ASIA-PACIFIC INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY AND FUNDERS SUMMIT SITE VISITS PRE-SITE VISITS on March 26th Staying overnight on March 25th is recommended as each of these site visits will leave early and will each be approximately 4-5 hours long. The $75 fee includes lunch and transportation. Option 1: Marine Ecosystems (bring a swimming suit and snorkeling equipment): Les Village is situated in Tejakula – the easternmost district of Buleleng Regency. The fishing village covers 769 hectares and sports small eco-tourism and diving spots. Fishers, apart from routine fishing for consumption and the local market, catch ornamental fish. They have stopped the use of potassium cyanide in this practice since 2002, and adapted local adat customary legislation to prohibit its use in the village and nearby. This is one of the first examples of its kind in Indonesia where ornamental fishing with potassium cyanide is predominant.

In 2000, local environmental NGOs, Yayasan Bahtera Nusantara and Yayasan Telapak began working with local fishers to discourage the use of potassium cyanide. That effort succeeded. In addition, villagers extend work to replanting corals and harvesting/selling these with their potassium cyanide-free fish. Since the banning of potassium cyanide the local catch and incomes have increased. This revolutionary catching method is the first step in Community Based Integrated Marine Eco-Trading and Eco-Tourism

management. The whole concept is: stop the destructive fishing method, apply Collection Area Management Plan (CAMP), coral reef rehabilitation, and provide alternative livelihood for the fishfolk. The end goal is to conserve the environment while maintaining the livelihood of the people. Besides that, the community also plants coral, and manages the catch of ornamental fish so overfishing in their area is avoided.

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Option 2: Agroforestry: Vision of Local Philanthropy Bangli-Bedugul – Indigenous Agro-forests in Traditional Hindu

Penglipuran Village is a traditional Balinese vilage, located in Kubu - Bangli Regency, about 700 m above sea level. According to history, the name of Penglipuran was taken from the word 'Pengeling Pura' which means: remember our ancestors; but the word of Penglipur also means: the entertainer.

It is said that during the former empires, kings often use this area as a place for entertainment and recreation, because nature is most beautiful and brings peace and inspiration. In this village, houses are oriented northeastwards to Mount Agung, which is located in northeast of Bali Island. About 200m to the north stands a 75-hectare bamboo forest owned by the community. Bamboo plantation, over 50 species of bamboo, is one of its features.

The villages work with the local Bamboo Foundation and have developed bamboo as best species, for reforestation under climate and REDD programs.

The worship place or temple The community's bamboo forest

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Option 3: Sharing Balinese Spirituality: Trunyan is located at the foot of Mount Abang, a remote and isolated village on the eastern shore of Lake Batur across Toya Bungkah village. This area can be accessed by boat in 45 minutes sailing from Kedisan Village, or 15 minutes sailing from a small harbor at Buahan village (which is located about 4 kms from the conference base camp at Pengotan village). The inhabitants call themselves the 'Bali Aga' or 'Original Balinese', a classification that refers to a conservative, pre-Hindu way of life with ancient customs and a conscious avoidance of outside influences. Trunyanese society has two 'castes', the banjar jero and the banjar jaba. These castes are not based on the Hindu ideas of purity, but are instead determined by descent during the period of the Gelgel dynasty. This caste system is an important example of when outside influence actually did affect the life of the Trunyanese people, for those belonging to the banjar jero are the descendants of rulers, the Trunyanese who were appointed by the kings of Gelgel, and the banjar jaba are the descendants of the people, those who were ruled by the banjar jero. Another example of outside influence is the requirement for their young men to travel through lowland Bali for a time to live as beggars. This little known practice, reminiscent of the itinerant monks of Thailand, derives from the strong Buddhist tradition of the area a thousand years ago.

