Stories about Indigenous from December, 2008
Syria: More on the Israeli Massacre in Palestine
Diana Ghazzawi, a Gazan blogger who is now based in North America, shares with us her worries that she might not meet her relatives in Gaza one day, if they don't get lucky from the strategic Israeli shelling on the Gazans: This is not about politics. It's not about specifics...
Syria: Myths about Israeli Attacks in Palestine
Our coverage of Syrian bloggers reacting on the ongoing Israeli war in Palestine continues. Israel is still proceeding the attacks in Palestine for the forth day causing 385 civilian deaths and leaving 1700 injured. Yaman Salahi, a Syrian blogger based in the US, has posted a note on his Facebook...
Syria: Bloggers Infuriated by Israeli Massacre in Palestine
"Many Syrian bloggers feel depressed and paralyzed over what's happening in Gaza now" writes Razan Ghazzawi as she brings us more reactions from the Arabic-language Syrian blogosphere in our continuing coverage about the current Israeli airstrike campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Turkey: Apology Shakes Apologia over Armenian Genocide
Challenging 90 years of institutionalized denial of the massacre and deportation of the Ottoman Empire's indigenous Armenian community during WWI, tens of thousands of Turkish intellectuals, academics, writers, journalists and dissidents have apologized online for the "Great Catastrophe."
Guadeloupe: Why not celebrate Kwanzaa as well?
Besides the traditional celebration of Christmas, Guadeloupean people have recently taken up a new celebration: Kwanzaa, which starts on December 26 and lasts until January 1.
A Caribbean Christmas
'Tis the season - and nowhere celebrates Christmas quite like the Caribbean! Here's a glimpse into what bloggers are doing to get into the spirit of the festivities...
Shaping the Future of World Indigenous Education
Last week 3000 delegates from around the world shared their experiences at The World Indigenous Peoples' Conference: Education at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. There has been little coverage by the mainstream media and surprisingly little activity in the global blogosphere that I’m aware of.
Puerto Rico: Taino Elder Passes On
The Voice of the Taino People Online respectfully bids farewell to the late Boriken Taino community elder and spiritual leader, Ángel Manuel Galagarza.
Kurdistance: Similarities with the Lakota Sioux
Kurdish blogger Rasti compares the recent declaration of the Lakota Sioux (a native American people) to withdraw from all treaty obligations with the United States to the forced assimilation and cultural genocide of the Kurdish people.
Puerto Rico: Pasteles
The Voice of the Taino People Online republishes an article which reveals that the popular Christmas dish pasteles is actually indigenous in origin.
Azerbaijan: Destruction of Ancient Cemetery Commemorated
Three years after a cemetery dating back to the 9th Century was deliberately destroyed in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan, bloggers recall an ancient culture annihilated and condemn the world for closing its eyes to what many consider to be an official attempt to rewrite history.
Madagascar: French Authorities Censor Play on Historic Independence Battle
A theater performance to commemorate a historical date in the battle for independence of Madagascar, March 29, 1947 has been banned without explanation in the Southern region of Africa the Indian Ocean by French regional authorities. Discussion of the play and its subject matter continues on the internet.
Barbados, Dominica: A First for Indigenous Communities
Barbados Free Press reports on “a first in the history of the Americas” as Dominica issues a diplomatic passport to its indigenous Kalinago-Carib leader.
Jamaica: Speaking Patois
Iriegal explores the origins of Jamaican patois and links to a few examples of how to speak it.
Senior citizens in Cambodia
Chanroeun uploads an article which tackles how Cambodians are treating their senior citizens
Laos: Boun That Luang festival
Nye Noona attended and was impressed by the Boun That Luang festival in Laos.
Western Sahara: Controversy Over McDonald's Maps
The Moroccan McDonald's franchise faced controversy last week after it released a children's “Happy Meal” toy which included a map of Morocco. The borders on the map separated Western Sahara from Morocco; the Western Sahara is a disputed territory between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front. The controversy ended with...
Puerto Rico, Barbados, Guyana: Indigenous Rights
The Voice of the Taino People Online reports that Damon Corrie, “the sometimes controversial Barbados born Indigenous Rights activist of Guyanese Arawak descent” is attending negotiations on the draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Armenia: CNN Genocide Coverage Controversy
Too short for Armenians and too long for the Turkish government, a two-hour CNN documentary by Christiane Amanpour on genocide includes a 45-second mention of the WWI extermination of Ottoman Empire's indigenous Armenian population. Premiered on December 4, 2008, Scream Bloody Murder has made many Armenian bloggers angry.
Brunei: Technology and Spirituality
Pixelated Scribbles from Brunei writes: “It’s great that we are technologically progressing, but it doesn’t mean that we should let our spirituality be left behind.”
Trinidad & Tobago: The Proof is in the Pastelle
“Originally a meat dish that was introduced by the locals of ‘Spanish’ heritage it is now popular throughout the country and is synonymous with the Christmas season”: Simply Trini Cooking blogs about the cornmeal pastelle, a Trinidad and Tobago seasonal staple.
