Chad Valdez (Diné) is a writer currently residing in Denver, CO, and working as a bookseller. He holds a Master's degree in Fine Arts in Fiction with a minor in Native American studies from New Mexico State University where he was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. He has taught undergraduate courses in English and Creative Writing where he was able to share his love of Indigenous storytelling and understanding of epistemology. His writing has appeared in Windward Review, CBR.com among other outlets. This is Chads audio story called 'Split Decision'.
Global News Bulletin with stories on Indigenous Rights from New Zealand, Canada, Nepal, Bangladesh, Panama, Mexico, Guatemala and many more.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar).
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Indigenous issues such as land grabbing, and healthcare, in the US receive little to no media coverage. This is because reporters do not consider these stories important enough. Tristan Ahtone (Kiowa), editor at large at Grist, suggests that hiring Indigenous journalists to work in newsrooms is the easiest way to address this problem. If that's not feasible, news organizations can collaborate with Indigenous reporters at other outlets. There are various ways to ensure that journalism is safeguarded and that the best possible work is produced.
Producer : Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Sound and Soil is a live, collaborative, and experimental performance that took place in Nababeep, South Africa. Situated in the far Northern Cape Province, 50 kms north of Springbok and 65 kms from the Namibian border post Vioolsdrift, the performance included a collaboration with the Nama Stap Dansers from Steinkopf. Craig Beckett from Indigenous Youth Exchange Africa attended the event.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee Craig Beckett (Naro, Nama)
"Lights in the forest" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
Press freedom is of major concern to Indigenous journalists. They are seeking this freedom so that they can report freely in their communities and their local and national governments. When Indigenous Peoples are facing injustices, it is Indigenous media and journalists who are at the frontlines to tell their stories, but many Indigenous journalists are facing obstacles with regard to free press in their communities. On this World Press Freedom Day, Francine Compton, Associate Director of the Native American Journalists Association speaks to Cultural Survival.
Democracy and justice cannot exist without freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Today, by and large, the mainstream media is owned and controlled by socially and economically powerful people, resulting in a lack of access, voice, and participation of Indigenous Peoples. On the auspicious day of World's Press Freedom Day, Indigenous broadcasters call attention to the right of Indigenous Media, Article 16 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
This radio program introduces you to a group of people who are working to demand and achieve a just energy transition, in which Indigenous Peoples' rights are at the center. We introduce you to the Securing Indigenous Peoples' Rights in the Green Economy Coalition, also known as the SIRGE Coalition.
Produced by Cultural Survival
Voices
Diana Pastor (Maya K'iche')
Mariana Kimi (Na Ñuu Sàvi/Mixtec)
Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Morisca Christians (Khoisan)
Music
- “Music For News”, free to use.
- “Pineapple JayJen”, free to use.
Eden FM is the Southern Cape community radio station. The station was started in 2003 as an Initiative by Community leaders and business people in George, Oudtshoorn and Mosselbay. It soon grew to become the largest community radio station in the Western Cape Province.
Eden FM's presenters and staff about the impact that radio has had on the community where they broadcast.
All music is supplied by Eden FM.
In 2019 Cultural Survival started helping the San people in a remote part of Namibia to start their own radio station. The idea was to build a web radio station first and then apply for a license from the broadcasting authority in Namibia.
In this podcast we hear from Disco Koki (!Xun), one of the trainees, who came to South Africa to receive training at XK FM, the South African government-funded radio station, that was set up to give the San people a voice.
"Lights in the forest by Ziibiwan, Used with Permission
Information and communications technologies have the potential to provide new solutions to development challenges, particularly in the context of globalization, and can foster economic growth, competitiveness, access to information and knowledge, poverty eradication, and social inclusion that will help to expedite the integration of all countries, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, into the global economy. In this podcast, we find out how Indigenous Peoples fit into this picture.
South Africa has been branded as “the Rainbow Nation” because of the diversity of its citizens. The country boasts a very liberal constitution and eleven official languages, which however do not include Indigenous languages. What is becoming more and more apparent lately is the exclusion of the Khoi and San languages especially from school curricula, radio, and television. IYX Radio is a new internet radio station that hopes to change the narrative.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Sharri Cannel (San)
UNESCO calls on radio stations to celebrate World Radio Day's 10th anniversary and the more than 110 years of radio. Cultural Survival's Indigenous Rights Radio supported the Khwe people from the Okavango region in starting Khwedam Radio – a radio station that will assist the Khwe and !Xun speaking San Peoples to be able to communicate better with each other in remote regions of Namibia.
The COVID-19 pandemic has already posed a grave health threat to the world's Indigenous Peoples as they already experience poor access to essential healthcare services. Indigenous Peoples globally are seeking their own solutions to this pandemic. Indigenous Rights Radio program producer Dev Kumar Sunuwar caught up with Francisco Cali Tzay, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples who discussed COVID-19’s impacts on Indigenous communities.
Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity. For Indigenous Peoples in many countries, radio is the most accessible platform to have their say in the languages that they speak and understand. Radio, therefore, is a fundamental means of communication for Indigenous Peoples to maintain their languages and to exercise and defend their rights. Moreover, radio is a means of ensuring the right to information in all sectors of society.
Radio continues to be the medium of choice for poor and marginalized communities.
Community radios are by the people, for the people and owned by the people. On world radio day, Indigenous Rights Radio celebrates the power of radio.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Image: Khwedam Radio Services receiving training
Music: Anania2 by The Baba Project, used with permission.
Indigenous Rights Radio Intro track features "Burn your Village to the Ground" by @a-tribe-called-red. Used with permission.
