Grants Facility for Indigenous Peoples: Awards 2004

Grants Awarded in 2004

The Grants Facility for Indigenous Peoples supports the aspirations of Indigenous Peoples and aims to help fulfill a vital development need of Indigenous Peoples’ communities. Through small grants, the Grants Facility supports projects that include Indigenous Peoples in development operations, improves their access to key decision-makers, empowers them to find solutions to the challenges they face, and promotes collaboration in the public and private spheres.

In fiscal year 2004 (June 2003 – July 2004), the Grants Facility awarded 19 grants from 14 countries to organizations working with and supporting Indigenous Peoples. The total amount funded was $333,000, with the average grant amount at $17,500. There are still a few proposals pending clearances at this time.

1) Instituto Qheswa Jujuymanta, Argentina

• $10,000
• Teacher Training Workshop in Runasimi Language and Quechua Kolla Culture

The project aims to train professionals, technicians, and people who provide services to indigenous communities in the Salta and Jujuy provinces on the Runasimi language and Quechua-Kolla culture. Specifically, the project is expected to facilitate the management of a wide language base; application of the language; appreciation of the importance of the Rumani language and the Quechua–Kolla culture in Argentina’s popular culture; appreciation of the depth of the culture’s philosophy; and the implementation of projects that complement both the indigenous culture and new trends in the modern culture.

2) Association Civil Ni-Taa, Argentina

• $20,000
• Organic Honey Production

The project will build and begin operations of 20 beehives/groups of hives and family-run honey businesses. It will employ as beekeepers 12% of the Indigenous families in the community. The province will provide five training courses for the participants.

3) Belize Indigenous Training Institute, Belize

• $18,000
• Sustainable Harvest and Production of Phytomedicines and Non-timber Forestry Products in Kekchi Lands

The project aims to meet immediate needs relevant to economic development and build a sustainable medicinal plant-based village industry for healers and their patients. It seeks to establish a Kechi healer’s center; improve the medicinal plant garden and medicinal plant crops; build a pilot production facility for plant based medicines; develop culturally appropriate business activities; and improve quality and safety of traditional medicinal products.

4) Quilana Suyu Winaya Aymara Marka Parlamento del Puebo Quilana Aymara, Bolivia

• $20,000
• Quinua and Canagua Andean Grains

The project will cultivate Quinua and Cañagua grains, both of which have high nutritional value, low cost and are easy to grow. The organization will act as the central organizing agent of the collective, producing these grains for sale to a larger market. A central location to store, process and commercialize the grains will be created to lower costs for all. The project hopes to decrease migration of labor to the cities, increase nutrition among the population, and generate income for the participants.

5)Trust for Okavango Cultural and Development Initiatives, Botswana

• $10,000
• Revolving Fund for Khwe (San) Thatch Grass Harvesting

The project aims to provide a revolving fund for village grass harvesters. The funds will be used to create a revolving fund until such time as Teemacane Trust can build up its own revolving fund. The initial fund would then be used for repairs of thatch grass storage stalls, and tractor/trailer maintenance. Beneficiaries are the poor and very poor, mainly the Sans, and also women.

6) Union of Mapuche Communities of Lumaco, Chile

• $26,000
• Development of an Ethnic Cultural Instrument for Political Evaluation of Public Investment Policies

The project aims to create a culturally-appropriate instrument, which allows the evaluation of publicly-financed projects and programs financed that are  implemented by public institutions in terms of their treatment of environment and territorial variables specific to the Mapuche communities of the Lumaco area. It is expected that this instrument will promote the direct participation of Mapuche communities in public expenditure. The direct beneficiaries of this project are 60 Mapuche communities of the Lumaco area.

7) Protection of Minorities’ Rights in Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo

• $22,000
• Initiation of Indigenous Pygmies in Apiculture

The project aims to develop apiculture practices among Pygmies by educating 170 households in apiculture and increasing the use of honey in the general population. The project is expected to generate revenues for the Pygmies while they maintain their traditional way of life.

