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
First Edition release of Suku Mentawai’s ethnobotany field guide, Siureman Purimanuaijat ka Simattaoi!
After a three year COVID-induced hiatus, Suku Mentawai (YPBM), together with the support of IEF, have worked intensively to complete the final edit of the first-ever Mentawai produced ethnobotany field guide, Siureman Purimanuaijat ka Simattaoi.
What does increased capacity look like for Mentawai’s First-Nations community Foundation?
The Suku Mentawai team is made up of predominantly young Mentawai from varying regions of Siberut Island. No members of the team have had prior experience in establishing or operating a non-profit organisation. Seeing how far this group have come over the years has been incredibly inspiring – remembering their excitement many years ago in learning about PDF format and how to create these documents, to now having published
SAVE KALIMANTAN’S TALEKOI FOREST FROM BREAKING POINT
Talekoi Forest is home to orangutan, and many rare and critically endangered plant species (Nepenthes khasiana, Eurycoma longifolia and Aquilaria malaccensis to name a few). For thousands of years these forests have provided nourishment, shelter and medicine under the care of the Dayak people.
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