Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the World: Indigenous schools teach youth to protect Borneo’s “omen birds,” Ottawa ends Northwest Territories safety program funding post-2026, and China pushes education in Tibet through propaganda films.
INDONESIA: Indigenous youth taught to protect birds
In the rainforests of West Kalimantan, Indonesia, the Indigenous Dayak Iban listen to “omen birds,” which they believe carry messages from spirits, Mongabay’s Sonam Lama Hyolmo reported in November 2024.
Among them are the white-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus), scarlet-rumped trogon (Harpactes duvaucelii), and Diard’s trogon (Harpactes diardii), which play a significant role in their daily lives. However, their numbers are dwindling due to deforestation and the booming trade in songbirds.
“The culture of listening to omen birds is getting rare now, but we still view the birds as messengers in Sungai Utik,” said Hermanus Husin, a Dayak elder from the Sungai Utik community.
For generations, the Dayak Iban of Sungai Utik have served as guardians of their land, preserving a stretch of rainforest comparable in size to Paris. Their efforts in protecting Borneo’s forests from illegal loggers, palm oil plantations, and corporate exploitation earned them the U.N.’s Equator Prize in 2019.
Yet, omen birds like the white-rumped shama are increasingly sought for their vibrant feathers and melodious calls. Captured and placed in cages, they are often entered into singing contests with cash rewards, as reported by Hyolmo.
A study estimates that 70 million birds are kept as pets in 12 million households across Java alone. Ornithologist Panji Gusti Akbar told Mongabay that this could mean the number of caged birds now surpasses those in the wild.
To ensure omen birds continue to thrive, the Dayak Iban emphasize maintaining a healthy, undisturbed forest. Their customary laws strictly regulate tree cutting within protected areas, and trading omen birds is strictly forbidden.
Dayak Iban elders pass down their knowledge of medicinal plants and omen birds through their Indigenous school. However, preserving these traditions is becoming more difficult as younger members leave the community to pursue education elsewhere, according to 18-year-old filmmaker Kynan Tegar.
“There was a sense of shame in my father’s generation for being Indigenous. They had to cover up their tattoos or they would lose their jobs,” Kynan said, according to Mongabay, noting that discrimination discouraged them from embracing their identity.
Determined to reconnect with their heritage, Kynan created a documentary titled “Indai Apai Darah” (Mother Father Blood), showcasing the wisdom of their elders and their dedication to protecting their land and culture. He hopes the film will inspire other young tribe members to reclaim their roots.
Panji emphasized the critical role the Dayak Iban play in safeguarding songbirds from the illegal wildlife trade. “We have to acknowledge that local wisdom and knowledge are important to make sure conservation projects effectively work,” he said, according to Mongabay.
CANADA: Ottawa to end safety program funding
A legislative hurdle to federal funding limits the expansion of Fort Liard’s community safety program to other areas, APTN News reported on March 12.
The Northwest Territories hamlet is currently employing three community safety officers through a project managed by the local government with support from the territorial government and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The village is largely made up of Acho Dene Koe First Nation people.
These officers, the first of their kind in the territory, are trained to address non-criminal concerns, patrol the area, prevent crime, and work closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. However, they do not have the authority to enforce laws.
The pilot program is funded with 52 percent federal support from Public Safety Canada and 48 percent from the territorial government. Last week, the Government of Northwest Territories revealed that Public Safety Canada is requiring legislative changes for continued funding, but the government believes it cannot make those changes in time.
According to APTN News, the Department of Justice stated, “Public Safety Canada had told all provinces and territories that they must ‘have community safety officer legislation in place to be eligible’ for federal cash.” The Government of Northwest Territories added it is lobbying Ottawa to change this rule, saying, “This change will negatively impact small jurisdictions that have limited capacity to enact new legislation.”
The territorial government confirmed that federal funding for the Fort Liard pilot project will continue until its contract expires on March 31, 2026. The project costs approximately $300,000 annually. Despite multiple attempts, Cabin Radio did not receive a response from Public Safety Canada.
In a recent Legislative Assembly session, Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong asked Premier R.J. Simpson if there had been a noticeable reduction in crime since the community safety officer pilot began in Fort Liard.
Simpson acknowledged that despite the presence of officers, crime rates have been rising across the Northwest Territories, with an increase in calls to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. According to APTN News, he stated, “In many instances, they’re fighting an uphill battle,” adding that community safety officers responded to 600 incidents between September 2021 and December 2024.