8) Federation of Popular Organizations of Ayora-Cayambe, Ecuador

• $15,000
• Ayora Children’s Andean Symphonic Orchestra

The objective of this project is the institutionalization of the Ayora Children's Andean Symphonic Orchestra as an educational experience for indigenous children, and as a way to promote the cultural heritage of the  Indigenous Peoples of the Northern area of Ecuador. The project involves 105 Indigenous children, and includes events, workshops, and radio programs.

9) Self-Help Bodo Women’s Association, India

• $17,000
• Training in Traditional Weaving of Bodo Dresses

The project aims to safeguard the Bodo culture and tradition and to boost the economy through culturally appropriate practices. Specifically, it seeks to: sensitize the Bodo people, especially the women on the importance of their traditional looms and provide opportunities for income generation through Bodo weaving as a cottage industry.

10) Olmaa Pastrolists Development Programme, Kenya

• $22,000
• Protect, Safeguard and Fight for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The project aims to  educate and sensitize the Indigenous community on the importance of land and its proper utilization as well as the rights of Indigenous Maasai people. Project activities include youth empowerment and training the community, including women, on alternative livelihoods and skills for income generation.

11) Ogiek Rural Integral Project, Kenya

• $12,000
• Documenting and Storing the Ogiek (hunter-gatherer) Culture

The project’s objective is to set up a museum that will be used to protect traditional relics of the Ogiek communities’ material culture. The main aim of this activity is to preserve the culture of Ogiek community, which is in danger of being lost due to modernization, for the benefit of the next seven generations. Specific objectives of the project are: to enlighten the Ogiek community on the importance of cultural preservation, to attract tourist to the Ogiek cultural museum so that they can learn about culture of the Ogiek community, to use the Ogiek cultural museum as a training center for young Ogiek and other communities on how Ogiek traditional medicines can treat various ailments, and to increase publicity in regard to Ogiek culture so that other communities in Kenya and around the world are aware of and are encouraged to visit the museum to learn about the Ogiek culture.

12) Ambtel Antset’lk Cooperative Society of Savings and Loans, Mexico

• $10,000
• Life Insurance Project

The project objective is the creation of a life insurance plan, managed by Ambtel Antset'Ik, for the benefit of Indigenous women that do not currently have coverage. The insurance covers funeral expenses, and liabilities and debts to family members or other people.

13) Coffee Farmers Coordination, Mexico

• $16,000
• Preservation of Traditional Knowledge of Organic Indigenous Coffee Plantation

The project supports 115 producers of coffee belonging to the Tzeltal ethnic community in the North mountain area of Chiapas. The project aims to promote transition into an organic productive system, reinforce the sustainable use of natural resources, enhance knowledge about the local habitat, and strenghten Yaxalwitz as an efficient and democratic institution. Expected results include full certification by Fair Label Organization (FLO), increased income (20%) from sales above the price of conventional coffee, systematization and dissemination of traditional knowledge, and  technical capacity enhancement of Yaxalwitz. Project components include organic production promotion and training, experimentation and technical assistance, and learning on traditional knowledge.

14) Tharu Welfare Society, Nepal

• $20,000
• Study on Protection and Promotion of Indigenous Peoples

The project aims to protect and promote the rights of the Indigenous Tharu Peoples by developing a profile of all Tharus residing in the three districts, and by building the capacity of Tharus and their organizations. The project activities include: organizational development training and capacity building of IP leaders; strengthening indigenous skills and technologies for agricultural products, and biodiversity and natural resource conservation; workshops and meetings on IP issues, advocacy and lobbying, networking among IP organizations, and with government and other organizations; study on “situation analysis and identification of issues” and baseline survey to identify local resources (e.g. indigenous skills and technologies); awareness campaigns to raise awareness of IP issues and existing challenges; and initial support to 300 families to begin income generating activities.

