Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the World: From Batwa Indigenous community in Uganda to Stanford University, Peru’s isolated Indigenous peoples threatened by oil and gas expansion, Indigenous youth disproportionately represented in NSW crime data in Australia, and Canada allocates $5M for cultural center in Sault Ste. Marie.
UGANDA: From forest to Stanford
This is Joyce Orishaba’s remarkable journey.
In the heart of Uganda’s rolling hills and dense forests lives the Batwa tribe, an Indigenous community with a rich cultural heritage and a history marked by struggle and displacement. Traditionally hunter-gatherers, the Batwa faced eviction from their ancestral lands in the 1990s when the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest became a national park to protect endangered mountain gorillas. This displacement left the Batwa landless, impoverished and subjected to discrimination.
From this backdrop of hardship emerged the remarkable story of Joyce Orishaba, an 18-year-old Mutwa (singular for Batwa) who defied the odds to achieve a dream once thought impossible.
A new beginning
Joyce Orishaba’s life took a dramatic turn at the age of 10 when she was adopted by Wendee Nicole, a humanitarian who had moved to Uganda to start the nonprofit Redemption Song Foundation. Wendee, deeply moved by Joyce’s plight, shared, “Joyce being a double orphan and seeing how she was moving from house to house touched my heart and I fostered her in Uganda for a year and then adopted her through the Ugandan courts.”
Moving to San Diego, California, with her adopted mother, Joyce entered sixth grade. The transition was both exhilarating and challenging, as she faced cultural differences and academic pressures. Yet, Joyce’s determination and resilience shone through.
Academic Excellence
Initially, Joyce struggled academically. “In Uganda, she was not doing well in class,” Wendee recalls while talking to ICT. She did fine when she was in US schools! She really just needed to learn how to study and to learn English, and now to see that she has been accepted into a top university is a big deal for her and her people.” With Wendee’s dedicated support, Joyce quickly proved herself to be an outstanding student. Her academic excellence and unwavering determination earned her scholarships and opportunities that opened new horizons.
Joyce’s hard work and resilience paid off when she became the first Mutwa to be admitted to a university in the United States. Her acceptance into Stanford University, one of the world’s most prestigious institutions, is a historic moment for the Batwa community and a source of immense pride. “I was in disbelief and still am. Growing up as the kid nobody saw an educational future for, it’s incredible to think, ‘Joyce, you did it!’” she shared with ICT.
Preparing for a new chapter
As Joyce prepares to start her studies at Stanford in the fall (August), she reflects on the challenges and opportunities ahead. The transition will be both exciting and demanding, as she navigates a new academic environment and continues to represent her community on an international stage. Yet, she remains focused and driven, knowing her success can inspire others back home.
Joyce’s bond with Wendee, their shared journey, and the support she has received are testaments to the power of compassion and individual action. In her new home, Joyce continues to excel academically and is actively involved in advocacy work for indigenous rights and education.
Inspiring change
Joyce Orishaba’s story is more than a personal triumph; it is a narrative of hope and transformation. Her journey from the marginalized Batwa community to Stanford University exemplifies the potential within every individual, regardless of background. Joyce’s success serves as an inspiration not only to the Batwa people but to all facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Through her dedication and achievements, Joyce is paving the way for future generations of Batwa children. She is a living testament to the fact that with determination, support, and opportunities, anyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve greatness.
A vision for the future
Driven by a profound sense of justice, Joyce aspires to become a social justice lawyer. She dreams of working for the United Nations, advocating for Indigenous populations worldwide. Joyce’s ambition reflects her commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive society. Her journey from a small village in Bwindi, Uganda, to the international stage is just beginning, and she is determined to make a lasting impact on the world.
About Joyce
Joyce Orishaba, a Ugandan-American high school student based in San Diego, is a passionate advocate for the Batwa Tribe. Her compelling voice brought her recognition when she won the New York Times student essay contest in December 2022, providing her a platform to highlight the struggles of her tribe, who were displaced from their ancestral forest in the 1990s to protect mountain gorillas. Joyce has interned with the Redemption Song Foundation and with the Bright Future Athletes Foundation. Her skills encompass social media, graphic design, tutoring Ugandan students, video production, and advocacy. In her leisure time, Joyce enjoys singing, surfing, dancing, traveling and attending church.
