ATAYAL, Inc. first organized this event as a way to reach out to more people and expand the support base for its mission. The biggest challenge was to give non-indigenous people a way to connect with the world of the indigenous people and have them interested in preservation and education efforts. The founder, Tony Coolidge, was connected through his love for his mother, whom he discovered was a member of the indigenous Atayal tribe. But why should anyone else care about the fate of indigenous people?
He could never really answer that very powerfully... until Tony Coolidge went to the United Nations in May 2004. When he was at the United Nations speaking to and learning from the many indigenous leaders, he realized how important the Indigenous Heritage Festival can be to the world. Tony saw how much the indigenous people and their cultures have to offer to everyone in the world, and he saw how much the indigenous people struggle to get anyone to care. There was very little media coverage on the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations, a two-week event that brings in indigenous leaders of the world representing 340 million indigenous people in the world. They are very grateful to have a forum to express their concerns and offer their wisdom, but outside of the forum, their word makes little impact.
Their way of life is continuously being stripped from them, and even more alarming is the rate at which the 20,000 indigenous languages in the world are disappearing because of the lack of interest by the young generations. These young people are pressured by the modern societies to give up their traditional ways of life to conform and earn money. It is estimated by the academic community that 10,000 oral languages will disappear forever within ten years if nothing is done. This means all of the knowledge and wisdom contained in those languages will disappear as well.
Why should people care if these languages and cultures disappear? So much knowledge will be gone forever. They have intimate knowledge of nature, the environment, and the plants and animals, and natural health. Cures for cancer, AIDs and many other diseases may be lost. People, including the environmental groups and pharmaceutical companies, are starting to realize how much will be lost when the Amazon rain forests are gone. The same is true of the indigenous people of the world.
The indigenous people have been caretakers of the world for thousands of years. People who have lived off the land for so long have great respect for the land. They are people who have learned to live within nature's balance. They see human beings around them who do not have the respect nor the knowledge for nature, who instead, focus on survival and making money. They see that when mankind tries to conquer nature with technology and profitability, they lose the balance. When this balance is lost, mankind creates global warming, famine, and diseases such as SARS, AIDs, and cancers.
What will it take to have the human race listen to the wisdom of the people who have lived life following the laws of nature and mastered a life of balance? When will we look to these people as valuable consultants to learn from, to add balance I our lives? When will they have a voice that is cherished and listened to?
That is the premise for creating the Indigenous Heritage Festival.
Indigenous people are hungry for self-expression and we are providing a structure for self-expression and pride in their identities, which in turn, can accelerate preservation and education efforts. Everyone, including experts from many fields, can one day look to the Indigenous Heritage Festival as a forum to be immersed in the cultural and intellectual treasures of the indigenous world.
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The assembly of nations did this to strengthen international cooperation in solving the problems faced by indigenous peoples in areas such as human rights, the environment, development, education and health. The United Nations has taken actions and encourages everyone to take up the cause for indigenous people, who are considered among the world's most disadvantaged groups. The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was established on July 28, 2000 by the Economic and Social Council, on the recommendation of the Commission on Human Rights. This Forum meets annually to discuss indigenous issues.
The founder of ATAYAL, Tony Coolidge, attended the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations from May 17-19, 2004. He proudly stated, "I was honored to represent the indigenous people of my homeland, Taiwan, in a place where the world is listening. I felt like I was able to provide a voice that was heard. I commit to returning each year to add the voice of my people to the collective world voice of indigenous peoples. And with the Indigenous Heritage Festival we will make a difference for these people by providing opportunities for expression and prosperity, and ultimately... SURVIVAL."
For more information, please contact Tony Coolidge at (321) 231-5857 or by e-mail.
