{"id":3870,"date":"2025-06-04T17:13:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T17:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/knowledge4development.org\/?p=3870"},"modified":"2025-06-04T17:26:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T17:26:42","slug":"empowering-indigenous-voices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/knowledge4development.org\/th\/empowering-indigenous-voices\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Indigenous Voices"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Empowering Indigenous Voices: Writing Workshop 2025<\/strong>, held from April 22\u201324 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, convened a diverse group of Indigenous journalists from South and Southeast Asia. This collaborative effort, organized by the Asian Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Pact (AIPP) and the Knowledge for Development Foundation (K4D); supported by the East-West Management Institute\u2019s Open Development Initiative (EWMI-ODI), aimed to enhance participants’ writing skills and develop ethical reporting guidelines tailored to Indigenous communities in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State of Indigenous Media<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Indigenous journalists are key to shaping the narratives of their communities, but their voices remain marginalized in mainstream media across Asia and the world. In addition, Indigenous journalists face extra challenges\u2014such as censorship, political repression, lack of funding, threats to their safety, lack of representation, and linguistic barriers. Therefore, there is a real need for media entities, governments, funders, and civil society to holistically address these issues through policy and regulation, capacity building, funding and institutional support, protection and safety, decolonizing journalism and strengthening networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This collaborative initiative is a key step in tackling the challenges and opportunities for existing and new Indigenous journalists by connecting, training and supporting them in their paths and work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The workshop was a demonstration of how work can be done to be bring together a diverse group of Indigenous writers, journalists and creative content practitioners to spark critical conversations and engagement about writing long form narratives that hold true to the lived realities and worldviews of so many indigenous communities who continue to be divested of self-determination rights. 
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\u201cThis workshop opened my eyes to the true power of storytelling. I gained practical skills in storytelling, ethical representation and community engagement that are essential for impactful work in media, research and cultural documentation. It empowered me to represent indigenous voices and rights with more confidence.\u201d – Aitizya Chakma, Chakma Indigenous community in Bangladesh\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n


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Training and Skill Development<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Esteemed trainers Akash Poyam and Makepeace Sitlhou, both well on their way to becoming varisht adivasi patrakars<\/em> (distinguished Indigenous journalists), led the curriculum, supported by guest speakers Roman Gautam, Editor of Himal Southasian, and Sagar Choudhary, Staff Writer at The Caravan. The sessions delved into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n