InsightShare works with indigenous peoples in various countries all around the globe. The subjects they have chosen to document through video include efforts for self-determination, the local effects of climate change, cultural heritage documentation and other issues for which they have harnessed video as a powerful advocacy tool. Here are some examples.
'Standing in the middle of a scorched savannah in Oltepesi, about 40 miles southwest of Nairobi, Benson K. Letuya, a youth leader from the Maasai community, holds a microphone in the searing sun. He stands next to a zebra, dying of thirst during the devastating drought that hit Kenya in 2009.' This article by MediaGlobal give an overview of our work as part of the Conversations with the Earth partnership since the launch of the programme since 2009.
Climate change is seen by many as being perhaps the greatest and most urgent threat to the culture, environment, livelihoods and spirituality of indigenous communities around the world. Over the past 3 years InsightShare supported the development of an unique network of autonomous community media ‘hubs’ in eight different communities; fueled by the dedication, passion and energy of extraordinary individuals, who have organised and facilitated projects with hundreds of people within their regions and beyond. It is their words that are quoted in this article and their perspectives on climate change and related issues that are represented by the CWE project.
The process of collaboratively planning and producing videos can bring people together to record and celebrate cultural food practices, strengthen traditional knowledge of the environment, and build strategies for a sustainable and resilient future. This article describes three recent examples of participatory video projects that aimed to stimulate food sovereignty - from Meghalaya (India), Gamo Highlands (Ethiopia) and Chiang Mai (Thailand).
Fifty members of the Khasi village in Nongtraw, Meghalaya, North West India, made a video with the support of InsightShare and KSO, a local indigenous organizationas part of the project for the Indigenous Partnership for Food Sovereignty and Agrobiodiversity. The video was presented at the Terra Madre meeting in Sweden (June 17th-19th 2011) by the commuity members themselves.
This document about a media hub development training carried out in Vicam, Mexico in 2010, describes the the aims, outputs and successes of the training. It also includes notes on new Participatory Video games that were developed during the process.
A training of facilitators from all around the Asian-Pacific region introduced Participatory Video to a group of indigenous youth activists, who created a film about their views on the UN REDD programme during the process.
A two month 'skills exchange' saw an InsightShare associate posted to a local Baka NGO (Association Okani) in Cameroon, this summary explains more about the project, plus some links to the films made during the exchange.
The Participatory Video project in Fort Chipawayen worked with young Cree, Dene and Metis peoples around the changes in climate, culture and society they are facing.