Youth with a story to tell Olivier Émond

"When they stopped doing cannibalism of flesh, they started to do cannibalism of ideas. [...] The idea is that instead of looking at only the cultures that you inherit at birth: your gender, your nationality, your language, your class, your race, whatever these things are, when you take only the ones that you inherit, you have a very small amount of ways that you can express being a human, and the ways that you can experience being a human... if you only stick with what you've inherited, your people, more or less. But if you branch out of that, and you look at all the options of how you can be human, and you mix and match by doing "take what's good and leave what isn't", you can become a more evolved human. Because you realize that [...] you're a human on Earth, you're not a person from an imaginary country, with imaginary borders."
- Cecê Nobre, about the concept of cultural cannibalism.

You can find Cecê's art project, Island of Kilombu, on Instagram and Facebook.

Suggestions from the episode:
- Антоха MC, rapper from Russia,
- So not worth it, Korean TV show on Netflix.

We want to share Tim Wolochatiuk's We Were Children, released in 2012, a documentary that exposes the reality Indigenous peoples went through when going to residential schools in Canada. 

Also, if you find yourself in Phuket, in Thailand, you may have the chance to encounter Queen On Street, an amazing girl who knows how to put on a music show just about everywhere in the streets of Thailand. Her dad and her perform covers, and they share their wonderful vibe to their crowd. You can follow them on Youtube: Freedom Life Music.

Pictures have impact. On the viewers, yes, but also on the subject. Sometimes, we may minimise the effect publishing a picture of someone else can have. Yet, when listening to this episode, we can come to the conclusion that the first concern should be the subject of the picture. Do they agree with the way they present themselves? Do they know where that picture will be posted? Maybe we should ask ourselves: what do I seek with this picture?

The reality is that the story is not controlled by the subject of the picture, but rather by the entity that publishes it. The little boy in Kenya had something to say, and he was listened to, but he certainly had something else to show.

We invite you this week to follow Shina Nova @shinanova on Instagram and TikTok, who shares videos about throat singing and many other cultural practices from Inuk people. She raises awareness about Indigenous peoples' realities and also shares true knowledge about history. 

We discuss languages in this episode... Well, did you know that there are over 50 distinct indigenous languages in Thailand? If you want to know more about the history of the Thai language and a bit about Thailand in general, such as what the real name for the city of Bangkok is, read this: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-thailand.html.

This story is a great example of why and how it is fundamental and beneficial to get involved in our community. To bridge the gaps. To work and aim for balance in the societies we live in. As she says, and we could not agree more: "I think it's a waste of time to not prioritize education." Doesn't that resonate with you as well?

Speaking of education, we want to share another Instagram page, @indigenouspeoplesmovement, that  "brings awareness on issues affecting Indigenous people from North & South America, Oceania, Asia Africa & Caribbean". You can also visit their website www.indigenouspeoplesmovement.com to receive updates on projects and news, to get involved, to donate, and more. 

Education allows the feelings related to fear to dissipate. In Thailand, people deal on a daily basis with the "issue" of snakes. The issue is not the snake, it is rather the fact that we might not know about them, nor understand them. The Facebook page "Snakes of Phuket" offers relevant information on all snakes we see in Phuket and the regions around. Get informed! Both you and the snakes, beautiful creatures, will benefit from it.

Growing up in Timor Leste (East Timor), Eliano was confronted to make some tough decisions at an early stage in his life. He discusses the impact some experiences had on him and his development, he shares about his relationship with school and his parents, his life goals... Here is a story of self-awareness and resilience. A great example that forgiving ourselves may contribute to a better future. 

This week, we suggest you follow @bobbysanchezmusic, a Poet, Model, Musician and Painter, who speaks out beautifully and fiercely for Indigenous Peoples, for nature, and for acceptance. All of this with an artistic and inspirational touch. 

Also, you can discover the organization For Freedom International (https://forfreedominternational.com/what-we-do/): "FFI is privileged to run the Child Advocacy Centre Phuket, which is an inter-organizational entity that fights for the rights of children at risk of abuse or exploitation." It is well-known that some children in Thailand are victim of trafficking or any kind of exploitation. Being aware of the issue is a start. Hopefully, people can make better choice when living or traveling there in order not to contribute to this issue in any way. Choose wisely!

Knowing where we come from certainly connects us with our own identities. Because we all carry the history of our ancestors after all, whether we know about it or not. Our origins define who we are.

In this episode, we look at what it is to grow up in the USA with the feeling of being "different". But... What does it mean to be different in the Unites States of America? Is there such a thing as AN American identity? We discuss the impact xenophobia, racism and politics may have on a child and a teenager and, especially, how we can embrace diversity; within ourselves and around us.

When we understand that each person is unique, human beings then are considered as social wealth. We may become more curious about the people we meet, because we know that they may contribute to our world. That is the experience of living at a UWC. We are all different, and that's just how we like it.

We shared about the work of Mumilaaq Qaqqaq in this episode, whom you can follow on Instagram @mumilaaq. She is a former federal deputy from Nunavut who exposes the realities of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and fights for the respect of their rights.

Here is an article that talks about the project Elodia is engaging in, a collaboration of One Phuket, Sutai Muay Thai and 5-Star Marine: https://www.thephuketnews.com/one-phuket-efforts-to-help-covid-afflicted-continue-to-break-barriers-79344.php. 

https://sutaiphuket.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/onephuket/

https://5starmarinephuket.com/

Sometimes, we make mistakes, whether we are young or not. This story, told by a young and wise human, shows how we can move on and heal together when a group is affected by the misbehaviour of an individual or more than one, which relates to the concept of "restorative justice". Acknowledging the caused pain, communicating, getting support, offer true and sincere apologies, choose and apply consequences as needed... The example offered in this episode might or might not apply to your community but, hopefully, it will lead to a reflection at the very least. 

Follow @indigenousmotherhood on Instagram, a page that educates on on the cultures, the philosophy, the realities of the Indigenous Peoples. "Indigenous motherhood is the ultimate weapon in destroying colonialism, through the tenderness, and wildness, of Indigenous truth and love."

Visit or donate to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (https://www.phuketelephantsanctuary.org/en/), a conservation project in Thailand that offers rehabilitation for elephants and makes their reintegration to the forests possible. 

When traveling, we might be tempted to take pictures of things that look incredible or unusual to us, something that social media would like for sure. However, when something looks like a tourist trap, like an elephant that walks on the beach or on the sidewalk, we should reflect on the reasons why the animal was brought there and how it is treated. The classic and archaic example is the use of animals in circus shows... Instead, in order to contribute positively, we encourage you to support and VISIT conservation projects such as this one... Social media will like it as well!