A flow of free communication between Indigenous Peoples

	Indigenous Peoples are the guardians of invaluable natural and cultural treasures. They are also the bearers of essential wisdom and knowledge. And yet, very few governments regard them as equal partners, let alone respect their choices or support their aspirations. The on-going destruction of their environment, their language and their world affects us all. The UN Decade for Indigenous Peoples (1995-2004) does not seem to be slowing this down.
	But despite this, the Indigenous Peoples' Organisations have achieved remarkable results over the past years. Indigenous peoples have always had to fight for their rights. All over the world, they are facing similar life-threatening challenges. Many Indigenous Peoples' Organisations are now working together within a global network to reverse the tide of destruction. They are aware that an increased exchange of information, knowledge and experience would greatly accelerate the propagation of creative and efficient alternatives and so would be of great benefit to them all. However, free communication between Indigenous Peoples is still limited.
	The absence of one common language and restricted access to modern communication means play a major role in this. The Indigenous Peoples depend, for their intercultural contacts, to a large extent upon translators and interpreters, which results in a considerable loss of time, money, and accuracy. The use of bridge-languages (e.g. English, Spanish, French, or Russian...) does not offer a satisfactory alternative worldwide. As things stand now, representatives of Indigenous Peoples often only communicate with those who are able to speak the same bridge-language.

So, what can be done?

The ID project (`Indigenaj dialogoj') aims to empower Organisations of Indigenous Peoples by enabling them to communicate fully and directly with each other.
The combination of Esperanto and modern communication systems will open the way to a sustainable use and expansion of the international indigenous networks.
In order to achieve high quality communication at a low cost, the contact-persons of Indigenous Peoples' Organisations should learn to:
     speak and write Esperanto fluently
     use e-mail and fax efficiently
     initiate the use of both skills within their organisations.
To make this possible, the ID project offers three-week courses using state-of-the-art teaching methods.
ID hopes to train 250 delegates before 2005.
The first course for 24 participants:
from 29 August to 19 September 1999.
The second course for 12 participants:
from 21 November to 12 December 1999.
The third course:
March/April 2000.

The full vision In 2005, the indigenous peoples could have      a strong and expanding network of about 200 organisations with no communication boundaries, and will have broken their linguistic isolation with each other      learned from each other, through a (virtual) Indigenous Intercultural University, how to, for example, save a native language, enforce a treaty, protect their intellectual property and natural environment.      created a United Indigenous Nations which would stand for the Rights of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

It certainly is, because it is truly innovative, full of potential and bound to succeed.

You can be part of it
     by entering the vision and sharing in it
     by introducing us to like-minded individuals and organisations
     by having your company sponsor it in a sustainable way
     by introducing us to potential sponsors
     by `adopting' one of the participants by covering their tuition costs for one or more course days
     by helping to develop Internet facilities (hardware, software, provider and website) which will give the network both roots and wings
     by sponsoring travel tickets
     by ..................

Our aim is to find non-indigenous organisations who would be willing to finance the bulk of this project. The cost of the first step has been estimated at US $ 150,000 - of which the Narwal Institute will shoulder 20%.

This information is also available in French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian and Esperanto