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The defence of cultures, languages and territories is one of the hallmarks of indigenous communication and cinema, as affirmed by those of us who have been working from a multitude of contexts to assert our right to tell our stories and through them to relate to other peoples and struggles. The capacity to construct other […]
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On February 10, 2021, we released this open letter urging the United States Congress to include dedicated support for prevention at the source in its COVID Relief Plan. The letter also implores leadership to create a Global Fund for Pandemic Prevention. >> Find the dedicated campaign website here. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, United States House […]
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We are delighted to welcome David Hernández Palmar to the team. He brings with him a wealth of experience and connections. From storyteller of the Wayuu people, to continent-wide film festival organiser, David will be crucial in delivering our mentoring programme in the next few years. Find out more about David and what he’ll be […]
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End of year update from Paul Redman, Executive Director This year has been one of the strangest, most harrowing and soul searching in my lifetime and it is being felt on a global scale. We have been forced to watch from afar as our indigenous friends face the terrors of a global pandemic in isolation, […]
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As Covid-19 reaches every part of the globe, indigenous organisations are preparing themselves. They are also asking for public donations to support them during this pandemic. Find out about each organisation below. As this list grows, groups are organised by geographical region. Global Guardians of the Forest have a joint fund to fight Covid-19. My […]
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Thanks to all the participants for submitting their short films to the Selva Wasi contest. Tawna presents the jury, which will select the winner. Results will be communicated on Sunday, May 3. WITSAJA! Frida Muenala, Kichwa-Zapoteza filmmaker – She studied Film and Video at the San Francisco University of Quito. Her first documentary Huellas del […]
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A central theme of If Not Us Then Who’s work is supporting indigenous communicators and young storytellers with their work, from edit training to commissioning films. Film however is not always the main medium; many storytellers are using the power of word or still images to share their messages. In New York during Climate Week, […]
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Washington, D.C. September 17th, 2019 The Amazon rainforest, on which we depend for food, medicine, and the wellbeing of our families, is engulfed in flames. For over a month now, with a great deal of pain, we’ve watched our homes burn. And thanks to the media, you have too. But we want you to understand […]
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If Not Us Then Who? are partnering with XR Youth and the Internationalist Solidarity Network to share indigenous films with young activists around the UK. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Extinction Rebellion Youth (@xr_youth) on Jul 23, 2019 at 3:57am PDT We find out a bit more about […]
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Update from Ranu Welum Indonesia’s rainforests are one of Earth’s most biologically and culturally rich landscapes. Unfortunately, in line with the increasing pace of Indonesia’s economic growth, forest loss continues every year. The scale of destruction of our rainforest is so large that it now has a significant impact on global climate. For this reason, […]
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Ever since proposals for an Arctic Railway have been discussed the indigenous Sami community have fought hard against it. In September 2018 with the support of indigenous groups from across the world and international NGO Greenpeace they demonstrated, catching the world’s attention. “No access without consent.” Such a railway through the Great Northern Forest would […]
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We asked a group of organizers of indigenous film festivals in several countries in Asia and Latin America, about how these activities work and why they do it. While everyone has responded from their own perspective, there are many coincidences in the motivations that move indigenous creators in places so distant from each other, confirming […]
Read moreIndigenous Made FilmIndigenous PeoplesParticipatory-made film
Youth updates
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Blog
The defence of cultures, languages and territories is one of the hallmarks of indigenous communication and cinema, as affirmed by those of us who have been working from a multitude of contexts to assert our right to tell our stories and through them to relate to other peoples and struggles. The capacity to construct other […]
Read morebehind the scenesBeyond the filmsIndigenous Made Film -
Blog
Thanks to all the participants for submitting their short films to the Selva Wasi contest. Tawna presents the jury, which will select the winner. Results will be communicated on Sunday, May 3. WITSAJA! Frida Muenala, Kichwa-Zapoteza filmmaker – She studied Film and Video at the San Francisco University of Quito. Her first documentary Huellas del […]
Read moreActivismEcuadorHuman Rights Abuses -
Blog
A central theme of If Not Us Then Who’s work is supporting indigenous communicators and young storytellers with their work, from edit training to commissioning films. Film however is not always the main medium; many storytellers are using the power of word or still images to share their messages. In New York during Climate Week, […]
Read moreCultureIndigenous PeoplesUSA -
Blog
Washington, D.C. September 17th, 2019 The Amazon rainforest, on which we depend for food, medicine, and the wellbeing of our families, is engulfed in flames. For over a month now, with a great deal of pain, we’ve watched our homes burn. And thanks to the media, you have too. But we want you to understand […]
Read moreActivismClimate ChangeIndigenous Solutions -
Blog
If Not Us Then Who? are partnering with XR Youth and the Internationalist Solidarity Network to share indigenous films with young activists around the UK. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Extinction Rebellion Youth (@xr_youth) on Jul 23, 2019 at 3:57am PDT We find out a bit more about […]
Read moreActivismBeyond the filmsUK -
Blog
Update from Ranu Welum Indonesia’s rainforests are one of Earth’s most biologically and culturally rich landscapes. Unfortunately, in line with the increasing pace of Indonesia’s economic growth, forest loss continues every year. The scale of destruction of our rainforest is so large that it now has a significant impact on global climate. For this reason, […]
Read moreActivismIndonesiayouth -
Blog
We asked a group of organizers of indigenous film festivals in several countries in Asia and Latin America, about how these activities work and why they do it. While everyone has responded from their own perspective, there are many coincidences in the motivations that move indigenous creators in places so distant from each other, confirming […]
Read moreIndigenous Made FilmIndigenous PeoplesParticipatory-made film -
Blog
Part 3 in special series for World Food Day 2018 in partnership with Land Rights Now mobilization. Find out more here. Laiya Every region has a traditional cake with their own unique and tasty characteristics. In South Sulawesi, one indigenous community in Sinjai District has their own story about a traditional cookie. To this day, laiya […]
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On the past July 30 and 31th of 2018 in Mexico City, Red MOCAF held a workshop with the purpose to build a virtual communication network with the participation of women and youth, in order to strengthen organic communication among associates of the network and promote sustainable forestry development. If Not Us Ten Who? was […]
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Traditionally, the Sapara culture from the Ecuadorian Amazon made their clothes with the cortex of the llanchama tree, which after a complicated process turns from a hard cortex into a flexible fibre for making clothes. Nowadays there is very few people in the Sapara territory who have this knowledge. Arturo Santi, from the Jandiayaku community, […]
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August 9th is recognised and celebrated as International Indigenous Peoples Day across the world. Among the stories of social injustice, land grabbing and deforestation there are also powerful positive stories in equal measure. Today we recognise and celebrate the fantastic work being done by indigenous youth – as activists, as educators and as storytellers. We […]
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To celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day 2018 we are showcasing some fantastic work being done by indigenous youth activists around the world. Meet Bertha, Mayan Indigenous from Yucatan, Mexico, a university professor of pedagogy, education and Mayan language, who has been conducting workshops on environmental care for children and young people since 2002, using the ancestral […]
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Indonesia Updates
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Update from Ranu Welum Indonesia’s rainforests are one of Earth’s most biologically and culturally rich landscapes. Unfortunately, in line with the increasing pace of Indonesia’s economic growth, forest loss continues every year. The scale of destruction of our rainforest is so large that it now has a significant impact on global climate. For this reason, […]
Read moreActivismIndonesiayouth -
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Update from Mina Setra – 2nd October 2018 There are 220 AMAN’s member communities in Central Sulawesi, 33 are affected with now very very limited communication because in these areas, most communications network are still down. AMAN has established our emergency team, bring many volunteers from indigenous communities from Sumatra, Kalimantan, other part of Sulawesi Island, […]
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Part 3 in special series for World Food Day 2018 in partnership with Land Rights Now mobilization. Find out more here. Laiya Every region has a traditional cake with their own unique and tasty characteristics. In South Sulawesi, one indigenous community in Sinjai District has their own story about a traditional cookie. To this day, laiya […]
Read moreCultureIndonesiayouth -
Blog
