Indigenous community media serves as a platform to amplify the struggles and voices of Indigenous Peoples on local, national, and international stages. These media outlets support resistance, empowerment, and the cultural vitality of Indigenous communities by creating meaningful audiovisual content that reflects their unique interests, languages, and perspectives.
By Veronique Wanyema Saleh, Coordinator of Radio Kivu
In the heart of South Kivu, a region rich in mineral wealth, a program jointly launched by Cultural Survival and Femmes Pymees en Action (FEPA-Pygmy Women in Action), Radio Kivu FM, Congo, has been empowering Indigenous Pygmy communities to reclaim their rights and protect their ancestral lands from mining activities.
By Rikson Karundeng
In the heart of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, a battle for survival is taking place. The ancient land of Minahasa, celebrated for its rich cultural heritage and unspoiled natural beauty, is in jeopardy. Widespread mining activities, driven by corporate greed and government neglect, are destroying the region's forests, contaminating its rivers, and undermining the very fabric of Indigenous communities.
The 5th AMARC Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Bangkok united over 150 participants from 18 countries to celebrate the power of community radio. During the four-day conference, participants shared experiences and lessons culminating in the Bangkok Declaration, which urges collaboration among community radio, regional bodies, and the UN, highlighting the role of community radio in achieving democracy and realizing Indigenous rights.
By Shubhranshu Choudhary, Editor, Valasa Bultoo Radio (Bluetooth Radio for Displaced Indigenous People)
In the heart of Karbi Anglong in the state of Assam, northeast India, nestled amidst emerald hills and vibrant Indigenous communities, thrives KAT News TV, a beacon of hope and information. More than just a media outlet, this dedicated channel has become a lifeline for the region, playing a crucial role in the aftermath of the pandemic.
With financial support from Cultural Survival's Indigenous Community Media Fund, KAT News TV, a channel started in 2016 for the Karbi people in India, began filming how the Karbi people were recovering from the pandemic.
Por: Gabriela Jojoa Lasso
By Satej Chakma (Chakma), sub-editor, IPNEWS BD
In Bangladesh, a country with a long history and deep traditions, the stories of its Indigenous Peoples are often missing from the news and other media platforms and don’t always get heard. A newsgroup called IPNEWS is trying to change this narrative.
By Gwendolyn Gay L. Gaongen
Sagada Community Media Network's radio station, Radyo Sagada 104.7 FM, has seen a boost thanks to a year-long project called "Iyebkas mo, Ibikas ko." Funded by Cultural Survival's Indigenous Media Fund, the initiative ran from July 2023 to April 2024 and focused on enhancing radio communication skills and creating content specifically for Indigenous communities.
Omar Esparza
Hoy el mundo se debate en una crisis económica y ambiental por el calentamiento global. La nueva realidad social post pandemia, ha modificado nuestras prácticas sociales, culturales y cotidianas; las guerras por el agua y los recursos estratégicos son algunos temas actuales que se vuelven desafíos. La realidad actual requiere de una posición política clara, y de crear proyectos alternativos y transcribir la narrativa que dé certeza al poder salvar nuestra casa común y las muchas especies, entre ellas la nuestra.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are headquartered on Massachusett land, in Cambridge, MA, and we thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory.