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IWGIA's activities in Laos
IWGIA began working in Laos in 2001 via support to an ethnic mapping project in Bokeo province. At that time, local NGOs and peoples' organisations were illegal and IWGIA therefore worked with an international NGO, the Global Association for People and the Environment (GAPE). The ethnic mapping project was aimed at raising the authorities' awareness of the fact that distinct ethnic groups with distinct cultures actually do exist in the area, as a first step towards raising ethnicity as an issue to be discussed and addressed – a long process in a country such as Laos. The aim of the project was to promote a dialogue between the communities and the authorities. A Lao language book with information on the ethnic groups in Laos was produced as a result of the project.
In 2004, the ethnic mapping project in Bokeo province was followed-up by a similar project in Sekong province. The project came about in response to a request by the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) of Sekong province after indigenous representatives heard about the Bokeo project via the LFNC in Vientiane. The LFNC in Sekong had never received any support from other organisations for activities with indigenous communities before, and cooperation with IWGIA's partner GAPE is therefore a pioneering initiative. The project is nearing completion.
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 People: Mien
Photographer: Christian Erni |
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