Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth to convene in Baguio
by Ramille San Juan and Anjo Rey O. Cerdeña

Baguio has been chosen by the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network as host for its Founding Conference this coming April 18-24 with four universities here as co-hosts. Up to 100 indigenous youth leaders from all over the Asia-Pacific Region are expected to arrive starting April 17.

The student governments of Saint Louis University, University of the Cordilleras, University of the Philippines-Baguio and UBBUK of the University of Baguio are now busy preparing to welcome the international delegation.

Goals

“The APIYN Conference aims to gather indigenous youth leaders from the Asia-Pacific region and hone their leadership skills so that they may suitably address the issues they face in their respective communities as well as gear them up for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2007 (UNPFII07) which will be held in New York,” said Keidy Transfiguracion, Head  of the APIYN Secretariat.

“It is important to consolidate Indigenous People (IP) youth and affirm their commitment in protecting the environment and confronting the challenges of globalization and its direct impact to indigenous peoples around the world,” she added.

Youth for their Future

Transfiguracion proudly announced the APIYN Conference will be a beautiful melting pot of cultures. “IP youth and women are not accorded equal opportunities when it comes to decision making in the wider socio-political processes. APIYN seeks to be a ground-breaking venue to resolve this dilemma,” said Transfiguracion.

She also said, “The youth is indeed the world’s most valuable resource. They are the inheritors and by virtue, the hope of our world. The youth is filled with dynamism and idealism and it is altogether fitting and proper that we harness those traits. Properly harnessing those traits will lead to rich contributions to their respective communities and consequently, to their greater participation in international campaigns.”

Celebration

The APIYN Conference will showcase an array of performances from local cultural groups like University of Baguio BIBAK Ubon Kaafuan (UBBUK), Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera and Tanghalang Bayan ng Kabataan sa Baguio. They said this will be done to promote and share Indigenous Peoples traditional practices. The delegates are expected to bring their traditional costumes and prepare cultural performances as well.

History

APIYN was an offspring of the first International Indigenous Youth Conference (IIYC1) on April 2002, also in Baguio City—an event convened by the Cordillera People’s Alliance-Youth Commission. Around 80 delegates from 19 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region, Europe, Latin America and North America gathered in the IIYC1 with the common purpose of promoting the rights of indigenous people.

These indigenous youth were united to articulate their catalytic role in protecting the environment in addition to coordinating and facilitating exchange programs and integration among other IP youth.

The Asia Pacific delegates then decided to form a regional network in order to strengthen their solidarity relations and so that they may accordingly and promptly respond to each other’s needs.

The Conference

The conference shall be divided into 3 major parts: first, the assembly proper of APIYN; second, the leadership training and preparatory meeting for the UNPFII07; and third, a youth camp-out, cultural workshop and participation in Cordillera Day 07. The first part shall feature Workshops & Discussions about the IP situation in the Asia Pacific Region, particularly the ones that concern IP youth. A plenary session shall wrap up the first part of the conference.

The second part shall present a Workshop on the Underlying Causes of Environmental Degradation which will feature case studies from Prof. Sandy Gauntlett of Global Forest Coalition, Matthew Tauli from Montañosa Research and Development Center, Prof. Celia Austria, Spokesperson of Save the Abra River Movement, and Jarkand Jungal Bacho Andolan from India.

Kalikasan Peoples’ Network will present the synthesis and Herminia Degawan of Indigenous Peoples Network for Change shall present the Inputs from the Convention on Bio-Diversity.

The second part will also feature a leadership skills training and lectures on organizational development and campaign management.
 
The third part will be the delegates’ participation in Cordillera Day 07 and integration in different provinces in the Cordilleras. This shall serve as exposure as well as a valuable venue for cultural exchange. Mutual learning is expected from this integration.

An Active Network

Among the activities that the APIYN Coordinators and Secretariat have accomplished in the past three years are the following: Representation of APIYN and lobby work in international conferences and activities such as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations, the UN Youth Focal Point, the World Social Forum, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the International Youth Parliament, and the NGO alternative activities to the World Trade Organization in Hong Kong in 2005.

APIYN has also positioned and published papers on many issues such as the effects of globalization on indigenous peoples, militarization, Free Prior and Informed Consent, Human Rights, Destructive Mining, Education and Health of the Youth, the Millennium Development Goals and the Youth.

It organized various fora and workshops related to the promotion of indigenous peoples rights locally and regionally and facilitated several batches of exposure programs of youth from the USA, Belgium, Canada, Denmark and Bangladesh.

APIYN has reached wider networking, coordination, advocacy and generation of support from various groups and development organizations.

Finally, APIYN has participated in and provided secretariat support for the 2nd International Indigenous Youth Conference held in Canada in 2005 and actively participated on the IPC meeting on Food Sovereignty in Rome.

A Youth Jam cum Elders Dialogue was also organized the previous year to celebrate the achievements of APIYN as well as consolidate its local network

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uploaded Thursday, May 3, 2007 11:12 am