Tok Blong Pasifik Pacific Peoples’ Partnership’s 40th Anniversary Special Edition Rising Tides: Our Lands, Our Waters, Our Peoples !1 Welcome to a special commemorative edition of our publication Tok Blong Pasifk, themed Rising Tides: Our Lands, Our Waters, Our Peoples. To celebrate Pacifc Peoples’ Partnership’s 40 years of action, we honour the resilience and depth of connections between Indigenous peoples and their environment as well as the tireless work of champions and change-makers, both north and south, who advocate for equity and sustainability that benefts us all … Papua Land of Peace - p.8 Pacifc Voices X-Change Artist for generations to come. Residency Programme - p.22 Rising Tides Opening Ceremony - p.12 Rising Tides Honouring Feast - p.13 One Wave Festival- p.14 Credit: Mark Gauti Credit: Mark Gauti We Are With You Vanuatu! Fundraising event in response to Cyclone Pam - p.10 Credit: Heather Tuft CONTENTS Pacific Peoples’ Partnership PPP Celebrates Five More Years of Pacifc Unity & Action….…………………. 4 Celebrating 40 Years of Action Talofa Lava from PPP’s President ..……………………….………………. 6 Established in 1975, Pacifc Peoples’ Partnership Executive Director’s Message …………………………………………….. 7 is a unique non-governmental , non-proft organization working with communities and West Papua: The Current Situation .………….……….………..…….…… 8 organizations in the South and North Pacifc to support shared aspirations for peace, cultural Vanuatu We are With You! …………………………………. ….…….….. 10 integrity, social justice, human dignity, and environmental sustainability by: Rising Tides: Our Lands, Our Waters, Our Peoples ………..…………….. 12 One Wave Festival ……………………………………………………….. 14 • Promoting increased understanding among Canadians on issues of importance to the 15 people of the Pacifc Islands. Up The Sepik River, A Unique PNG Journey …………………….……… Advocating for social, political, and economic • 19 policy change at all levels. MOA Presents: In the Footprints of the Crocodile ……………………. • Fostering the development of sustainable April & Betty: A Shared Path for Peace ……………………….………… 20 communities in the Pacifc. • Facilitating links between Indigenous Pacifc Voices X-Change Indigenous Youth Artist Residency ………….. 22 peoples of the Pacifc Islands and Aboriginal peoples of Canada. Meet PPP’s Vice President, Kat Zimmer ……………..………………….. 25 Strengthening relations between Canadian • Glenn Raynor: A Challenging New Task in Africa ..……….………….… 26 and Pacifc island communities and civil society organizations. Joan Morris & Andy Nystrom ……..…………………………………….. 27 STAFF: Randall Garrison: From ED to Canadian Member of Parliament ………. 28 Executive Director: April Ingham 31 Program Development Coordinator: PPP Welcomes Te Vaka!! …………………………………….…………… Alexandra Dawley Archivist and Research Assistant: ABOUT THE COVER: Andy Nystrom This man with a conch shell was photographed by Dan McGarry, photographer for Financial Officer: Alan Thomas Humans of Vanuatu. Conch shells are used to signal a call to action, making this a ftting symbol for renewing commitment to positive change between north-south CREDITS: community members. Guest Editor: Alison Gardner Graphic Design: Alexandra Dawley Humans of Vanuatu, is a photography project fashioned after Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York project. The project serves to provide an exhaustive Pacifc Peoples’ Partnership catalogue of portraits and captions that offer a glimpse beyond the postcard 407-620 View Street views of Vanuatu’s islands, resorts and attractions. Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 1J6 250.381.4131 Vanuatu is rightly known as a happy, beautiful country where life is uncomplicated, community still exists and people matter. This becomes more vividly true, though, [email protected] once you’ve had a chance to see how people live. It’s a simple existence, that’s true, www.facebook.com/pacifcpeoples but simplicity comes with its fair share of trials and tribulations. Laughter and joy www.pacifcpeoplespartnership.org are the rewards. See more at: www.humansofvanuatu.com. PPP Celebrates Five More Years of Pacific Unity & Action By Alexandra Dawley For an amazing 40 years, Pacifc Peoples’ Partnership has Tides Project raising awareness of the impacts of climate been working in solidarity with Pacifc Islanders from a change on Indigenous communities in Canada and the humble ‘home base’ on Vancouver Island, Canada. A creative South Pacifc (2007). range of meaningful programs and initiatives over that time have refected the ever-evolving needs of South Pacifc Between 2010 and 2015, PPP has spearheaded equally Peoples. In our 35th anniversary special edition of Tok Blong innovative projects with its partners and sponsors. Here are Pasifk, we refected on what had been achieved to 2010; in some highlights: