News and Updates

Young indigenous leaders implemented their advocacy plans

19 September 2022

“[The training program] has increased my capacity as a human right advocate for indigenous women in Cameroon,” said Asatu Amadou, staff of Lelewal Foundation in Cameroon, at the conclusion of her policy advocacy plan implementation.

Around 24 young indigenous leaders have implemented their advocacy plans from July 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022 as part of the capacity building program for second-generation leaders around the world that was implemented in 2021.

*Training and discussion of indigenous youth on indigenous peoples’ land rights issues at Telki, Madhupur, Tangail in Bangladesh. Photo from Toni Chiran.*

The training program aimed to equip next generation indigenous leaders with clear understanding of their rights and skills to undertake sustained advocacy with their government and in key global processes as well as to lead in initiatives and actions that help strengthen and develop their communities and organizations.

The first phase of the capacity building program were three series of virtual training on policy advocacy with focus on the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), respectively. 80 young indigenous leaders from partner organizations of Elatia, Nia Tero and other regional indigenous peoples’ networks participated in the virtual training sessions.

The roster of trainers-facilitators was composed of indigenous leaders and experts with long years of experience in policy advocacy on indigenous peoples’ rights, biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development, among others, in the different UN bodies and processes.

During the virtual sessions, participants developed their own policy advocacy plans in accordance with the policy agenda of their organizations or communities in the UN CBD, or in the UNFCCC, or on the SDGs. The trainers-facilitators coached them to develop a smart advocacy plan that can guide them in their policy advocacy initiatives.

*Capacity building workshop on the Sustainable Development Goals of Mbororo women in Cameroon. Photo from Asatu Amadou.*

The objectives, targets and activities of the advocacy plans were multifaceted but were aligned with the UN CBD, UNFCCC and the SDGs and in response to the needs of their communities.

The second phase was the implementation of the selected advocacy plans through a small grant from Nia Tero.

Oktavianus of Institut Dayakologi (ID) in Indonesia lobbied the village government of Bungkang in the Sanggau Regency in the West Kalimantan province in Indonesia to encourage the village government to include indigenous peoples in its protection program. A month after, the village head contacted ID to seek support for the design of a protection program to be included in the fiscal year of 2022.

In May 2022, Idris Fredison and Shylina Lingaard of the Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname VIDS spearheaded the engagements of indigenous youths with the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment as well as with the Parliament of Suriname in Paramaribo. They submitted their petition to the said Ministry and read it before the chairman of the Parliament.

Part of the petition said, “We young people and our families sometimes become distraught because we can no longer take care of ourselves and we are not sure of our existence. We look for solutions. We are students and our village councils are counting on us, as young advocates.”

Raissa Madaki of REPALEAC Cameroon led an advocacy workshop in April 2022 with local stakeholders including some different ministries of the government of Cameroon, community leaders and civil society organizations. Access of indigenous women to cultivable land and to agricultural inputs and products as well as their capacity building for in simple farming techniques were the focus of the workshop.

*Seminar on gender, human and women’s rights and land rights in the Dayak Krio community in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photos by Ansilla Twiseda Mecer.*

“We will ensure that indigenous women have direct access to land in our decentralization process within our local council,” committed the mayor of Mandjou, East region of Cameroon during the workshop.

For some, COVID-19 affected the timely implementation of their advocacy plans. Health protocols and restrictions imposed prevented the grantees to carry out their planned activities in their target areas such as community awareness raising activities. A few grantees also contracted COVID-19 and had to adjust their implementation period.

Jointly implemented by Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partner (ILEPA) based in Kenya and the Elatia Indigenous Peoples Training Institute based in the Philippines, the capacity building program was made possible with support of Nia Tero, Bread for the World and Tebtebba.***

*With information from Easter Kinyua and from the reports of Oktavianus, Idris Fredison, Shylina Lingaard, and Raissa Madaki and video of Asatu Amadou.*

Revitalizing the Sulagad System Requires Continuous Support, Reveals Equal Necessity for Individual Support

09 September 2022

“Napakaganda ng sulagad system revival. Dahil bukod sa [pagbigay ng] pagkain, nakakatulong ito upang mapangalagaan ang kalikasan at maibalik ang sigla ng lupa (The sulagad system revival is a wonderful initiative because, aside from its provision of food for the community, the practice of the sulagad system helps conserve and protect the environment as well as bring back the fertility of the soil).”

