Blog & news
Learn about inspiring stories from the seven regions of the world: Africa, Arctic, Asia, Latino America, North America, Pacific, Russia.
Guiding Committee Annual Meeting | Kenya | 2019
Watch the video showcasing the Pawanka Fund’s Guiding Committee Annual Meeting | Kenya | 2019.
Traditional Healing Practices Thrive for Good Health and Wellbeing
For more than a thousand years, far-flung indigenous villages in the Himalayan ranges have depended on their Amchi practitioners for healing and health prescriptions for their ailments, not only in body, but also for mental wellbeing. These Buddhist practitioners use an ancient herbal medical regimen that combines physical and spiritual skills with arduous travel on
As a Woman: Leading Indonesia’s Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance
Author: Dev Kumar Sunuwar In 2017, Rukka Sombolinggi (Toraja) from central Sulawesi, Indonesia was elected the first woman secretary general of the Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance of Indonesian Archipelago (AMAN). Before joining AMAN in 1999, Sombolinggi worked for JAPHAMA, a network of Indigenous Peoples’ defenders—one of the main groups that convened the first congress of Indigenous
Indigenous Media as a Means for Inter-generational Communications
For indigenous communities all over the world, the access to relevant information and availability of channels to amplify their concerns are still pressing needs. Gradually and increasingly, community radio is being rediscovered by indigenous peoples as an effective means of strengthening their community spirit and transmitting information within the community. Radio is especially helpful for
Harvesting Knowledge through the Hoʻoulu ʻĀina Community Project
Patrick Kahawaiolaa, a Kupuna (Elder) and a lessee of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) narrated, based on a 1900s congressional record how non-Hawaiian landowners and ranchers testified against the establishment of homestead lands. Then Prince Kūhiō was forced to compromise on geographic distribution of homestead lands and on the blood quantum in order
Key role of indigenous youth in traditional knowledge transmission
This video showcased the highlights of the Pawanka Fund Sungai Utik Indigenous Youth Exchange held in Indonesia which is about the key role of indigenous youth in traditional knowledge transmission.
Rising indigenous voices on climate change
A Thematic Report by PAWANKA Fund INTRODUCTION There has been a worldwide surge of environmental activism in preparation for the annual United Nations gathering on climate crisis in December 2019. The climate strike led by Greta Thunburg is gaining more support and attention as youth pour out onto the streets alongside environmental activists and ordinary
From silent and clandestine life to harmony with mother naturee
The year 1932 is forever marked in the memory of El Salvador’s indigenous peoples. Known before as Cuzcatlán, which means “country of medals” or “City Jewelry” because of its beautiful and fertile land with vegetation, hills and volcanoes, El Salvador has seen continuous struggles for land beginning with the expropriation of indigenous territories by conquerors.
Documenting and Promoting Community Understanding and Adaptation to Climate Change in Moyale Sub-County
The Borana pastoralist people of Northern Kenya had been observing how climate change impacts on their communities with the gradual erosion of traditional coping practices. Women used to churn milk to make ghee during the rainy season in preparation for drought. Milk made into yoghurt and preserved lasted for half a year. When drought came,