Redemption Song Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the Indigenous Batwa community near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. It was founded and is run by Joyce Orishaba’s mom.
The foundation’s mission is to spread hope by growing healthy communities and sustainable ecosystems in Uganda, primarily focusing on the Batwa. They work to provide quality education and support for Batwa children, ensuring they have the dreams they deserve.
Joyce Orishaba’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of education and support. Her journey is a testament to what can be achieved with determination, opportunity and a strong support system.
PERU: Oil and gas expansion threatening people
Indigenous peoples in Peru who live in voluntary isolation or have only recently come into contact with the outside world are facing ongoing threats due to the expansion of oil and gas activities within their reserves, according to a new report by the nonprofit Earth Insight, Mongabay reported Aug. 12.
According to Peru’s Ministry of Culture, approximately 7,500 Indigenous people in the country live in isolation or initial contact, collectively known as PIACI. These communities’ designated and proposed Indigenous territorial reserves span nearly 8 million hectares (20 million acres) of the Amazon Rainforest. However, new maps from Earth Insight reveal that active and proposed oil and gas concessions currently overlap with 1.6 million hectares (4 million acres), or 20 percent, of PIACI reserves.
“The amount of hectares threatened in established and proposed reserves is shocking, along with the fact that there are so many oil and gas blocks, varying from promotional blocks to production blocks, surrounding these reserves and threatening around 435 Indigenous communities,” said Edith Espejo, program manager at Earth Insight, according to Mongabay.
PIACI inhabit some of the most remote, pristine and biodiverse regions of the Amazon. However, they are extremely vulnerable to interactions with outsiders, such as loggers, miners, drug traffickers, and missionaries. These Indigenous communities typically lack immunity to common diseases, and contact with the outside world significantly increases the risk of violent encounters. For example, in July, members of the Mashco Piro community, believed to be the world’s largest isolated Indigenous group, reportedly engaged in a violent clash with loggers near the edges of their officially recognized territory.
Similarly, oil-related activities have had “significant impacts on Indigenous territories, affecting 41 out of 65 recognized Indigenous tribes in Peru,” according to the Earth Insight report.
For instance, the exploration, production and transportation of oil in the Peruvian Amazon resulted in approximately 474 oil spills between 2000 and 2019. Many of these spills have polluted vital rivers, such as the Marañon, which Indigenous peoples depend on for food and health, compromising the well-being of these communities. Moreover, oil and gas operations have opened up forests to illegal logging and drug trafficking. “Over the past decade, 143 cases were filed against 16 oil companies for environmental violations,” the report adds.
Despite these challenges, new oil and gas blocks continue to be announced. In February 2023, Peru’s state energy agency, Perupetro, unveiled 31 new oil and gas exploration areas in the river basins of the Marañon and Ucayali. That same month, the agency announced the reactivation of Lot 192, Peru’s largest oilfield, which overlaps with several Indigenous territories, for a 30-year period.
“If you look at the map, a large portion of the proposed Napo Tigre reserve is covered by oil and gas blocks,” Espejo continued, according to Mongabay. “It was important to report on because reserves like this can get caught up in bureaucratic processes for decades, in part because they overlap with oil and gas blocks. The Napo Tigre Reserve was first proposed back in 2003 and has not moved forward in the approval process, which is supposed to only take about two to three years.”
AUSTRALIA: Report: Indigenous youth overrepresented
New data reveals that young children appearing in New South Wales courts are predominantly from disadvantaged backgrounds and are often Indigenous, fueling the ongoing debate about raising the age of criminal responsibility, National Indigenous Times reported on Aug. 14.
A day after the Victorian government reversed its promise to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14, data revealed that legal proceedings were initiated against 4,662 individuals age 10 to 13 years in 2023.
More than 40 percent of those individuals were Indigenous, with children in remote and regional areas more than three times as likely to face legal proceedings. Of the 171 young people age 10 to 13 in youth detention in 2023, 60 percent were Indigenous.
Victoria’s decision to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12, instead of to 14 as originally promised, was condemned as “treacherous” by Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service chief executive Nerita Waight, who stated it had abandoned Indigenous children.
In New South Wales, 82 percent of children age 10 to 13 who appeared in court had been identified in a child protection report as being at risk of significant harm. A quarter of them had been in out-of-home care, and 37 percent had accessed specialist homelessness services.