In 2018 and 2019, there has been an increase in suicides amongst Indigenous Peoples, specifically in Australia. Why is this happening at such an alarming rate? What is the cause of these deaths, especially among the youth.
Producer : Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan, South Africa)
Interviewee: Pat Dudgeon, Australia
Picture: An Indigenous Australian Man chats on his cellphone, courtesy of Cultural Survival
Music: Lights in the Forest by Yarina, used with permission.
Every year on the 7th of April, World Health Day, a day championed by the World Health Organisation, is commemorated internationally.
The day was conceived in 1948, and the first annual WHD was celebrated in 1950 – In support of drawing attention to WHO, the world health organisation.
In this program, we interview Connie Hang, Youth Coordinator of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation.
Recognizing community radio's role of keeping grassroots communities informed, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), proclaimed February 13th as World Radio Day. There is no doubt that radio is a powerful communication tool and a low cost medium suited not only to reach illiterate, remote communities and vulnerable groups, but also has a stronger and more specific role especially for delivering emergency and disaster relief communication.
It is world radio on February 13th, a day and according to the website diamundialradio.org, this is a day to celebrate radio as a medium, to improve international cooperation between broadcasters and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information, freedom of expression and gender equality over the airwaves. We Interview the Programs Manager of X-K FM, a radio station set up specifically to broadcast in the !Xun and Khwe indigenous languages of Namibia/Angola/South Africa.
On the 1st of December, every year, the international community observes a day that is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic.
As of November 2017, an estimated 36.7 million people worldwide are living with HIV, making it one of the most important global health issues.
This program looks at how HIV AIDS affects the International Indigenous community.
MUSIC
Sami Drum by Tyler. Used with permission.
Introduction: "Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
Peter Buffett is a Co-President of the NoVo Foundation, which works to foster a transformation from a world of domination and exploitation to one of collaboration and partnership. As part of this work, NoVo supports work in Indigenous communities across North America, including community-led programs that center Indigenous girls and women. Suzanne Benally (Navajo and Santa Clara Tewa) is a leader in U.S. Indigenous rights advocacy, and serves as the Executive Director of Cultural Survival.
Indigenous solidarity has coalesced into a powerful movement thanks to the activism and perseverance of Indigenous leaders from communities around the world. Indigenous leaders that are defending land, language, culture, and the environment face acute persecution, both from governments directly and from extrajudicial actors.
Avexnim Cotji brings us interviews from a preparatory meeting in Guatemala in April of 2016 for members of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. At the meeting, they discussed local media as a crucial element of cultural preservation and the protection of Indigenous community rights.
Kaimana Barcarse interviews Menase Ntutu from the Maasai nation about the concerns of Indigenous Peoples living with disabilities, and how communities can collaborate to support the work of the Disability Caucus. Recorded at the 2015 UNPFII.
Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn speaks about Indigenous Peoples' power in numbers to fight back against companies trying to defy their rights and occupy their lands.
Lemoine LaPointe, a Lakota of South Dakota and Minnesota, speaks about community conversations and their importance in providing support for Indigenous Peoples and their relationship with the surrounding region both in the present and in the future. We met up with Lemoine at the UNPFII 2015.
Kealii Gora of Hawaii gives advice on how to get involved in advocating for Indigenous rights. Gora believes it is important to get Indigenous voices on the record and present concerns and perspectives in international arenas to make a change.
Chief Bellegarde speaks at UNFPII to bring to light the gap between Canada and its Indigenous Peoples in regard to the United Nations Human Development Index and the rights of indigenous peoples in Canada. Belgard works to close the gap between the wealth of Canada as a nation and Canada's indigenous peoples. He calls on Canada to respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Les Malazer describes how the outcome document from the WCIP sets out actions to be taken by the United Nations and Member States, always with the involvement and the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples. He encourages Indigenous groups to see how they can engage with States using this document.
“Nothing about us without us.” Les Malazer talks about how this meeting clearly demonstrated that Indigenous groups can work well with States. Although, he was disappointed with the fact that the drafting of the document continued into the States-only process.
Over 400 Indigenous Peoples came together in Alta, Norway to draft a document which was given to the United Nations. This document was heavily relied on in the negotiations and formed the basis of the outcome document from the WCIP.
Mililani Trask talks about the importance of cross-cultural support between Indigenous groups and how Indigenous women have been key to bringing this about.
Vicky Tauli-Corpuz talks about her visit to Paraguay in her capacity as UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. She discusses the process and the preparation of these visits, highlighting the need for autonomy and security for the people she talks with.
It is an opportunity to meet with Indigenous communities, civil society organisations, government ministers and the private sector and encourage dialogue across society.
Antonio Gonzales has spent many years working with international forums for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. He has witnessed achievements but draws attention to the fact that indigenous communities across the world are struggling to bring their governments to the table for discussion. He is currently advocating for an International Convention.
Indigenous leader and Chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples' Alliance of the Philippines shares expectations of the Climate March and its importance to Indigenous Peoples. "In resolving climate change, Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous Peoples' participation is fundamental."
These indigenous youth leaders from around the world say that everyone has some form of indigenous roots, and if those roots are disconnected, one must communicate with indigenous persons directly in order to begin to understand them. Indigenous people around the world share many common struggles but continue to fight for their rights.
These Indigenous youth leaders voice the importance of continuing the fight for Indigenous rights and how it is vital for indigenous persons to understand and embrace the roots of their community.
Join Cultural Survival at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, May 2013 as we interview leaders on challenges they have faced while implementing the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent. As we learn about obstacles others have faced, we may better understand how to overcome our own.
Join us at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2013 in New York, as we interview Maori leader Catherine Davis about the right to Free, Prior, Informed Consent within the context of New Zealand.