About Us – Asia Young Indigenous Peoples Network

BACKGROUND

The network traces its roots to the first International Indigenous Youth Conference (IIYC) convened by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance-Youth Commission (CPA-YC) in 2002.

In response to the increasing challenges of globalization on indigenous peoples at home and around the world, the Cordilleran youth pushed to take greater responsibility and action. As a concrete step, the CPA-YC gathered 83 delegates from 19 countries in Asia, Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America and together they forged a common voice to address the challenges of globalization.

The international gathering developed and strengthened solidarity relations among indigenous youth representatives from around the world. It recognized the need to empower the indigenous youth so that they can uphold their vital role as trailblazers in society despite the difficulties and challenges that the indigenous peoples worldwide confronts on its own.

It was resolved that the delegates should work towards the establishment of an indigenous youth network in their respective global regions, while strengthening their local organizations. The indigenous youth delegates to the IIYC held a caucus-workshop where they agreed to build the Asia Pacific Indigenous Peoples Network.

Since then, the Cordillera Youth Center (formerly CPA-YC) has worked as secretariat. In 2007, the network successfully launched its Founding Conference cum Preparatory Meeting for the UNPFII07-Leadership Training.

This 2017, the network changed its name from Asia Pacific Indigenous Peoples Network (APIYN) to Asia Young Indigenous Peoples Network (AYIPN). This is in recognition of the Pacific as a distinct region and most of its active members are in Asia.

VISION

Asia Young Indigenous Peoples Network envisions an Asian community in which the youth freely enjoy indigenous culture, self-determination, environment and human rights.

MISSION

The network is committed at promoting and facilitating the friendship, unity, solidarity and cooperation among indigenous youths of Asia and other parts of the world in the struggle for self-determination, food sovereignty, security and national patrimony, cultural integrity and pride of heritage. The network is especially committed to advance the rights of the indigenous youth to self-determination, education and employment directed towards the improvement of their life as individuals and as part of the community.

GOAL

AYIPN aims to educate and raise awareness of indigenous peoples, in particular the indigenous youth, on various issues confronting them and the community. It also targets to empower and organize the indigenous youth in the region by providing platforms, venues and spaces for their participation in local, national, regional, and international processes. The network also facilitates communication links and to provide information service and exchange among its members and other concerned organizations.

PROGRAMS

Education
Organizing and Empowerment
Cultural Development
Campaigns and Advocacy
Solidarity Work
Young Women’s Participation
Internship Program

OBJECTIVES

To provide platforms and venues for raising awareness, education and to bring about unity in perspective and response;
To promote the issues and concerns of the Indigenous Peoples and youth in the Asia and worldwide depending on capacity
To develop and undertake training and other services to benefit the indigenous youth movement both at the local and national levels;
To facilitate communication links and to provide information service and exchange among its members and other concerned organization;
To extend solidarity and assistance to members, partners and other concerned organizations of AYIPN based capacities;
To initiate and coordinate solidarity campaign.

LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

COUNCIL OF LEADERS (COL)

Meenakshi Munda- Chairperson

Julius Daguitan- Secretary General

COL Member Organizations:

Jharkhand Indigenous & Tribal Peoples for Action (JITPA)

Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK)

Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA)

Barisan Pemuda Adat Nusantara (BPAN)

Jaringgan Bella Orang Asli Semalaysia (JBOAS)

Newah Bidhyarthi Daboo

Hill Women’s Federation