*Jerry Datuwata showing the newly planted okra and eggplant seedlings which are to be replanted in the central nursery.*

Jerry Datuwata, Lambangian Peoples Organization (LPO) project implementer of the sulagad system revitalization, stressed the benefits of the said initiative during Tebtebba’s visit to sitio Benuan, barangay Kuya, South Upi, Maguindanao, Philippines on 16 to 21 August 2022.

*The central nursery located in sitio Benuan, barangay Kuya, South Upi, Maguindanao.*

An age-old indigenous agricultural practice among the Teduray and Lambangian people of Mindanao in the southern part of the country, the sulagad system is a form of agroforestry, specifically that of silvopasture. It combines the cultivation of various kinds of trees—forest trees and fruit-bearing trees—and provides spaces for short-term crops including root crops, green leafy vegetables, fruit vegetables, legumes, and corn, among others. The agricultural system also integrates the presence of animals—livestock, carabaos, and horses—into the farm which, then, contributes and sustains food security in the area. The system also includes hunting animals and gathering wild plants.

Hence, the sulagad system maintains the naturally high biodiversity in the land, nourishing the area’s existing ecosystem as it supports the use of natural fertilizers, specifically compost and animal manure, and natural pesticides including herbs that act as pest blockers or deterrents.

*A bodega or stockroom constructed to act as storage for various farm supplies including indigenous seeds.*

Nevertheless, while the agricultural system has been practiced by the Lambangian people since time immemorial, the need to revive and strengthen it has been deemed a necessity. With support from the Pawanka Fund and the facilitation of Tebtebba, the LPO commenced the initiative with the development of three demonstration farms in sitios Siyok, Kubangan Fafan, and Lutoy as well as a central nursery in sitio Benuan.[1]

“Lalong napalakas ang ugnayan ng bawat kasapi sa komunidad [pati na ang pagpapahalaga nila] sa kalikasan. Sa pamamagitan ng sulagad system ay mas maiaangat ang kabuhayan na may pagpapahalaga sa katutubong pamamaraan (Cooperation among the members of the community became even stronger through the sulagad system revitalization project. The initiative opened the possibility for an alternative source of livelihood that also gives importance to an indigenous practice),” shared Datuwata. “Ganunpaman, hindi pa rin sapat [ang inisyatibo] dahil ang mga demo farms ay pawang training grounds lamang upang matutunan ang makabagong pamamaraan na angkop at hindi makasisira sa kalikasan. Mas maigi sana kung matulungan ang bawat kasapi na makapagsimula [ng sulagad] sa sari-sariling sakahan (However, the said initiative is not enough as the developed demonstration farms are merely training grounds where community members could learn and share beneficial agricultural technological innovations that would, at the same time, help conserve nature. It would be much better if each community member could be provided support so that they could also start their own sulagad farms),” he emphasized.

*Seedlings previously planted died due to the waterpipe getting damaged, stopping water supply in the central nursery.*

Unfortunately, most of the seedlings previously planted at the central nursery—cucumbers, bell peppers (Capsicum annuum), okra (ladies’ fingers), tomatoes, eggplants (aubergines), pechay (snow cabbages)—withered due to insufficient water supply. It can be recalled that the organization was able to divert some water to the said central nursery during Tebtebba’s previous visit on 19 June to 5 July 2022. Waterflow via the new waterpipe, however, stopped due to the fact that only 450 meters of it was new and the remaining 450 meters was composed of old pipes which, then, had parts that were already brittle and had small holes that were not readily discovered at first. Fortunately, the group was able to recalibrate and repair (patch-up) the said 900-meter water hose (which is connected to the main water source that is also 900 meters away).

Datuwata mentioned that they were able to plant a new batch of seedlings for the nursery—okra and eggplants—which, he hopes, would grow and prosper now that they already have a more stable and continuous water supply there.

