Background

To date, the current global coronavirus pandemic has impacted almost all nations of the world. To address the pandemic, nations have instituted measures that seek to address, mitigate and halt its spread, and are seeking ways to develop potential vaccines to eradicate the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

For indigenous peoples, the pandemic has the potential to impact them disproportionately. Given the situation of marginalization where access to basic services, such as health services, are insufficient or beyond the reach of a big number of indigenous peoples’ communities, the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) would be very grave.  This marginalization is also reflected on how most governments provide very minimal, if absent, support for indigenous peoples in providing not only healthcare and protection, food and other basic support, among others. Added to these are the loss of livelihoods and access to lands, forests, waters and resources due to lockdowns or imposition of restrictions in mobility. Lockdowns and related restrictions also open up possibilities of violation of indigenous peoples’ rights, including potential encroachment, land-grabbing, expropriation of their lands, territories and resources, among others.

Partners of Tebtebba (ELATIA, Asian Indigenous Women’s Network, IFAD-IPAF, UPAKAT) have already been sharing the impacts of the pandemic on them and their communities, how they are addressing the situation and their urgent needs. In response, Tebtebba has reached out to some of its funders to request possibilities of realignment of funds to help partners in need. In solidarity, some of our funders have agreed to allocate a small amount of unspent funds.

Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners
Organization for Community Development, Tamil Nadu, India

 

Strengthening solidarity

  • It is within this context that Tebtebba is providing a small amount of emergency support fund (ESF) to urgently address the impacts of COVID-19 among its indigenous partners and communities in need, within the framework of enhancing indigenous peoples' sustainable, self-determined development (IPSSDD).

  • We are also developing indigenous-sensitive information materials on COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples that focus not only on the impacts of the coronavirus in indigenous peoples' communities and organizations, but on the proactive efforts that they are doing at community-level, using their traditional knowledge, health practices, innovations; and enhancing solidarity and support within and among other indigenous communities and other actors.

  • Undertaking monitoring and developing reports on COVID-19 and indigenous peoples to highlight impacts, actions, and proposals to ensure recognition and support for indigenous peoples in health policies and COVID responses, and post-pandemic recovery efforts at national and global levels.