Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild (Cree)
Remember Your Children by Salidummay, Used with Permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.

Cultural Survival attended the High-level Celebration of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. In this interview, we spoke to Leena Evic.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Leena Evic (Inuit)
Remember Your Children by Salidummay, Used with Permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.