New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research executive director Jackie Fitzgerald noted that while the number of young offenders is small, it requires a nuanced approach.
“These children have overwhelmingly experienced significant childhood trauma and disadvantage prior to their contact with the justice system,” she said, according to National Indigenous Times. “The challenge is to identify an appropriate response to these offending behaviors that can keep both the child and the community safe while attempting to address the longer-term complex needs of these young people and prevent future offending.”
Of the 4,662 legal proceedings, 57 percent were resolved through caution or warning. The most common offenses were theft (36 percent) and violence (30 percent).
New South Wales has not signaled any intention to raise the age of criminal responsibility, with Attorney General Michael Daley indicating in November that “there has been no work done on this.” He expressed concerns that alternative services are not yet in place for children age 10 to 13 who could no longer be incarcerated.
The United Nations recommends 14 as the minimum age of criminal responsibility, a stance supported by doctors and legal experts. Children as young as 10 can be charged, convicted and imprisoned across Australia, except in the Northern Territory, which raised the age of criminal responsibility to 12 in August 2023. The ACT has passed legislation to raise the age to 14 by 2025 with some exceptions, while Tasmania has committed to raising the minimum age of criminal detention to 14.
CANADA: Cultural center gets $5M
Canada has announced $5 million in funding for Algoma University to construct the Makwa Waakaa’igan Culture Centre, APTN News reported Aug. 13.
The three-floor facility will feature spaces dedicated to ceremony, cultural events, and academic learning.
“It’s a great announcement, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Algoma U,” said Batchewana Chief Mark McCoy, according to APTN News.
The center will be situated on the property of Algoma University, which was once the site of the Shingwauk Residential School. According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the school opened in Sault Ste. Marie around 1875 and closed in 1970.
“Our Shingwauk Residential School archival staff will be working in the new facility,” said Asima Vezina, president of the university. “The tours are all conducted by Anishinaabe tour guides, so the ‘truth walks’ that we offer to the community – about 35,000 visitors are expected to tour the Shingwauk exhibit annually – will be a key feature.”
The design of the Makwa Waakaa’igan facility was developed in collaboration with the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association, which consists of residential school survivors and their families.
Construction of the new center has been delayed due to a site search for unmarked graves.
“I’m very pleased with the consultation throughout the process, given the sensitivity of the area, being the former Shingwauk Residential School,” McCoy said.
The center is anticipated to be completed sometime in 2026.
My final thoughts
My final thoughts are about Joyce Orishaba, an 18-year-old indigenous Mutwa (singular for Batwa) who defied the odds to achieve a dream once thought impossible. Joyce Orishaba is the first indigenous Mutwa from Uganda to be admitted to Stanford University. This extraordinary achievement is a testament to her resilience, determination and the unwavering support of the Redemption Song Foundation.
The Redemption Song Foundation has been a beacon of hope for Batwa children, providing educational opportunities and resources that empower them to envision and pursue a brighter future. Joyce’s admission to Stanford University is not just a personal triumph but a collective victory for the Batwa community and the Redemption Song Foundation.
Joyce Orishaba’s journey from the forests of Uganda to the halls of Stanford University is a powerful reminder that no dream is too big, no goal too distant. Her story challenges all Indigenous children around the world to aim higher, believe in their potential, and work tirelessly toward their aspirations. Indigenous children, you have within you the strength and resilience of your ancestors.
Your heritage is a source of pride and inspiration. Like Joyce, you can overcome obstacles and achieve greatness. Believe in yourself. Your background and circumstances do not define your potential. Seek support from organizations like the Redemption Song Foundation that are dedicated to supporting your education and personal growth. These resources can provide the guidance and assistance you need to succeed.
Success requires dedication and hard work. Stay focused on your goals, and don’t be afraid to put in the effort needed to achieve them. Embrace education, as it is a powerful tool that can open doors to countless opportunities. Take advantage of every educational opportunity available to you and strive for excellence in your studies. Stay connected to your roots; your cultural heritage is a source of strength and identity. Use your unique perspective to make a positive impact in your community and beyond.
Joyce Orishaba’s success story is a beacon of hope and a call to action for all Indigenous children. With hard work, perseverance and the right support, you too can achieve remarkable things.
Let Joyce’s journey inspire you to reach for the stars and create a brighter future for yourself and your community.
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