Funeral rites of Trunyan: Contrary to elsewhere in Hindu Bali the Trunyanese do not cremate their dead. Instead, after a ritual cleansing with rainwater, the body of the deceased is placed in a bamboo cage under the taru menyan tree until the forces of nature, in particular the wind, has dissolved the body tissues and only the skeleton remains. Then the skull is placed on a staircase-shaped stone altar, which is located some 500 meter north of the banjar Kuban, a special place that can only be reached by boat. This ancient practice is a reminiscent of the neolithic Agama Bayu sect, one of the six most important religious-spiritual sects that dominated Bali during pre-Hindu times. This Agama Bayu sect mainly worshipped the stars and

the wind (angin ngelinus). Taru Menyan translates as 'nice smelling tree'. The typical scent of this tree emanates and neutralizes the smell of rotting bodies. It is also this tree from which the name Trunyan is derived. Furthermore typical for the funeral rites of the Trunyan is that only the bodies of married people are placed in bamboo cages; if the deceased is unmarried, the body is normally buried in the cemetery.

Also typical is that women are not allowed to attend the Pengiriman ceremonies, the bringing of the body to the taru menyan tree or to the cemetery. The reason for this is the belief that otherwise the village will be struck by disaster, such as an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, or a landslide. How and when this rule came into being is not clear.

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Option 4: Culture and Arts: Kamasan Bali - traditional coin industry The Balinese Traditional Coins (or uang kepeng in Bahasa Indonesia, or Pis Bolong in Balinese) are used for all types of customary Balinese ceremony (Upacara Adat). The coins came from China, and have not been produced since, until 2004 when I Made Sukma established the Kamasan Bali. Situated on the south of Klungkung, the village of Kamasan is fully packed with artists’ homes and studios. The village is home to traditional Balinese paintings. It is particularly famous as the center of classical wayang paintings that somehow leads back to similar figures of puppets in ancient Java.

@ Ni Luh Dian Purniawati Ancient Chinese coins with square holes in the center and Chinese characters on the sides are all over in Bali. These living relics render a ceremony celebration incomplete without their presence.

Since the beginning of the world's 'Anno Domini', the connection between Bali and China had begun. Among the many backdrops throughout the historical events, trading was the main reason. The Chinese presence had a great influence on Balinese culture and art. The relationship even led to the historical marriage between Sri Maharaja Aji Jayapangus, the King of Bali and Kang Cin Wei, a Chinese princess, in the year 12 A.D. This marriage justified the Chinese influence in Bali. The story goes that Kang Cin Wei asked the king to have Chinese coins be a part of all rituals in Bali. As rituals are one of the most important things in Balinese life, Chinese coins followed suit and by then had already become part of the people's monetary system – a phase shift from using the barter system. The presence of coins in rituals has become somewhat compulsory. Meanwhile, the stock of coins has seen a decrease. It is no wonder, for as the population grows more people conduct rituals and the demand for coins rockets sky-high. During certain rituals such as ngaben cremations or rituals for the butha kala or lower deities, the coins cannot be reused.

The Bali Cultural Office, as the representative of the government, formed the Bali Heritage Trust. The vision is to keep the cultural heritage pure. Their first pilot project was to make Chinese coins in Balinese versions. This project was launched in 2004 and has been facilitated by the United Nations of Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This took place in the village of Tojan in the Klungkung regency, where the factory and showroom is positioned together as UD Kamasan Bali.

(Text: Ni Luh Dian Purniawati)

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Option 5: Coral Rehabilitation (bring a swimming suit and snorkeling equipment):

Serangan Island, is a 73-hectare island located just 250 meters off the southeast coast of Bali. It is also known as Turtle Island, and is connected to the mainland by a causeway.

The island used to be a turtle breeding ground with coral reefs frequented by divers. In 1995-1996 land reclamation more than doubled the area of the island, initially a sandbar. The new land was composed of a mixture of sand and limestone dredged up and dumped there.