August 9th is recognised and celebrated as International Indigenous Peoples Day across the world. Among the stories of social injustice, land grabbing and deforestation there are also powerful positive stories in equal measure. Today we recognise and celebrate the fantastic work being done by indigenous youth – as activists, as educators and as storytellers. We […]
Read moreActivismClimate ChangeCulture -
Blog
To celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2018 we are showcasing some fantastic work being done by indigenous youth activists around the world. Meet Kalfein, indigenous youth from Minahasa, Indonesia, after receiving video and storytelling training is now delivering training back to his local community. What have you been working on? I organised a writing course in […]
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To celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day 2018 we are showcasing some fantastic work being done by indigenous youth activists around the world. Meet Anastasya Dita, Dayak youth, and find out more about how she is leading by example in Kalimantan. What have you been working on? I have been working at Ranu Welum Foundation since 2016. […]
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Besides in Gajah Mada University, (UGM), Indonesia Nature Film Society (INFIS), ‘Siapa Lagi Kalau Bukan Kita’ (‘If Not Us, Then Who?’), Mongabay Indonesia and the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara/AMAN) held the movie premiere and discussion in Uwong Coffee, Yogyakarta, on 6-9 September 2017, featuring Sallombengan Seko, O’Hangana Manyana, Penjaga […]
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Written by Karina Natalia DANUM Magazine is about culture, environment, and humanity. DANUM Magazine was created by Dayak youth to feature the voices of the Dayak indigenous community in Kalimantan and their stories of culture to an international audience through a bilingual magazine (Bahasa-English, with Dayak mother tongue). Our missions are to preserve Dayak culture, […]
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Mexico – June 2017 On June 23 and 24th, we held a workshop for 24 indigenous peoples youth and forestry communities in Mexico City with Red MOCAF’s and UNDP’s support. The workshop was organized for the participants of the contest “Young Guardians of the Forest” by Red MOCAF and AMPB. Several videos were collected in […]
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Written By: Een Irawan Putra The road connecting Hoyane Hamlet and Pokapaang Hamlet got muddy and slippery as the wet season was approaching, but a few months ago Hoyane women, along with their children, kitchen utensils and tents, travelled through the bad road to gather with others from Pohoneang, Malino, Harana’, Pasangkalua’ and Pokapaan to […]
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Written by: Een Irawan Putra Seated in his hut and seeing his community harvest their rice, R. Kondo Lada’ said that the area was the Ambalong’s rice barn. A few decades ago, before Sae was opened for rice paddies, the community had to buy or ask for rice from their families in Seko Padang. “At […]
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The Context During the DI/TII rebellion (one intending to turn the republic into an Islamic state), a war between the Kahar Muzakar’s troops and the Indonesian Army broke out in Sae – the Ambalong customary territory. All the rice paddies were abandoned as the community fled the area. After the war ended and DI/TII was […]
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South American Updates
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It was the very beginning of the journey for If Not Us Then Who. We were in Brasilia at a workshop convened for a select few journalists and filmmakers to meet representatives from some of Brazil’s main indigenous and traditional peoples groups. When we arrived it was in full swing, like an energetic meeting of […]
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We are developing our capacity building work this year with follow-up film training with budding filmmakers as well as commissioning short films from the growing global network. In Mexico Earlier this month, we led a workshop on audiovisual production and digital media for the second time (we held the first last year, in 2017) as […]
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The Carnival season in Brazil is well known for its huge floats and samba parades. Less well known are the traditional ceremonies of its indigenous peoples that are celebrated during this period. During these festivities, attention is often only drawn to their cultures by the costumes of carnival-goers using traditional indigenous dress, and the heated […]
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Creative initiatives that supports forest conservation By Chris Meyer and Juliana Splendore There are various community and indigenous enterprises and projects across the Brazilian Amazon that are contributing to forest conservation. These initiatives are not only generating income, but are also creating opportunities for community development according to the values of indigenous and traditional peoples. […]
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Amongst the sacred plants of the Amazon, ayahuasca, as it is termed internationally, is arguably the most widely known after tobacco. It has been a source of spiritual learning and healing among many indigenous Amazonian peoples for thousands of years, known to them as a medicine, a teacher and a bridge to the spiritual realm, […]
