Stories about Indigenous from December, 2007
Bahrain: Reactions after the riots and arrests
In another special roundup, we have the reactions of Bahrain's bloggers to the events of the last few weeks, when rioting took place after the death of a demonstrator during a commemoration of 'Martyrs' Day', and many were subsequently arrested.
Puerto Rico: Kayak Trip
The CAC Review interviews Taino Almestica, part of a two-person team that circumnavigated the island of Puerto Rico in a kayak.
Peru: The Disappearance of Aymara Language?
Utero de Marita [es] discusses a statement made by director of the National Culture Institute, who predicted that the indigenous language Aymara will disappear in the next seven years in Peru.
Caribbean: Christmas Traditions
All over the world, people get together with friends and family to celebrate Christmas. They exchange gifts, and invite one another to their homes for parties, lunches or dinners, signifying the trademark Christmas message of peace and goodwill. Karel McIntosh speaks to a few regional bloggers to get a glimpse into what Christmas traditions are like in the Caribbean...
D.R. of Congo: The Batwa people
AfricaBeat on the Batwa from the Democratic Republic of Congo: “The Batwa people were traditionally hunter-gatherers. In Eastern Congo, they lived off what the forest provided, until prolonged warfare and the creation of national parks ended their way of life.”
Arabeyes: Celebrating Eid Al Adha
Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid Al Adha - which commemorates Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael for Allah (God). It also culminates the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which has this year attracted more than 2 million people. Here's how bloggers from the region marked the occasion.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Christmas Traditions
MACO Caribbean Living gives us a glimpse into unique Christmas celebrations in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
Bolivia: Two Regions, Two Documents
December 15 marked a pivotal day in Bolivia, when two regions celebrated their newly created documents. In La Paz, members of the ruling party formally presented a controversial Constitution. On the other side of the country, in midst of hunger strikes, members of a provisional assembly in Santa Cruz approved an autonomic statute that sits in opposition. Bloggers participated in both celebrations and also hope that there is still an opportunity for the country to close this divide.
Peru: Sculptures of Amazon Indigenous Groups
Juan Arellano of Globalizado [es] posts pictures and explanations of a series of sculptures depicting Amazon indigenous groups during his recent trip to Iquitos.
Jamaica: In-Your-Face Culture
Francis Wade says that Jamaican culture comes at people “like a truck barreling down on them on a highway that is impossible to avoid.”
Algeria: Sitting in a Tent
Algerian blogger Jilal (Ar/Fr) has achieved a life long dream and sat in a tent – not in the Middle East, but in Paris. Click here for photographs.
Morocco: On Hammams
From Morocco, Samuel Gunter writes about bathing or the Hammam (public baths).
Panama: The Kuna Indigenous Group and the Use of Technology
The Kuna indigenous group in Panama have had very little access to internet and other technologies. Gilberto Alemancia, is of Kuna ethnicity, and is a well-experienced photographer and a tourism guide. On some excursions, he has conducted digital photography workshops to children in remote regions of the country. Melissa De León had the opportunity to interview Alemancia about his passion.
Yemen: Making Sesame Oil the Old Way
Omar Barsawad from Yemen shows us a video clip of how sesame oil is traditionally made in his country.
Chile: BiblioRedes, From Visviri to Puerto Williams
BiblioRedes is a program from the government of Chile, which provides free computer and internet access to 387 public libraries across the country. This access especially allows Chileans in underrepresented areas to learn how to use the computer and the internet. One feature of this training is the ability to create their own website. The most interesting of this content can be found on the project's blog Contenidos Locales (Local Content).
Bahamas: Junkanoo Controversy
If art is made and no one sees it, does it really exist? Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit blogs about what the calls the “absurd controversy over the recent attempt to charge the press a fee to cover Junkanoo.”
Indonesia: Shamanism in Indonesia
Indonesia Matters looks at the practice of Shamanism in modern Indonesia.
Trinidad & Tobago: Lion House
Thebookmann features a wall painting of Lion House in Trinidad, made famous by V.S. Naipaul's A House for Mr. Biswas.
Ecuador: Community Radio Station of Guamote
La Voz de Guamote [es] is a community blog site that is maintained by the Kichwa indigenous group of Ecuador. The site also highlights the work of the local radio station in the community of Guamote and surrounding areas.
Belize: Quash
Belize-y Livin’ discovers “a Belizean raccoon, commonly known as a quash“.
Interview with Cristina Quisbert of Voces Bolivianas
Voces Bolivianas, a citizen media outreach project supported by Rising Voices, has trained 23 participants how to blog, post digital photos, and even shoot video. One of the most consistent and clearest voices to emerge from the group has been Cristina Quisbert of Bolivia Indígena. In this interview she describes what motivates her to share stories of her life and community online and how the content of her blog has evolved over the first few months.