Fish disappeared, many corals died. Some fishermen turned to collecting live coral for a living - destroying the coastal environment, and illegal. Fishers community here are among the poorest in Bali. They are a mixed community of Balinese and migrant indigenous communities from Lombok and Makassar. In 2002, Wayan Patut (one of the public figures in Serangan) started to transplant coral by grafting technique, planting coral seeds on substrates (where the coral grows, including dead coral). In attaching the “seeds”. Patut worked with local youth groups, who later established the Karya Segara Beach Fishermen’s Group. They make small “stools” or plates from cement with metal or concrete frames to position the coral. Telapak community workers lived and worked with them.

They have now replanted 32 species of corals, thriving well across a 3.5-hectare area. Fish came back. Since 2003 customary rules prohibit harvest of natural coral, reinforcing government rule.

These ‘awig awig’ or customary rules were revised, obliging community members to help preserve the environment, especially coral reefs.

 

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Your journey: Having picked this site, you will arrive 25h March, stay at a hotel in Sanur. Pick up at 7:30 - 08:00 morning on Saturday, March 26th, and drive to Serangan Island. We expect to start the activity at 8:30 with a briefing from the fisherfolk of Serangan, and be ready to snorkel, explore the thriving gardens of multicolored corals, and plant (and name) your own coral. You will observe the process of replanting, inventory, and maintainance. Lunch will be served at the barge, while discussing issues with the fisherfolk about their challenges, their experiences in dealing with - and managing funds from - donor agencies, private and government projects, how they do their 'bookkeeping' and income sharing transparently, their lessons from their past experiences, and their dreams and wishes. Also find out whether there is any evidence of bleaching (climate impacts) to the coral. We expect to depart from Serangan around 1 pm, drive back to your hotel, check out and drive to BaliWoso Camp in Pengotan Village to join the next programmes.

 The  barge  

 

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POST SITE VISIT – DATES TBD

Optional 3-night Study Trip and Sightseeing Tour The Mirror Foundation Chiang Rai, Thailand

Cost: $250 p/p

Draft Itinerary

Day 1 (Day 1 itinerary dependent on flight arrival time) Pickup at Chiang Rai airport We will collect the party from the airport and transfer to The Mirror Foundation (approx 25 minutess). Welcome to the foundation

On arrival, guests will be shown to their dorm and given the opportunity to freshen up before given a guided tour of the grounds. A presentation of the foundation’s work and history will be delivered in our meeting room, after which we can answer any questions the group may have.

Dinner at Ban Apa, with hilltribe dance (Akha hilltribe)

The Akha are one of the more populous groups in our district, the vast majority having converted to Christianity over the past 50-150 years. However, Ban Apa still practices the traditional Animist beliefs. We invite our guests to eat a typical hilltribe dinner, and then join in the dancing, traditionally practiced at the end of the working day. The Mirror Foundation has a long-standing relationship with this community, and a number of our staff live in the village. Return to Mirror After the dinner and dancing have tired you out, we will return you safely to your dormitory at Mirror.

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Day 2 08:00-09:00 Breakfast and Morning meeting Join us for breakfast, mixing with the volunteers and staff. Breakfast is usually Thai or hilltribe fare, with vegetarian option available. After breakfast has been completed, we will invite each member of the group to introduce themselves to our community, and then listen to our daily meeting. 09:30 Presentation by Thai Citizenship Project We will spend the morning presenting the work of our Thai Citizenship Project. The project works to gain status for all who are eligible. There are many issues, and the bureaucracy is formidable, so TCP uses many methods to help those in need to gain citizenship, including DNA sampling.

