Stories about Indigenous from March, 2009
France, Americas, Africa: The “Y'a Bon” Awards
On March 17th 2009, a group called les Indivisibles [Fr] launched the “Y'a Bon Awards”, a dubious honour bestowed upon politicians, journalists, or any public officials who have contributed to the spreading of racism in France. The Awards have sprung from reactions to a century-long advertising campaign that has not sat well with most black people in France.
Colombia: Searching the Bodies of Murdered Indigenous
The National Indigenous Organization of Colombia publishes on its blog the route [es] the humanitarian minga is following since Monday in order to recover the corpses of the indigenous Awás...
Trinidad & Tobago: A World of Orchids
From Trinidad and Tobago, My Chutney Garden says: “Orchid growing is not for the fainthearted.”
Fiji: ‘It was stones, now it's molotov cocktails’
At least six people in Fiji who could be termed “public opponents” of the country’s military-backed government have been targeted by unidentified individuals who late at night have thrown large stones at their houses and severally damaged their cars. During the stonings, much of Fiji’s political blogosphere have claimed the rock attacks were perpetrated by members of the country’s military.
Lao idioms
Bryan, A Laotian American writer, identifies some of the popular Lao idioms.
Martinique: Rhum Agricole
“In the history of Caribbean rums, Martinique has gained a place of its own…”: Repeating Islands’ Blog explains why.
Brazil: Controversial demarcation of indigenous land confirmed
Five indigenous tribes of Brazil have won a 30-year battle to reclaim 1.7 million hectares of their ancestral land in Roraima in the Amazon on the border to Venezuela and Guyana. On March 19, the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) ruled on the integrity of the Raposa Serra do Sol indigenous land, keeping its size and borders intact as a continuous area, disappointing ranchers and rice farmers who coveted the land.
Barbados, Montserrat: Mountain Chickens
Blogging from Barbados, Gallimaufry is concerned about the fate of the Montserrat mountain chicken.
Fiji: A step towards elections?
Fiji’s political parties may have taken a first step toward restoring Parliamentary democracy when they met with the military backed Interim Government and agreed on the issues to be discussed during the President’s Political Dialogue Forum, which will take place next month. But the usually exhaustive political blogosphere and forum posters analyzing Fiji affairs have been less than enthusiastic talking about it. And, frankly, they've ignored most of the event.
Guatemala: Opposition to Mining Operations
A recent BBC story reported on skin infections showing up in several indigenous communities in Guatemala. Many from the community and other activists are placing blame on an open-pit mining company for the health problems. These new findings are the latest in a series of arguments about the negative effects of mining. Bloggers have joined the online debate that say that mining is damaging and dangerous for local communities and the environment.
Dominica: Carib Village
Repeating Islands’ Blog pays a visit to Touna, a living Carib village in Dominica.
Kenya: The Big Language Dilemma For Kenyan Poet Bloggers
Kenyan poets, unlike artists, find it easier to write and perform in English as opposed to any other language. This would be closely attributed to what language enables them express themselves better, and most definitely their command of that language. After a few interactions with a cross section of poets and by visiting their blogs, I realized that virtually none write in their mother tongue as much and very few have written in Kiswahili or Sheng.
Nepal: The Rights Of The Minorities
Paramendra Bhagat supports the ongoing movement of the Tharu indigenous people in Nepal for their rights. He goes further to add: “I look forward to the Dalits, Muslims and women...
Fiji: Rugby, politics and democracy
People in Fiji are slowly coming to grips with the fact the nation’s Rugby sevens team could not defend its World Cup title because it was beaten by upstart Kenya in the quarter-finals. Nearly everyone in Fiji has fingered blame on someone — the players, trainers and coaches. Yet more than a few bloggers and commenters are blaming the loss on the country’s political situation.
USA: Native American Consultation Policy
UOB says Native Americans will now advise U.S. Department of Homeland Security on issues concerning American Indians. The policy has been created by new Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
Paraguay: “A Pencil for Me” Campaign for School Supplies
El Yacare [es] writes about a campaign called “A Pencil for Me” in Mbya indigenous communities in Paraguay to help provide children with school supplies.
Ukraine: Çelebicihan's Death Anniversary
Window on Eurasia writes about the 91st anniversary of the murder of Numan Çelebicihan, a Crimean Tatar leader – and the recent assault of a Crimean Tatar family by Ukrainian...
UK: ‘Stamping Out’ Media Racism Against Indigenous Peoples
Amid growing awareness about indigenous peoples’ issues in the world, British periodicals The Guardian and The Observer have new guidelines against using two phrases that activists say marginalize and de-legitimize indigenous peoples.
Laos: Elephant ride
Shannon posts pictures of an elephant ride in Laos and trekking through rural villages.
Lao folktales
Nye Noona recommends a website and a book which both offer a good collection of Lao folktales.
Descendants of Fiji's first indentured servants
Fiji: The Way It Was, Is and Can Be chronicles the plight of the Kai Solomoni people, the descendants of Fiji’s first indentured servants who were kidnapped in the mid-1860s...