15) Kirat Yakthung Chumlung, Nepal

• $20,000
• A Study on Limbus’ Indigenous Knowledge of Healing Practices

The project objectives are documentation of the Limbus’ indigenous knowledge of healing practices (e.g. use of medicinal plants); increasing the Limbus’ awareness of indigenous knowledge for its protection and preservation; and  securing intellectual property rights to ensure the Limbus’ ownership of indigenous knowledge. The project activities include the formation of a research team consisting of one anthropologist, one botanist, and eight research assistants; literature review on the IP use of medicinal plants, with assistance of “medicinal practitioners” based in Katmandu; and data collection.

16) Rural Community Development Program, Pakistan

• $17,000
• Preservation of Intangible Heritage of Kalash

The project’s goal is  to address the problems of the Kalash People, including illiteracy, rapid conversion to the religion of the general population, suppression of traditions by the dominant religion, and conflicts over land, property, and natural resources. Project objectives include bringing the people economically and socially up to par to that of the Muslim population in the area; providing opportunities to preserve the unique culture; assisting the needy and deserving Kalash students to complete their studies; and conducting seminars, workshops and conventions on cultural heritage, conflict resolution, and formulating environmental protection plans. Project activities include preservation of language; providing opportunities to celebrate cultural events; preservation of death rituals; mapping of IP territories;  data collection; training of artisans; campaigns to increase population, construct latrines, ventilators; and production of TV and radio programs. Some 3,000 people in the Bomborate, Birrir, and Rumboor Valley are expected to benefit from the project.

17) Deboin Peoples Foundation, Inc., Papua New Guinea

• $16,000
• Community Resource Conservation and Development Program

The project is designed to assist clan groups in managing their resources in ways that are ecologically sound, socially beneficial, and economically viable.  The project hopes to raise awareness on resource conservation and development options available to tribal communities.

18) Igorot Tribal Assistance Group, Philippines

• $22,000
• Biopiracy Prevention and Education Program for the Igorot People

The project seeks to prevent bio-piracy of tribal resources, particularly the Igorot people's native food and medicinal crops. Project strategies include education of beneficiaries on their rights as indigenous peoples; community-based seed bank training; creation of an expert committee to conduct an environmental assessment and survey, collection, conservation and utilization of resources; and establishing linkages with potential supporters among scientists and relevant institutions.

19) Lumad Development Center, Inc., Philippines

• $15,000
• Ancestral Domain Claim Delineation Project

The project seeks to facilitate the processing of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title through survey and delineation of 57,850 hectares claim that is needed for the Teduray and Lambangian peoples to avail of their legal right to use and develop their ancestral domain.

20) Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East, Russia

• $19,000
• Participation in the Political Decision Making Process by Establishing a Parliament of Indigenous Peoples

The main goal of the Project is to improve the political representation of Indigenous Peoples at the regional level. The project objective is to create a representative body for the Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East, tentatively called a parliament. Specific proposed activities include collecting information on the legal status of Indigenous Peoples, preparing legal documents for the Parliament of Indigenous Peoples of the North, and holding seminars. The model for the parliament is proposed to be based on the Saami Parliament of Arctic countries.

21) Tribal Community Gizhiga, Russia

• $14,000
• Fish Processing Project by the Tribal Community of Gizhiga

The Project's goals are to build the community's capacity for sustainable development, based on one of their traditional occupations - salmon fishing; and to design and implement a small-scale fish processing project. Special fishing equipment has recently become a requirement for obtaining salmon fishing permits and traditional means of harvesting do not meet the imposed standards. Indigenous people lack capital to purchase special fishing and processing equipment. Establishing the processing facility will include purchasing of special equipment, and training of indigenous groups to operate the equipment and market the product.

22) South African San Institute, South Africa

• $20,000
• Capacity Building of the San Governance Structures

This project aims to support development of the San Council as an effective lobbying, advocacy, and coordination body in pursuing the goals and aspirations of the San peoples. Project objectives include capacity-building of the San Council; providing training, lobbying and advocacy on language and educational rights and development for the Khoe and San Language Body and the San Council; and outreach to San Communities in South Africa. Key direct beneficiaries will include ten council members, while the project will indirectly benefit the entire San community in South Africa of over 7000 people.