Pass it on! Stories of Indigenous-led Education from the Grassroots
Celebrating Indigenous Languages with the launch of the first ILED Spotlight Publication
We are very pleased to present you with the very first publication of the Global Network on Indigenous-led Education (ILED).
"In our language, we don’t have the word ‘nature’, ‘peace’ or ‘love’. Or ‘freedom’ or ‘health’. Or ‘fidelity’ or ‘loyalty’. Because that is ‘me’. I am peace, I am a plant, I am freedom. That’s who I am. I am all those forms..." - Alí Garcia Segura (Bribri community)
About the issue
Indigenous Peoples comprise less than 6% of the global population, yet they speak 4000 of the world’s 6700 languages. Some estimates say that up to 95% of the world’s languages will be gone by the end of the century—most of these being Indigenous languages. It is estimated that one Indigenous language falls into disuse every 2 weeks.
Mainstream education systems across the globe continue to marginalise Indigenous Peoples. All the while, Indigenous communities continue to face human-rights abuses, loss and destruction of their lands and territories, dispossession and discrimination. These everyday challenges have made it increasingly difficult for Indigenous communities to promote, preserve and pass on their knowledge, language and culture. We want to change this.
About the publication
In this first publication, we present how the ILED Network plans to make a change, building on the momentum created by the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032)*. At the heart of this publication, we share grassroots stories of Indigenous-led education from 6 different countries - Thailand, Suriname, India, Kenya, Uganda and Costa Rica. The stories offer insights into the importance of Indigenous languages for Indigenous cultures, and reveal the challenges communities face—especially in relation to education—and the solutions they are working on to promote, preserve and pass on their languages.
"We need policies that protect our Indigenous knowledge, we need policies that protect our languages, and we need policies to make sure that our Indigenous knowledgeable elders and communities are not overlooked as if they have nothing to contribute to our wellbeing."
"This is the heritage of the youth and the next generation that will help them [our elders and communities] preserve the environment." - Robert Kugonza, Director of FED
About the network
The ILED Network is a global, collaborative network of organizations in support of Indigenous-led education. Our aim is to centre Indigenous grassroots initiatives that uphold, preserve and pass on Indigenous cultures, languages, ways of life and knowledge systems to Indigenous youth. We have a wide geographical reach, with members in India, Kenya, the Philippines, Thailand, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Uganda, Costa Rica, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Indigenous-led education (ILED) initiatives and programs, based on communities’ own priorities, ways of learning and empowering youth, are shown to be the most effective way to boost Indigenous resilience and self-determination. Women especially play a crucial role as knowledge holders and teachers.
Forest Peoples Programme is one of the co-founders and co-convenors of this global movement that supports cultural and linguistic diversity in education. Through the ILED Network we support Indigenous speakers passing on their languages, knowledge and culture.
Find out more in this article on how indigenous-led education is vital for climate action.
Network members:
Allianza Ceibo, Ecuador
Alí Garcia Segura (Bribri), Costa Rica
Both ENDS, the Netherlands
Federación de Comunidades Nativas de Ucayali y Afluentes – FECONAU, Peru
Federation of Negrito Tribes - SPNKK, the Philippines
Friends with Environment in Development - FED, Uganda
Fundación para la Promoción del Conocimiento Indígena - FPCI, Panama
Forest Peoples Programme, United Kingdom
IMPECT Association, Thailand
Keystone Foundation, India
Non-Timber Forest Products- Exchange Programme - NTFP-EP, Asia
Rutu Foundation, the Netherlands
Sengwer of Embobut CBO, Kenya
For more information about the ILED Network, our work and impact - have a look at our webpage.
This publication has been made possible with the kind support of:
Arcadia – a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin
The Christensen Fund
The Fair, Green and Global Alliance
The Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action
SwedBio - a programme at Stockholm Resilience Centre
*The United Nations General Assembly declared the period of 2022-2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032). The aim of this decade is to protect, support, revitalise and promote Indigenous languages. By creating a joint global movement, the goal of this decade is to put a halt to the gradual decline of Indigenous languages globally.
Overview
- Resource Type:
- Reports
- Publication date:
- 9 August 2022
- Region:
- Kenya Uganda Suriname Costa Rica Thailand
- Programmes:
- Territorial Governance Culture and Knowledge Conservation and human rights
- Partners:
- Inter Mountain Peoples Education and Culture in Thailand Association (IMPECT) Fundación para la Promoción del Conocimiento Indígena (FPCI) Federacíon de Comunidades Nativas del Ucayali y Afluentes (FECONAU)
- Translations:
- Spanish: ¡Pasa la Palabra! Historias de Educación Dirigida por Indígenas desde las Bases