Ancestral Lands | More than mere dollar bills
Protecting Indigenous identity, rights and existence. Check, check, check.
With a sense of reverence, everyone gathered in a circle, echoing the solemnity of a sacred ritual. In various Indigenous languages, tied with cultural and spiritual harmony, they offered prayers.
Within the walls of a century-old church, representatives from different tribal communities in Cambodia proclaimed their collective aspirations and commitment to protecting their identity.
In January, the Salesians of Don Bosco hosted the meeting titled ‘Voices of Cambodian Indigenous Peoples (IP) 2024,’ which gathered elders and youth leaders from the Indigenous groups Loun, Kbet, Toum Poun, Prov, Kachak, Kroung, Jarai, and Kuy.
From the hinterlands of northeastern Cambodia, the delegates traveled to Kep, south of Phnom Penh.
Fr. Albeiro Rodas, rector of Don Bosco Technical School in Kep, said the ‘Voices Project’ aims to provide the IPs “the venue for dialogue, to listen to each other, and to unify their voices”.
The meeting in Cambodia marked the third installment of the ‘Voices Project’ initiated by the Salesians. The project commenced in India in July 2023 and was succeeded by a gathering of minority groups in Thailand in September of the same year.
Fr. Harris Pakkam, director of the Salesian News Agency, explained that the project is a response to the challenge of “unheard and silent cries” of the IPs.
“This project is a reaffirmation of our commitment to journey with the IPs, protect the Indigenous knowledge and tradition, and empower them,” the priest said.
Protection of Indigenous identity and ancestral lands
Cambodia is home to 24 different IP groups, constituting approximately 3 percent of the national population. There are an estimated 170,000 to 400,000 IPs who speak at least 19 Indigenous languages in the country.
According to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), the total number of IPs in Cambodia “are likely to be ambiguous since government data classify IPs by language and not ethnicity.”
Another challenge, IGWIA said, is that some IPs are “unwilling to identify themselves to the authorities as Indigenous, for fear of repercussions” due to “contemporary stigmatization” of IPs in Khmer society, as well as a legacy of fear from the devastating Khmer Rouge regime.
Indigenous youths, who are students of Don Bosco Kep, discuss various issues of the Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia.
Indigenous youths, who are students of Don Bosco Kep, discuss various issues of the Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia.
During the meeting at Don Bosco Kep, leaders of the Indigenous groups issued the 'Final Declaration,' affirming that their identity is intrinsically linked to their ancestral lands.
“It is the place where we live together, the one we recognize as the space of our traditions, spirituality and language. The loss of the territory in any way, can badly affect our identity, our rights and our own existence,” the Declaration read.
Preav Chouy of the Kroeng Indigenous group said the protection of the ancestral lands is the protection of Indigenous identity.
Ms. Preav lamented that big businesses and people with self-interest “are destroying our mountains, polluting our rivers, and poisoning the air”.
"We are nothing without our ancestral lands. If environmental destruction persists, the Indigenous identity along with Indigenous languages, knowledge, and culture will cease to exist."
Survival at risk for 'mere gain of money'
‘The Indigenous World 2023: Cambodia’ report of IGWIA indicated that “ruthless and alarming levels of illegal deforestation continued” in Prey Lang and Prey Preah Roka forests, “caused by national and transnational corporations coupled with the corruption of the authorities” in 2022.
“Despite overwhelming evidence from satellite images and ground verification conducted by Indigenous community networks, and national and international organizations, the Cambodian authorities continued to deny the presence of large-scale forest crimes within the protected areas,” the report read.
Prey Lang and Prey Preah Roka forests are home for some 250,000 IPs.
On the second day of the meeting at Don Bosco Kep, Jarai tribal leader Ting Dem made an appealed to “young people and other communities” to help them safeguard Indigenous territories.
"We cannot protect our identity and our lands unless we are united. Only by uniting our voices can we compel the public to join our plight in protecting our lands."
