By Cesar Gomez

Recently, Indigenous men and women in the media from various countries on the continent of Abya Yala (North and South America, as it is commonly known) convened in Santa María Tlahuitoltepec, Mixe, Oaxaca, Mexico, to follow up on an initiative that goes straight to the heart of the struggle of Indigenous Peoples. This event, known as the Second Continental Summit on Indigenous Communication of Abya Yala, aimed to strengthen and empower communication among the Indigenous Peoples of Abya Yala through dialogue, exchange, reflection, and proposals.

On the final weekend of September 2013, our Community Radio Program team worked with ally organizations ADECCAP, Africa 70, and Tumul K’in Centre for Learning to organize the First International Central American Youth Conference in Sonsonate, El Salvador. The conference was aimed at improving integration and participation for Indigenous Central American Youth, through the use of community radio, as well as other forms of communication and expression.

Por Cesar Gomez

Recientemente comunicadores y comunicadoras de varias países del continente de Abyayala  se reunieron en santa María Tlahuitoltepec, mixe, Oaxaca-México, para darle continuidad a una iniciativa que nace de las entrañas de los pueblos originarios, la segunda cumbre de comunicación indígena, con el objetivo de contribuir  al fortalecimiento y empoderamiento estratégico de los procesos  de comunicación de los pueblos indígenas de abya yala, en un marco de dialogo, intercambio, reflexión y propuestas.

On the September 8, 2013 Cultural Survival's Community Radio team, along with a radio volunteer from Radio Ixchel, traveled across the country to visit the municipality of El Estor, Izabal, to discuss the possibility of opening a community radio. In the entire municipality of El Estor, where 85 percent of the population are Maya Q’eqchi’, there are no community radio stations. A large portion of the population only speak Q’eqchi’, and while many are bilingual, the majority of daily interactions in the region take place in Q’eqchi’.

On Wednesday, September 11, the Commission for Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala held a meeting in Congress to discuss the question of community radio in Guatemala. Congressman Carlos Mejia presided over the events. Cultural Survival’s Guatemalan team attended and participated in the meeting, along with traditional community leaders, or alcaldes, and other organizations that support Indigenous communities in Guatemala.

During the last week of August 2013, Cultural Survival's team traveled to Belize for the implementation of one of our newest community radio projects. This new project is aimed at improving integration for Indigenous communities in Central America through community radio. As a result of this project, we are expanding our Guatemalan community radio network to include a radio station in Belize and a radio station in El Salvador.

From Alaska to Oklahoma and Wisconsin to Montana, we witness stories about the importance of saving Native American languages and meet some of the people who are working hard to heal these national treasures.

On August 18-19, 2013, our team at Cultural Survival started our second round of 12 exchanges between community radio stations in Guatemala. Our exchange program provides the opportunity for horizontal learning between community radio stations. They are able to share stories, experiences, strengths and weaknesses in order to help each other improve the technical, thematic and relational aspects of their radio stations.

On December 26, 1862, thirty-eight Dakota men were hanged at Fort Snelling in Mankato, Minnesota in the largest mass execution in the history of the United States. Ordered by President Abraham Lincoln, the execution functioned as the U.S. response to the killings that took place during what is now known as the “U.S. – Dakota War.” As a method through which to commemorate the loss of life and counteract the horror of the tragedy, every year, people of the Dakota Nation travel parts of the country by horse, spreading messages of harmony.