Ashish Lohorung Rai

As you may or may not have heard the news from a horse’s mouth, on behalf of the team I would like to share a good news with you. Recently, Kirat Rai Yayokkha Sydney Australia (KRYSA) decided to participate in a Cultural Dance Competition organised by NINFA on the occasion to celebrate the World Indigenous Day 2011 (August 9) at Campsie. Under the Kirat Council Sydney, artists and volunteers spent at least a month to prepare a Sakela Dance and Chyabrung Dance for this event. Albeit the short time notice of rehearsals and preparations, with involved everyone’s sheer dedications and can-do attitude, we have pulled through a winning pair out of 6 contestant groups.

I am very much glad to share the good news that Kirat Limbu Chyabrung Dance was declared the winner and Kirat Rai Sakela Dance the runner-up. I would like to congratulate everyone of you (Kirat – Rai, Limbu, Yakkha and Sunuwar). And special Congratulations and a Big Thank you go to the Dance Artists and Volunteers.

Obviously, to make any event a worth while and success there will always be a bunch of volunteers’ efforts, contributions and dedications at the background. I would like to congratulate these volunteers and on behalf of the team, would like to extend a Big Thank you once again to followings:

Sakela Dance Artists:
1) Degana Rai
2) Bashodha Rai
3) Anupama Rai
4) Jyoti Rai
5) Shrijana Rai
6) Ram Kumar Rai
7) Naresh Rai
Sushil Tumbahangphe
9) Anand Lohorung Rai
10) Sanjay Rai

Song and Rhythm:
1) Narendra Rai
2) Santosh Rai
3) Pradeep Rai
4) Sashi Chandra Rai

Volunteers:
Food and Beverages: (during rehearsals)
1) Sashi Chandra Rai and Family
2) Mohan Rai and Family
3) Chitra Tumbahangphe and Family
4) Samir Bantawa and Family
5) Santosh Rai and Family
6) Ashok Rai and Family
7) Sashi Limbu and Family
Narendra Rai and Family
9) Raju Subba and Family
10) Major Bhala Rai and Family

Dress up and attires co-coordinator:
1) Bashodha Rai

Dresses and attires, jewelleries lenders/contributors
1) Barsha Rai
2) Bindya Subba
3) Menuka Rai
4) Sharmila Rai
5) Bisa Rai
6) Sumitra Rai (Ram’s mother)
4) Bona Rai

Dance Silli creator/contributor
1) Bashodha Rai
2) Degana Rai
3) Jyoti Rai
4) Ashish Lohorung Rai
5) Narendra Rai

Every year 9 of August marks the day for World’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day with various events and programmes all over the world. This year with the slogan of “Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future” will unite the world’s indigenous cultures together one more time. I celebrated this day by designing this poster. Feel free to share with everyone. Happy Indigenous Day!

Gone 9th August was the most remarkable day for the indigenous people (IPs) all over the world. Here in Nepal many different IPs related organizations including our Lohorung Yakhkhama Yuyong (Lohorung Women Organization) also took part in that event. LYY has exhibited food stall and Dhaka cloths at Dasarath Stadium during the event period of three days. That day was the last day of a week long event where many different types of games such as Badminton, Traditional Archery etc were held.
The final day started from a rally at Khulamanch, Ratnapark where many indigenous peoples gathered before setting off. NGO-Federation of Nepalese Indigegnous Nationalities (NGO-FONIN) had been organizing “Singnature Campaign”. Finally about two kilometers long cloth signatured by different people of the Kathmandu valley were asked to carry by the people taking part in that rally. It was really a unique and fun experience for me to help them to ask different people at the roadside for asking to do signature and distributing pamplates.

Coming August 9 is the 16th World Indigenous Day for 2008. Many different organizations are celebrating it with many programs. NGO-FONIN is organizing “Signature Campaign” in different parts of the valley to raise the voices and issues of indigenous peoples of Nepal.

Dear all,
Namaste/Jhorle

As IPs are celebrating the August 9 as world indigenous peoples day, we are also organizing some of the activities on the occasion. Specifically, we have focused the activities connecting with CA. As the CA is an opportunity for us to raise voice to have a constitution written addressing IPs and other marginalized peoples issues, the activities will be as: signature campaign, submitting appeal to respective CA representative and authorities, so that it could support on creating pressure as well as making aware the respective authorities.

The signature collection campaign has been already stated from 3rd August, which will be carried out till the 9 August and the appeal will be submitted to each CA members (during CA Meeting) organizing a press conference. The date for submitting of the appeal will be decided later (the date will be decided consulting the respective authority) At the mean time we will also be involved in the activities, organized by other IPs and likeminded organizations. We need to make collective effort towards influencing the concerns.

We would also like to request all members, district networks to involve or organize same kinds of activities. For your kind information and references the copy appeal, pamphlets and letter are attached herewith, please find them.

Lalkumari Roca
Rights and Advocacy Officer
NGO-FONIN

More pictures and information you can find at Lohorung Khanawa and NEFIN Website. So I request all for the support of not only the indigenous people but also to the underprivileged groups. Come to Dasarath Stadium at August 9 and celebrate it.

Welcome to the Nepal’s greatest indigenous films festival!!

Program Details:
Date: From 6th June to 9th June 2008
Venue: City Hall and Nepal Tourism Board Kathmandu
Time: 10 am to 7 pm

Attractions:

• Films from India, China, Canada, America, Mexico, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand
• Nepali films from Magar, Tamang, Tharu, Newar, Gurung, Limbu, Sherpa, Rajbanshi, Majhi, Chepang, Loba indigenous groups
• Food display of various indigenous peoples
• Handicraft display of different indigenous peoples

Tomorrow is the last day for this event so please hurry! I have taken many pictures. I will publish soon after the event. So just please wait for it. By the way, Lohorung Community has also the food stall and handicraft show.

The program is organized by: IFA (Indigenous Film Archive)
Co-Organizer: National Foundation for Development of Indigenous nationalities (www.nfdin.gov.np)

Supporters: NGO-FONIN, NTB, NIWF, NINSF, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Society of Indigenous Students, Tharu Kalyankari Sabha, Sunuwar Sewa Samaj, Kirat Yakthung Chumlung, Nepal Chepang Association Chepan Mainstreaming Programme.