Indigenous People

The International Workgroup for Indigenous Affairs provided a day’s course on indigenous people. The morning session defined indigenous people in law and practice. They participants learned about the situation of indigenous people in various parts of the world. The successful struggles for self-determination in Canada and Greenland made a great impression. The discussion was supplemented with a slide show of indigenous communities around the world. In the afternoon session a number of indigenous activists gathered at the Greenlanders’ House in central Copenhagen. They discussed their communities’ customs and situation with the participants, who in turn shared something of their own communities.

Lessons Learned

The project used various tools to help the participants digest the knowledge they were receiving. Tools for learning were a necessity with this group, as few of the participants had much experience with formal class settings. The tools were:

The tools developed helped them learn at different levels: conceptually, practically and personally.

The project achieved this goal with great success: not only did the participants explore the use of interactive theater; they established it as a very effective tool. They are now taking steps to further its use in various ways. In Denmark the participants found that they could further integrate conflict resolution techniques and human rights knowledge into the theater techniques. The combination is very promising. The participants are eager to develop it in the future.

The project also proved the effectiveness of the interactive theater to communicate across the cultural and social boundaries between the North and the South. Performances of Nepali conflicts for Danish audiences provided interesting and provocative discussions both for Danes and Nepalis. The use of theater made the visit to Denmark more interactive - a two-way experience. The participants felt that they also contributed to the learning and to Denmark. Theater was also useful in making the democracy visit more “visible” in Denmark. The project made it into several papers and involved Danes as well. One could easily have done more in this regard, by having more public performances.

The theater in Denmark provided the participants with a feeling of achievement. They had to present something themselves: show their world on stage as well as their impressions of Denmark. Many of them come from poor and marginalized backgrounds. Few spoke English. They were asked to perform - on stage and in life - and they succeeded. This experience will stay with them throughout their careers and lives.

The learning was based extensively on the participants’ own experience. The Center for Conflict Resolution based all of their lessons on role-plays and stories of conflicts from the participants’ own lives. The Center for Human Rights focused on the Nepali constitution and the new Human Rights Commission in Nepal. Of course there was also significant lessons about Danish society. But this was served in combination with Nepali material. It was easy to compare and contrast.

Follow up workshop

The final stage of the project is ongoing. The participants must now decide how they will use the experience and skills they have gained. MS held a workshop in April 2002 to reflect on the entire process. The participants planned and managed the workshop themselves. The group that had gone to India and Denmark shared what they had learned with each other and with the larger group that had participated in the initial stage of the project in Nepal.

Much of the discussion centered on possibilities for Kachahari theater in Nepal today. The political situation makes it difficult to put on performances. The declared State of Emergency has been extended. It is practically impossible to perform drama in public now. One option suggested in the workshop was performing in smaller settings within the organizations (committee meetings, women groups, etc.) and in schools and other public institutions. The group agreed to that they would all try this option out in their own areas. They will meet again in October to share their experience and discuss the future.

The participants also discussed the influence of the “development mindset” on the future of Kachahari. Who owns this process now? Who will take it forward? MS-Nepal stated clearly that it felt it was important that the participants take the lead in setting up their own theater groups and/or network. MS can play a role in the future also, but it will be as a supporting actor. The activists must take charge if they want to take Kachahari forward. It is clear however that some of the social workers expect a more project-type set-up, where MS would fund continued village performances. They already seem to be losing interest as it becomes clear that this will not happen. From the discussions in the workshop, however, it seemed that others want to continue to develop theater as a tool for social change. Particularly, BASE Bardiya, People’s Concern Group and Dalit Welfare Organization expressed interest in continuing the work in their own areas. All three of the organizations work in Bardiya district, so there seems to be a good scope for cooperation there.

Action Plans

Each participant has worked out an action plan for how they will use what they have learned on an individual and organizational level. The action plans generally include plans for:

Network and Future Ideas

MS is interested in supporting the organizations to work together to form a network using drama as a tool for non-violent conflict resolution. Upon their return to Denmark the participants immediately formed this network. Some possibilities for the future include:

The main constraint to continue the work right now is Nepal’s political situation, which has deteriorated further since the project started. The participants face a difficult transition coming back to Nepal. Many of the rights and democratic practices they were exposed to in Denmark are very difficult to claim now in Nepal.

In the long run, the political crisis Nepal is facing makes the participants experience all the more relevant. Their democratic rights are being perverted and restricted. Through this project they have gained a view of the ideals of democracy and human rights. This image will remain a source of inspiration even if the situation around them worsens. There is no doubt that that the participants will work to install some of the ideals in their own lives, in their own way, whether on a small or a large scale.