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By Cynthia Cavalho Martins 2014 The babassu palm tree region covers an area of 18 million hectares that extends from the Parnaíba Valley to the Tocantins-Araguaia region. Here an average of 400 thousand babassu coconut breakers live with their families and devote themselves to extractivism and agricultural work, together with fishing, hunting and small […]
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A message from the babassu oil coconut breakers! We’re the babassu coconut breakers, and we want to introduce ourselves to you. We’re a traditional community and our movement is present in four Brazilian states: Maranhão, Pará, Tocantins and Piauí. In the whole country , however, we’re 400,000 women, 400,000 warriors. Our struggle started long ago, […]
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Event Updates
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Blog
The defence of cultures, languages and territories is one of the hallmarks of indigenous communication and cinema, as affirmed by those of us who have been working from a multitude of contexts to assert our right to tell our stories and through them to relate to other peoples and struggles. The capacity to construct other […]
Read morebehind the scenesBeyond the filmsIndigenous Made Film -
Blog
We are delighted to welcome David Hernández Palmar to the team. He brings with him a wealth of experience and connections. From storyteller of the Wayuu people, to continent-wide film festival organiser, David will be crucial in delivering our mentoring programme in the next few years. Find out more about David and what he’ll be […]
Read morebehind the scenes -
Blog
End of year update from Paul Redman, Executive Director This year has been one of the strangest, most harrowing and soul searching in my lifetime and it is being felt on a global scale. We have been forced to watch from afar as our indigenous friends face the terrors of a global pandemic in isolation, […]
Read morebehind the scenesBeyond the films -
Blog
It had the feel of a family reunion as their stage rang loudly, day and night, with cries and chants to ancestral spirits and translated words of age-old wisdom” Justin Catanoso from Mongabay In September 2018, ‘If Not Us Then Who’ in partnership with the Hip Hop Caucus, convened a 4 day community corner space […]
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“The ‘If Not Us Then Who?’ awareness campaign has become a US based charity, a 501(c) 3 with an indigenous led board. We have come on a long journey to get here from the creation of a few participatory films hosted in a UK production company, Handcrafted Films, to understanding what it means to create […]
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If Not Us Then Who? recently travelled to the Ford Foundation offices in New York to have our strategy meeting with the indigenous networks that define our priorities for the year. In a room full of researchers, communicators, funders and indigenous leaders we looked at the major events we will engage in to support the […]
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The trip to Sungai Utik in 2013 impacted the early team members of If Not Us Then Who? As a later addition to the team words like ‘longhouse’, ‘jungle beer’ and ‘Apai Janggut’ were used a lot and when Hope was released in December 2015 I was able to relate and understand how special the […]
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After the signing of the Paris Agreement in April, the big focus for the If Not Us Then Who team for 2016 was the UN Conference on Biodiversity (CBD) in Cancun. Indigenous peoples represent 4% of the global population yet they protect more than 80% of the world’s biodiversity [source: World Bank]. Their voices are […]
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By Tim Lewis Filming trip: April 2014 Raymundus, leader of Sungai Utik a community set deep in the forests of central Borneo sat perched on the trunk of the fallen tree. Its great limbs, brought down in a long ago storm, now resided in the slow eddying flow of the river. This river, shallow and smoothly lined […]
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Our partners at Indonesian Nature Film Society are taking stories of indigenous peoples directly into university and colleges across the country. We catch up with them to find out more: Why we you doing it? University is an academic institution that has to be more evocative and critical to the problems faced by indigenous peoples […]
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Volunteer Jo Crouch writes up about her experience in Bonn: Relaxing with members of the If Not Us Then Who team, Handcrafted filmmakers and Indigenous campaigners in Bonn, Germany after the first week of the UNFCCC climate negotiations is a great way to spend a Saturday evening. The talks by global leaders at the World Conference […]
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A short montage of our launch in New York. Take a look to see who dropped by, what went on and get a sense of what it was like there on Lexington and 47th ahead of the UN Climate Summit. It was certainly a busy few days. Thank you to all our friends for making […]
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