In the Declaration, leaders of the eight IP groups called on “all humanity to stop the chaotic and selfish action” against the environment and the Indigenous territories.
“Please understand that such processes based on the mere gain of money, is not only putting at risk our survival as Indigenous peoples, but also in any extension the survival of the whole of humanity on this planet,” the leaders appealed.
Delegates of the Voices Project from eight Indigenous groups in Cambodia and leaders of teh Salesians of Don Bosco pose for the camera during the opening ceremony.
Delegates of the Voices Project from eight Indigenous groups in Cambodia and leaders of teh Salesians of Don Bosco pose for the camera during the opening ceremony.
An Indigenous leader prepares the wine that delegates will share during the opening ceremony.
An Indigenous leader prepares the wine that delegates will share during the opening ceremony.
Indigenous youth, who are students of Don Bosco Kep, discuss various issues of the Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia.
Indigenous youth, who are students of Don Bosco Kep, discuss various issues of the Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia.
Indigenous youth leaders discuss various pressing issues during one of the workshops.
Indigenous youth leaders discuss various pressing issues during one of the workshops.
Elders of the various Indigenous groups share food during the solidarity night.
Elders of the various Indigenous groups share food during the solidarity night.
Delegates of the Voices Project in Cambodia pose for the camera with Fr. Gildasio Mendes (online), the General Councillor for Social Communication of the Salesians.
Delegates of the Voices Project in Cambodia pose for the camera with Fr. Gildasio Mendes (online), the General Councillor for Social Communication of the Salesians.
Fr. Albeiro Rodas (left) drinks wine with an Indigenous leader during the opening ceremony of the Voices Project in Cambodia.
Fr. Albeiro Rodas (left) drinks wine with an Indigenous leader during the opening ceremony of the Voices Project in Cambodia.
Fr. Alberio Rodas (r), rector of Don Bosco Kep, addresses the crowd.
Fr. Alberio Rodas (r), rector of Don Bosco Kep, addresses the crowd.
Indigenous groups present during the Voices Project encounter in Don Bosco Kep showcase their respective dances during the solidarity night.
Indigenous groups present during the Voices Project encounter in Don Bosco Kep showcase their respective dances during the solidarity night.
Indigenous groups present during the Voices Project encounter in Don Bosco Kep showcase their respective dances during the solidarity night.
Indigenous groups present during the Voices Project encounter in Don Bosco Kep showcase their respective dances during the solidarity night.
Building ‘ecological communities’
Fr. Rodas stressed the universal urgency of environmental protection, which is interconnected with the challenges faced by the IPs, to become a critical issue for the entire human family.
The priest, however, admitted that achieving equality and justice for IPs if the effort remains limited to a few Church institutions advocating for IP rights.
Echoing Pope Francis, Fr. Rodas said there is a need for a fundamental shift in the Church's engagement with IPs, urging a transition from viewing them solely as recipients of Church teachings to recognizing them as essential contributors to dialogue.
“We must prioritize Indigenous voices in these dialogues, learning to listen and gain insight from their perspectives,” he said.
The Salesians of Don Bosco community and representatives of eight Indigenous groups in Cambodia gather in a solidarity activity on the first night of the Voices Project.
The Salesians of Don Bosco community and representatives of eight Indigenous groups in Cambodia gather in a solidarity activity on the first night of the Voices Project.
In line with this vision, the Don Bosco School in Kep is set to conduct a 10-day media production training for young IPs in March, aiming to integrate IP voices into the Synodal Church, as Fr. Rodas noted.
He explained that these initiatives are part of the larger 'Voices Project,' which seeks to forge connections between IPs and the global community.
The project's success, however, hinges on garnering additional support and encouraging broader participation in similar programs, he said.
With generous support from
Aid to the Church in Need
Dreikönigsaktion
missio Aachen
Text and photos by Mark Saludes
Produced by June Nattha Nuchsuwan
& Peter Monthienvichienchai
Published February 23, 2024
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