Those incidents included tasks like “providing safe rides, mental health checks, supports for people who are intoxicated, maybe just walking down the street.” He continued, “They work with the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) on check stops. They’ve provided assistance during floods and wildfire evacuations, supporting Elders. And so there’s more to what this group does than just the numbers reflected in the crime rate.”
Weyallon Armstrong emphasized the importance of expanding the program to other small communities and asked about the potential for doing so. Simpson confirmed that an evaluation of the pilot program will take place in winter 2026.
The evaluation will consider factors such as “calls for service received by community safety officers and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, nights people spent in cells and other local crime statistics reported to the hamlet government.”
Simpson also noted that while the Government of Northwest Territories initially funded the program, federal support began in 2023, but “we have just learned from the federal government that we will no longer be eligible for any federal contributions for community safety officers after next year,” which could hinder plans to expand the program.
CHINA: Tibetans exposed to propaganda films
As Tibetan students begin the spring term, they are exposed to propaganda films depicting heroic Chinese soldiers and storytelling competitions praising the Communist Party, according to sources within Tibet and state media, Radio Free Asia reported on March 13.
Students and teachers across Tibet are being instructed to abandon “superstitious” beliefs as part of a push to eliminate Tibetan Buddhism, according to two sources from the region. This renewed effort for patriotic education is part of Beijing’s ongoing campaign to eradicate Tibetan culture and force assimilation into the majority Han Chinese culture.
State-run media reports describe the campaign as aimed at promoting “ethnic unity” and cultivating the “red gene” in Tibetan children – a term referring to the Communist Party’s revolutionary spirit and history. Teachers are required to show propaganda films to students and explain the “Chinese national spirit and warmth.” They must also guide students on China’s socialist system under the “First Lesson of the Year.”
In addition, teachers are instructed to strengthen students’ understanding of the “four consciousnesses” and achieve the “two safeguards,” which are efforts to modernize Chinese society and uphold party rule with President Xi Jinping at its core. These measures are being implemented with the expectation that students will gradually be indoctrinated with ideas supporting China’s role in Tibet, said Harsh V. Pant, vice president of the Observer Research Foundation.
In Pelbar County at Chamdo in the Tibet Autonomous Region, an online storytelling competition was launched for primary and secondary school students to narrate “red stories” about the greatness of the party. Over 100 students and parents participated. Additionally, videos were shown to students about the recent relief efforts in Dingri County, highlighting earthquake recovery efforts alongside ideological education.
The push for patriotic education aligns with the October 2023 Patriotic Education Law, which assigns both central and regional departments responsibility for these efforts. “The emphasis on the spread of propaganda in schools is likely to increase,” said Anushka Saxena, a research analyst at the Takshashila Institution.
Authorities are also targeting Tibetan Buddhism and religious practices, telling teachers and students to abandon “superstitious” thinking. The Chinese government issued strict bans on religious propagation in schools, including prohibiting religious symbols and clothing. Teachers are required to report monthly, confirming they are not teaching religious courses. Tibetan teachers are also being dismissed for lack of Chinese proficiency.
These policies aim to strip Tibetan children of their identity and culture, said Tsewang Dorji, a research fellow at the Tibet Policy Institute, according to Radio Free Asia. “Xi Jinping’s focus on education will intensify these efforts,” Dorji warned, noting that if these policies continue, Tibetan language, culture, identity and Buddhism will face immense threats in the coming decades.
My final thoughts
My final thoughts are in Canada where ending the funding for the community safety officer program in Fort Liard is a poor decision. This program plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of the community. The officers, while not able to enforce laws, provide essential services like mental health checks, safe rides, and support for intoxicated individuals.
As Premier R.J. Simpson noted, they responded to over 600 incidents between September 2021 and December 2024. These services help reduce crime and improve public safety, even though they don’t directly impact crime statistics.
Discontinuing the funding would remove this support, leaving a gap in community safety. The program is especially important for small communities that lack the resources to address non-criminal issues. Without it, Fort Liard would lose a vital service that helps the community manage mental health crises, provide assistance during floods and wildfires, and support vulnerable individuals.
The decision to end the funding also limits the possibility of expanding the program to other communities. As Jane Weyallon Armstrong pointed out, the program is valuable not just for crime reduction but also for supporting vulnerable groups.
Ottawa should reconsider its decision. This program has proven its value. Ending it would only harm the communities that need it most.
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