On October 19-21 2021, Ranu Welum in partnership with Pacos Trust, Karbi Human Right Watch, Coastal Students Cultural Forum and Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum held an online training called “Indigenous Digital Storytelling”. The training was conducted for three days, three hours each day, through a zoom platform. In total eighteen youths participated in the training.
This training is the part of Ranu Welum’s action project with UNESCO and Asia Indigenous People Pact to empower youth so they may be able to address the indigenous rights issues through digital use. After the training finished, there were five projects from four countries respectively selected to receive seed grants. Here are their profiles.
Antony Rema, an indigenous filmmaker from Bangladesh with his film project entitled Abima which addresses the land rights issue faced by the Garo community.
Bishnu from North East India, with a film project entitled HALIN ALOTI: A JOURNEY TO HEAVEN which addresses the Government's failure in implementing quality Educational infrastructure in the region in Karbi Anglong District of Assam in North East India.
Marshela Foh, Mojelle Musin and Jackleyn Stanis with their digital project entitled Cultivating Native Language among Indigeous People in Sabah, Malaysia.
Romer Ignatious, an aspiring indigenous filmmaker from Mukkuva community in South India with a project entitled DEVELOPMENT HISTORY OF MARYANADU, that will document the history of an Indigenous fishing village, their culture and traditional practices.
Sumarni Laman, the programming committee member of Kalimantan International Indigenous Film Festival who is also a Dayak environmentalist, with a project entitled Ulin, that will shed the light on the importance of Borneo native tree, effort to preserve it while also addressing the issues of deforestation in Kalimantan.
These indigenous youth will share their stories digitally to the world. Premiere is planned to happen as soon as the projects are finished. Follow our Instagram for the updates on this program.