12:00 Lunch 14:00 Elephant ride from Ban Ruam Mit (Karen hilltribe) Ban Ruan Mit is a local Karen hilltribe village, which uses its location near the Kok River and easy access to great effect. Boat trips arrive and depart from here, going to up to Chiang Rai and well as downriver. But it is the elephants that are the main draw, for both domestic and foreign tourists. The elephants are a largely redundant form of working transport in the modern world, so if tourists did not come to ride them, their owners would be unable to keep them. The

Karen are renowned for their love of their elephants, and put them over and above any other member of their family. The ride is a two-hour uphill trek, to the village of Ban Yafu. 16:00 Spend the night at Ban Yafu Ban Yafu is a Lahu hilltribe community nestled in the hills above the Kok valley. It is the antithesis of Ban Ruam Mit, but still manages to eek a living from tourism, mainly due to its relationship with The Mirror Foundation, who have trained a number of its residents to guide, fully licensed by the Thai Department of Tourism. Like Ban Apa, Yafu still maintains its Animist culture despite the overwhelming presence of Christian missionaries in this part of northern Thailand. A tour of the village will be conducted once the group have met their host family, and taken a rest. Dinner with their family will be followed by a meeting with the local villagers to get an idea of the issues faced in daily life. If members wish, they have the option to receive a traditional massage for a small fee.

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Day 3 08:00 Breakfast at Ban Yafu Breakfast with the host family, at a lazy pace, will end your time at Ban Yafu. Goodbyes will be exchanged with your new friends, before leaving to visit a local waterfall.

10:00 Walk down to Huay Mae Sai waterfall Huay Mae Sai waterfall is a local attraction, located at the base of the series of hills leading up to Ban Yafu. A walk down the dirt road from the village will take about 30 minutes, and another 10 minutes or so to the waterfall. Local children use the spot as a swimming hole, with many jumping from the rocks above. Feel free to take a dip, or just paddle in the water to cool down after the walk. 12:00 Lunch

Lunch at the waterfall will be local fare – sticky rice, a chicken leg, boiled egg, and some chili paste, wrapped in a banana leaf. 13:00 Walk to Ban Jalae (Lahu hilltribe) The trek from the waterfall to Ban Jalae is a short 15-minute walk. Ban Jalae is another village, which still holds on to its Animist traditions, again being Lahu hilltribe (although a significant part of the village is now home to members of the Akha hilltribe). As well as Ban Apa and Ban Yafu, we have members of staff who come from this village. The Mirror Foundation looks to employ hilltribe members as staff, and freelance guides, wherever it is feasible and practical. 13:30 Visit village Hilltribe Museum Ban Jalae is home to the hilltribe museum, built by Mirror together with the villagers, in association with The Rockefeller Foundation. It is home to tools, clothing, musical instruments, ceremonial artifacts, and handicrafts, all donated or made specifically by members of the village. It is a community project, run by the villagers, and used to bring in tourist money for the benefit of the village. 14:30 Transfer to The Mirror Art Guesthouse On completion of the visit to Ban Jalae, we will pick up the group and take you to our guesthouse in Chiang Rai. One of Mirror’s initiatives has been the acquisition, in partnership with individual staff members, of a guesthouse within the city limits of Chiang Rai. The intention is to use the passing tourist trade to boost finances coming into the organisation – each partner has shares, with dividends paid on a quarterly basis. All partners donate 10% of their profits to the foundation.

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19:00 Dinner at Night Bazaar in Chiang Rai After a rest, and chance to freshen up, the group will be escorted to the town’s Night Bazaar for dinner, and the opportunity to see a little of local nightlife. The Night Bazaar also has a host of stalls, selling all manner of products, many of them run by hilltribe members selling traditional clothing and crafts. Sleep at the guesthouse We will return you to the guesthouse after the evening concludes. Day 4 The itinerary for the final day is entirely dependent on the return flight time to Bangkok. Note: The itinerary above is tentative and subject to change. Cost per person: $250.00 (USD) Price based on a maximum of 10 participants and minimum of 5. Costs include $100 donation to The Mirror Foundation to transportation to site visits, accommodation, translation services, and meals.(Cost does not include airfare, tips, snacks and beverages, other personal expenses.) If the group totals less than 5 individuals, the cost will rise slightly, and more than 10 in the group will see a reduction in price. An exact figure can be given once the number of members is confirm