From Nordis BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 18) – “Long live international solidarity!” hailed more than 70 delegates from 10 countries including the Philippines, as they gathered for the opening program of the founding conference of the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN).
The delegates, mostly youth from Japan, India, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Thailand and the Philippines are here for a five-day conference held at the various universities and venues here. The conference aims to further unite and uphold the rights of indigenous youth.
The APIYN was organized in 2002 and started with 40 individuals from 30 organizations but now consists of more than 40 organizations from 10 countries all over the Asia Pacific.
The delegates were given a taste of the dances from the different provinces of the Cordillera. The dances of Abra, Benguet, Mt. Province, Apayao, Kalinga and Ifugao were the highlight of the day as it drew out the spirit of the indigenous cultures. Click here for photos of the opening ceremonies
Also presented was a cultural production by the Tanghalang Bayan ng Kabataan sa Baguio, Progressive Igorots for Social Action and the Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera groups. The production showcased the joy and freedom of the indigenous people that was stifled by militarization and globalization. Read the full article
See here for some background, or go to the APIYN website
Indigenous Peoples are putting their bodies on the line and it's our responsibility to make sure you know why. That takes time, expertise and resources - and we're up against a constant tide of misinformation and distorted coverage. By supporting IC you're empowering the kind of journalism we need, at the moment we need it most.
