Samwel Naikada; a humble pastoralist with a bright vision for his Maasai Peoples

12/18/2012

This year, I had the privilege to participate in Tribal Link Foundation’s Project Access, a Training Program designed to prepare Indigenous Peoples from around the globe, to participate in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

It was on that first day, that I met Samwel Naikada, a humble Maasai pastoralist from Kenya, Africa, as each of us introduced ourselves to the group. When it was his turn, the tall, slim, 39 year old man, stood up in his traditional Maasai attire and spoke in a soft, yet firm and almost regal fashion about his Maasai people, and the menace of deforestation of the Dupoto Forest. This forest has been the livelihood of the Maasai Peoples for time immemorial.

His desire, he expressed, was to develop and promote Eco-tourism as a mean of survival and preservation. The room was quiet and all eyes were on Samwel. He spoke about his teaching young people about taking pride on who they were. Deep inside, I thought: “How could anyone not take pride on being Maasai, with this brother that speaks so proudly about his people and who has such an impressive ability to communicate and who projects that same pride he speaks of!”

We had learned from the representative of the Ogiek Tribe (also from Kenya), how the Maasai were helping them. To me, this was extremely significant, to know that these people who are having struggles of their own, still find the means to help a fellow tribe!

There were many in the group who had achieved all kinds of high-level education. Humbly, Samwel mentioned how he understood he might have not the knowledge as the others, for he did not possess any formal education, perhaps to the level of those in the group. He expressed his desire, his dream of pursuing a degree in Community Development so that he could effectively help his people and achieve the goals he had set forth. Although I understood what he meant, I could not help it but tell him that he could stand in a room filled with Ph.D’s and address them in the same way he had addressed us, for he spoke from the heart and the message was loud and clear.

In times like the ones we are living, very few people have the passion or aspire to dedicate their lives to develop and preserve their communities the way Samwel does.

This past summer, he was able to enroll at Narok University College, Kilgoris Branch in Kenya, to obtain his degree in Community Development. The cost of his education per year is $1,000.00. His first year has been covered through some donations, one of them by Tribal Link Foundation, but he still needs the additional $3,000.00.

Samwel is married to one wife and has six children. He is a pastoralist depending on livestock and is the first and only one to complete secondary education in the whole village, so far. He plans to invest his acquired knowledge in advocating for the rights of his people, assist youth and women to use available resources and skills so that they can economically improve their living standards. His goal, to link his community with National and International Programs that will assist and build their capacity.

I strongly believe, in my deepest core, there is someone out there or a Foundation that would be willing to cover the $3,000.00 needed to cover the remaining balance of his college tuition, hence, helping Samwel Naikada attain the education he is so much committed to complete to improve the quality of life and sustenance of the Maasai Peoples.

For more information about Samwel Naikada, you may contact me at taimar16@yahoo.com .

Tai Pelli

Central Florida Liaison Officer

United Confederation of Taíno People

The Doctrine of Discovery and its effects

The Doctrine of Discovery and its effects

(Original version written in Spanish on May 17^th, 2012)

This year at the 11^th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the theme to be discussed was “The Doctrine of Discovery”. A vast array of areas in which the effects and ramifications of this cruel doctrine continue to impact Indigenous Peoples adversely, and how it is still being applied today and at a Global Level.

In the Americas, we experienced the arrival (invasion) of flag ships over 519 years ago, however now, we encounter the multi-nationals that continue presenting a mask for a so-called economic progress for some, and the despair and destruction for the masses, particularly, Indigenous Peoples, whether or not they are recognized, or continue to be invisible/extinct, as the best excuse to continue taking over lands, knowledge and resources from which depends the livelihood and sustenance of the Indigenous Peoples.