this anniversary issue we focus on what has been achieved in Papua: Land of Peace: Civil Society Leadership in partnership with our many Confict Transformation (PLP) (2009-2012) supporters between 2010 and PLP began as a multi-sector governance project funded by 2015. the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). It harnessed rights-based approaches toward integrating PPP’s programs are largely capacity strengthening and education around sustainable driven by the needs of the livelihoods, indigenous rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, and people in Small Island violence against women. PLP enhanced the work of Developing States of the Indigenous-led regional non-proft organizations in West South Pacifc, while we are Papua province, Indonesia, particularly addressing critical actively forging deep issues stemming from poverty, confict, gender, and partnerships with the First community well-being. Nations of Canada as well. PPP’’s frst Executive Director, Our role is to provide Phil Esmonde. an internationally recognized platform for all these communities to voice their concerns, share their rich knowledge and history, while expanding their networks on a global level. We are committed to cultivating meaningful partnerships with both south and north Pacifc peoples, as we explore areas of common concern and engage meaningfully in international development initiatives. With the generous support of donors, sponsors, and key partners, West Papuan Woman. Credit: Isolated Film our organization has maximised modest resources here in Canada to work alongside long-term Pacifc partners to make a signifcant, tangible impact within their Phil Esmonde Legacy Endowment Fund (2011) communities. PPP’s frst Executive Director, Phil Esmonde, passed away in December 2011. Between 1981-1989 Phil grew PPP from a Since its inception four decades ago, PPP’s portfolio has corner desk in a small office into a national NGO of infuence included many accomplishments. These include: providing and credibility both in Canada and internationally. He also $40,000 in reconstruction support to Tongan communities played a strategic role that ultimately led to abolition of following the Tonga Cyclone (1982-1983), co-founding the nuclear testing in the Pacifc. Because of his devotion to Ecowoman project to promote sound eco-friendly science at peace, friends united to honour his legacy by contributing to the grassroots level in Fiji (1997-2001), North-South PPP’s future through an endowment fund. By 2015 the Fund, Indigenous Internships (1999-2006), as well as The Shifting intended to contribute to PPP’s own sustainability, had grown to over $30,000 held by the Victoria Foundation. 4 Raven and Paradise Tok Blong Special Edition (2012) Indigenous-Led HIV Prevention Strategy for A special edition of Tok Blong Pasifk was conceived to Tanah Papua (2013-2015) explore the alternate biospheres of West Papua, Indonesia Tanah Papua (Land of Papua) is experiencing a generalized and the Coast Salish territories of Canada. With the help of HIV epidemic that disproportionately affects Indigenous many partners, we gathered the creative vision and unique Peoples. PPP, the University of Calgary, and PPP partners in stories of youth from both places. The book represented West Papua initiated collaborative research to examine hundreds of hours of work including the participation of 202 effective HIV prevention and treatment among Indigenous youth from north and south, following a story of ‘far away mothers. The project mobilized Indigenous-led and brother birds’ Raven and the Bird of Paradise. When Paradise culturally-informed HIV prevention workshops held in the learns of his distant relative, he makes a voyage that weaves most affected West Papuan communities. together two lands, their people, and their visions for the future. Published in English and Indonesian, the book Pedalling for Papua (2011-2013) includes illustrations by children from both Coast Salish and In 2011, PPP volunteer Jeremy Bally spent six weeks in West West Papuan communities as well as the skilled work of Papua where he had the opportunity to listen to local T’Sou-ke Nation artist Mark Gauti and the literary talent of people share their experiences. They encouraged him to Jen Jorgensen. share their stories of challenge and resilience on a larger scale. Upon his return home to Canada, Jeremy funneled this inspiration into creating an educational performance of shadow puppetry, ukulele, story- telling, and recorded interviews which he shared in over 30 performances, all while Raven and Paradise Graphic By Mark Gauti riding his bicycle 9,547 Enterprising West Papuan Women Initiative (2013-2015) kilometres across Enterprising West Papuan Women was funded through Canada. Through this Development & Peace,