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| Sunday, 7 August 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Int'l Day of the World's Indigenous People - August 9 : Communities threatened with extinction
They comprise four per cent of the global population. It is a day to create awareness about them and the problems they face. Who exactly are indigenous people? A dictionary defines them as "originating in or characteristic of a particular region or country; native; innate, inherent; natural". The word has a Latin origin and dates back to the 17th century. Indigenous people are united by common experiences including a history of marginalisation, and struggles for cultural survival, but all are unique and different. Indigenous communities are the original occupants of the land they live in. Although some of them have now integrated themselves to the general population and contribute to national economies, some continue to live separately as distinct groups. We all know about Sri Lanka's own indigenous community, the Adi Vasi or Vanniyela Aththo (forest dwellers). They are the descendants of the island's original occupants and have a history dating back to around 16,000BC. They are now mainly centred in the areas of Heningala in the Maduru Oya national park and the jungles of Mahiyangana. As cities expanded, they have been driven out of their natural habitats and have been settled in villages. Adi Vasis live in clans and still carry their axes, bows and arrows over their shoulders. Despite living among other communities, they continue to retain their age-old customs and traditions. However, the grave danger facing the indigenous peoples of the world is the threat of extinction. Due to the expansion of cities and the resultant loss of livelihood and their way of life, and new generations leaving the communities seeking a modern life, their numbers are fast dwindling. Sri Lanka's Vanniyela Aththo have decreased from 4,510 in 1921 to 2,361 in 1946. No separate count on their numbers has been done since 1963. The UN-declared day draws attention to their plight. The United Nations General Assembly decided to celebrate this day on August 9 by a resolution on December 23, 1994 during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, which had started on December 10, 1994. The date marks the day of the first meeting in 1982 of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protecting of Human Rights. In April 2000, the Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution to establish a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which was endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in July 2000. The mandate of the Forum is to discuss indigenous issues related to culture, economic and social development, education, environment, health and human rights. The UN General Assembly proclaimed 1993 as the International Year of the World's Indigenous People. As schoolchildren, you too can organise activities at school-level to increase awareness in your school as well as in society about the plight of the indigenous people of Sri Lanka. ############# First subscribers to the Junior Observer school edition : Knowledge building
The Medamulla De Mel Navodya School in Melsiripura, Kurunegala is a school that is currently being developed under the Navodya scheme of the Education Ministry.The school has close to 2000 students and 97 teachers. It was started in 1905 by Jacob De Mel of DE Mel Company. Apart from the regular academic activities, the students are also involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities. Special attention is paid to the improvement of English and Information Technology. The Junior Observer, the first registered English newspaper for children in Sri Lanka, is used here as supplementary reading material for students.In fact, the school is a pioneer in this field, being the first to subscribe to the school edition of the Junior Observer. So what do the Principal, teachers and students of Medamulla School have to say about the Junior Observer? Principal, N.D. Nandadewa: "English is a window to the outside world. We decided to buy this paper to gather that knowledge. I am most happy to say that students now read this paper when they are free without wasting their time". English Teacher, Dhammike Athukorala: "Reading contributes a lot to learning a second language. Although there are many books and newspapers, I believe the Junior Observer is the best in this area. It is presented in a very attractive format to students in secondary classes and helps them in finding facts for various school projects and assignments". English Teacher, Sagarika Ekanayake: "The Junior Observer has contributed to the improvement of English among our students. The beautiful colour pictures (ex. Nature Trail) attract young learners into reading the material". English Teacher, S.G.M. Chandra Podimenike: "The Junior Observer offers something for bright as well as weak students. Not only students, teachers can also improve their knowledge through its pages on historical places, science and geography". Teacher (Art section), Mr. Yatawara: "I take several copies for neighbouring children who study in other schools". Sriyani Ekanayake, Commerce Teacher: "My child is in Grade 5 in another school. She likes the colour pictures and essays". Commerce Teacher, Gunapala Thisselege: "This newspaper creates more opportunities for students to think, communicate and improve their writing skills". Sathya Gothami, Grade 11 student: "The Junior Observer helps us learn not only English, but also other subjects like science, history and social studies. Students' hidden skills can be brought forth through Expressions. The cover page is very attractive. We can all become better writers by reading this paper". Damsaranee Athukorala, Grade 4: "I like Colour Lines and Expressions very much". Subodani Gunathilake, Grade 9: "It helps a lot to improve my English knowledge. My sister too buys a separate copy every week". Lakshika Srimali, Grade 9: "I read The World of Science and Nature Trail to improve my knowledge". Pavithra Sankalpa, Grade 9: "Reducing the price was a good thing. I use this paper to teach my sister, a Grade 1 student". Nirmala Deegalla, Grade 8: "It improves our knowledge and reading ability. We also get an outlet for our creative talents". Harsanee Swarnapala, Grade 8: "I buy the Junior Observer to improve my knowledge". Nuwan Prasanna Rathnayake, Grade 7: "I have collected all issues of the Junior Observer. I like Nature Trail and the pictures and like to find answers for the questions given". Nilanka Kumudumali, Grade 10: "This newspaper is very important to us as we learn a lot of new things from it. I like Space Station and Variety". Rasika Jeewani Dissanayake, Grade 11: "Expressions pages are very good and many of us read them". Pawithra Danajali, Grade 11: "The Junior Observer helps us to complete the assessments we get at school. I teach my sister at home with its help". Piuma Dulanjali, Grade 11: "Our English standard has certainly improved after we started reading the Junior Observer. Heritage Splendour helps with my studies". Thilini Wathsala, Grade 6: "My elder brother helps me to read this newspaper". Nadeesha Charuni, Grade 9: "All my friends buy this newspaper. I teach my younger sister with it". |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
The International Day of the World's Indigenous People will be
celebrated for the 11th time this year, on August 9. This is an opportune
moment to explore the history and culture of the over 300 million
indigenous people living in about 70 countries around the world today. 