I was dumbfounded, as I learned the stories of so many people at a Global scale, who like the Taíno, have had to deal with and fight the myth of the so-called extinction. It seems to have been an effective method, which has been utilized for hundreds of years, hence creating a curtain of invisibility before the governments, where the human rights of the Indigenous Peoples are excluded. To me, it was incredible to listen to these stories from people from other parts of the world and continents: Asia, Transcaucasia, Central and South America, The Pacific and Africa; it was, as we say in my beloved Borikén (Puerto Rico), “to listen to a scratched up long play (LP) record!”

One of the most impacting things for me to hear was the fact that there is still a problem in categorizing the Indigenous as a PERSON. Yes! That’s right! There is resistance to consider us as people! (The term Indigenous Peoples, refers to the different Indigenous groups/tribes/nations)

Winston Churchill said once, during one of his speeches that: “when we don’t learn from what has happened historically, we are apt to repeat it.” Well, I say we are more than half a millennia behind, if Indigenous Peoples are still seen as sub-human, savages, heathens, etc., and whose lands and resources seem to become a “free for all” when conceptualizing the Indigenous this way.

The Taíno, The Charrúa, The Pipil, Indigenous Peoples from Bangladesh, from Crimea, The Munda, among so many, many Indigenous Nations, continue on this intense battle to run the curtain of invisibility. Even Peoples like  - and this is just an example – The Maasai from Kenya, Kayapó and many others from the Xingú River in Brazil, The Ñuña from Mexico, The Kuna from Panamá, continue to be trampled over by the injustices of an established system that does not encompass nor protects their rights in the same fashion that the rights of non-indigenous people are upheld and defended. They speak about an equality of paper; for that is not a reality. The Mining companies, the hydroelectric plants, Developers continue to invade and take over indigenous lands, without any care as to who they stomp over, while at it. The courts dictate, but it does not matter. We are well aware that Belo Monte could care less, when a Cease order was issued by a court in Brazil.

During a peaceful protest In Panamá against these type abuses (mining/hydroelectric plant/dam) six Ngobe women were arrested and later raped in the patrol cars, a crime that is yet to see any justice.

The Maasai People from Kenya, fight to defend the forest that sustains them, yet they are facing the threat of deforestation to developers. So, what about the survival of the Maasai? The same Maasai that helps the Ogiek Tribe from Kenya!

The Climate Changes to which so many want to close their eyes to, are already affecting people, putting at risk not only their methods of nourishment, but their own lives and everything related to their way of life, traditions, customs and homes.

Ah! People watched Al Gore’s video, others see the icebergs from the Poles as something that only affected the Titanic, and even when they may have seen something that shows they are melting, it seems as though they think the only ones that will be affected are the polar bears and the penguins. They forget that if they are melting, it is increasing the sea level, and that the planet has islands and coasts everywhere.

The beautiful and small island of Tuvalú, in the Pacific, is already being affected. Many of its inhabitants have felt the need to move to New Zealand,, leaving behind many times, loved ones and an entire life. The island floods, each time more than the last. Gardens and crops don’t grow when they are saturated with salt water. You see, these floods are not particularly caused by rain, but by ocean tides that continue rising and taking over the land. It has been estimated (by those who say know a lot), that from here to 2050, Tuvalú will be totally submerged. The people from Tuvalú, who have not damaged the environment with toxic gases and who have had their autonomy, could lose their island and their everything, as a consequence of the actions of others that continue to spread their lethal virus, that makes them think more of profits than life, or even the planet in which they live on.

In every case aforementioned, when the help of authorities has been sought, the message received has been a : “The hell with you!” Between money and Indigenous Peoples, the money is chosen.

We have lost the sense of humanity. Every day, we see beautiful messages in the social networks, yet we need to go beyond that. Change begins with us, in our own homes, in our conscience.

What’s happening to our planet, regardless of divisions, languages or colors, is of everyone’s concern. Eventually, this too, will knock at your front door, and as I always say: “Life is about choices!”, you either choose to die in the misery of inaction, or you join the effort to defend the most important race in the planet, the human race!

I hope you care!

Tai Pelli