Indigenous Education Foundation
Supporting Indigenous-led cultural and ecological education programs
To achieve our mission we focus on three pillars of education:
Language
Culture
Ecology
Join IEF in supporting Indigenous-led education programs strengthening connection to language,
culture & ecology
Join IEF in supporting Indigenous-led education programs strengthening connection to language, culture & ecology
Impact Stories
Suku Mentawai cultural education program update
Earlier this month, the Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF) met with the Yayasan Pendidikan Suku Mentawai (YPSM) team in Muntei village, Mentawai to assess how their cultural education program is progressing and learn more about the ways in which IEF can support. We...
Suku Mentawai office – WIFI Installation
Finding internet connection has been rather challenging for our partner Foundation (YPSM) and other locals living on Siberut Island - not to mention extraordinarily expensive to install. A few months ago, Lush Charity Pot kindly provided us with a grant to install a...
Your donations are making a positive difference
Again, thank you to everyone who has supported our WAFSAC campaign over the past few months. The donations received are already being utilised and bringing positive impact to Mentawai’s Indigenous community. Inspired by the level of support shown by people all around...
Our Commitment
Projects and education programs supported by IEF are designed and implemented by Indigenous Peoples themselves, in such a way that each program fosters full respect for Indigenous Peoples and their members’ identity, dignity, human rights, and cultural identity. IEF believes that by being Indigenous initiated and led, communities do not suffer adverse effects during the engagement process. From this starting point, social and economic benefits may be attained.
IEF ensures that all its programs are based on the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples during all phases of the project and campaigns, including the identification, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all project activities.
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Indigenous Perspectives
Future leader finding voice through indigenous education
The power of indigenous and modern education: It is often said that if you pursue an indigenous education you must forego a modern education, and it is also said that if you pursue a modern education you risk being educated out of your indigenous culture and identity. Read Martison Siritoitet’s story about how he was educated into his culture and avoided being educated out of it when he pursued an education at a modern university far away from his family and community in the Mentawai isles:
In 2019, Martison was invited to represent indigenous Mentawai youth and share story of his culture at the Indigenous Film Festival in Bali. In the 3 months leading up, Martison produced a short film focused on their Mentawai cultural learning hub program, which was screened at the festival.
Building proud and resilient communities
IEF supports the 2030 UN
Sustainable Development Goals
and Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples.
ACN: 168 130 096
ABN: 67 168 130 096