*The waterpipe that diverts some water into the central nursery to ensure continuous supply there.*

Nonetheless, the leader highlighted the necessity of sustaining the provision of guidance and assistance to the community in terms of revitalizing the sulagad system there. “Ang LPO ay patuloy pa rin sa kampanya. Sa tingin ko, hindi sapat ang pagbibigay ng kaalaman kung walang tulong para makapagsimula ang bawat pamilya. Napakahirap makawala sa kasalukuyang kalagayan dahil nakasanayan na ito (Skills trainings for the revitalization of the sulagad system is not enough if support for its the actual implementation per family is not given),” he explained. This is compounded by the fact that most of the community are forced to depend more on planting cash crops, like the genetically modified corn, because such crops can be harvested after a short period of waiting (60 to 100 days for corn)—a seemingly better option if one does not have to consider the huge expense necessary to cover the crop’s corresponding commercially produced fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds aside from its ill effects on the soil and the area’s ecosystem.

*Coffee seedlings still thriving, to be replanted in the different demonstration farms.*

“Alam natin na kung patuloy ang ganitong pamumuhay, hindi malayo na marami ang mawawalan ng lupa, dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga kagamitan sa pagsasaka at iba pang pangangailangan ng bawat pamilya (We know that if this kind of situation—preferential planting of hybrid corn—continues here in the community, it won’t be impossible that many would lose their lands due to the continuous increase of prices for these commercial farm supplies aside from the basic commodities needed by each family),” Datuwata warned. ###

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[1] See articles, Lambangian People Assess Their Sulagad System Revival Project and Lambangian People Revive Their Sulagad System, Push for Their Self-Determined Development

Statement of Ms Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, former UNSRRIP and Tebtebba Executive Director, during this International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 2022

09 August 2022

A statement from Ms Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Tebtebba Executive Director, during this International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 2022.

Happy International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples!

We have a lot to celebrate, even amidst the grave human rights violations committed by some governments against us. We have to continue to persist in defending our lands and territories from land grabbers and destructive projects. We continue to speak our languages and assert our rights to our cultures, identities and knowledge. We contribute significantly to mitigating climate change and protecting biological diversity. We are guided by our values built around living in harmony with nature and being good neighbors. So, on this day, we reiterate our call on States to fulfill their obligations to respecting and protecting our human rights contained in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and other Human Rights Treaties which they ratified. We call on the States and dominant populations to stop discrimination and racism against us. We commit to continue our efforts to push States to effectively implement the UNDRIP.

Alnus Trees Planted as Part of PITO’s Reforestation Efforts in Sagada

26 August 2022

Alnus trees were planted along the pathway going down to barangay Fidelisan and Bomud-ok Falls in Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines—a joint project of the Northern Sagada Guides Association and Pidlisan Tribe Organization (PITO) with assistance from Tebtebba via its Philippine Program, providing shade and cool, fresh air to trekkers and residents alike.

[Banner photos: Luis Edpis Sr.]

Tebtebba’s Philippine Program Launches its Website Subpage

08 August 2022

“We walk the talk of our advocacy work,” stressed Florence Daguitan, Coordinator of Tebtebba’s Philippine Program during the launching of the said desk’s subpage under the organization’s official website. Participants from the different indigenous community and organization partners of Tebtebba joined in the said online event.

“…Diay inrugin ti Tebtebba nga systems of rice intensification (SRI) ditoy Guesang, maysa nga sitio ti Bangaan, talaga nga ongoing, ipa-practice da piman. Tatta, makitkita nga adda progress na diay sitio ta ada en diay processing da ti squash canton, peanut brittle ken banana chips. Adu en ti suporta nga it-ited ti gobyerno ngem ti kitkitaen tayo ket diay nangrugi ket datayo nga Pidlisan Tribe Organization (PITO) ken Tebtebba (One of the projects that Tebtebba started is the SRI in Guesang, a sitio [a territorial portion that is part of the barangay] of Bangaan, which is ongoing and is being practiced. At present, we see an improvement in the sitio because they already have a processing center for squash canton, peanut brittle and banana chips. The sitio is now receiving support from the government, as well, thanks to the initiative of PITO and Tebtebba),” shared Osenio Lay-os, a Pidlisan elder, as he provided updates on the capacity-building initiatives done by their community through the facilitation of Tebtebba.

The Philippine Program is an initiative within Tebtebba that directly deals with community strengthening and operationalizing of the Indigenous Peoples' Sustainable Self-Determined Development framework in its pilot areas in the Philippines with the support of several funders including the Pawanka Fund and SwedBio.

Visit Tebtebba’s Philippine Program’s subpage at philippine.tebtebba.org.