AURUNICO NEWS – JANUARY 2025
Hello and welcome to the first edition of Aurunico News! Each month, we bring you stories that focus on culture, ethnic minorities, and other pressing global issues. Let’s dive into the key highlights for January.
Attacks on Indigenous People in Brazil
Four people, including a child, were injured in a shooting near Guaira, in the state of Parana, southern Brazil. Intense discussions are ongoing between the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security to launch an immediate investigation, as this was not the first attack targeted on an Indigenous community. Such assaults have been occurring in the region since last December. The victims belong to the Avá Guarani, an Indigenous group native to Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. In response to this wave of violence, SEPOCS (National Secretariat for Peoples, Traditional Communities, and Social Policy), with the support of the National Force, delivered essential aid—including food baskets and drinking water—to the Avá-Guarani people in the Yhovy village, Paraná.
Lectures for Seniors in Aurunico
The lecture program for the Universities of the Third Age has begun. In the coming months, representatives of Aurunico will deliver lectures to audiences in Great Britain, the USA, and Poland. The topic of the lectures will be disappearing cultures and languages.
Polish President meets with religious and ethnic minorities
On January 14th, 2025, Polish President Andrzej Duda met with representatives of churches, religious organizations, and ethnic and national minority groups in Poland. In his speech, the president emphasized the crucial role minorities have played in shaping Polish identity over the centuries. He expressed his gratitude for their contributions to building the nation, referencing the Warsaw Confederation as a symbol of Poland’s tradition of religious tolerance.
Kumbh Mela: A Unique Festival in India
In Prayagraj, India, the grand celebrations of Kumbh Mela began on January 13th. Millions of pilgrims, spiritual leaders, and yogis are gathering at the sacred confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati River to participate in this profound spiritual event. Traditionally, devotees immerse themselves in the holy waters to purify their souls and reaffirm their faith. This year’s Kumbh Mela is unique, since its constellation alignment is witnessed once every 144 years. The event is scheduled to conclude on February 24th and is expected to draw dignitaries and visitors from around the globe.
2024 Americas Indigenous Literatures Award
Ruperta Bautista, a writer, anthropologist and educator from the Chiapan community of Huixtán, was awarded the 2024 Americas Indigenous Literatures Award for her poetry collection entitled Presagio lóbrego (Ominous Omen). Her work represents her outlook on the world of her community through the lens of Tzotzil philosophy. She also touches on the topic of loss, grief, and what her Indigenous community had to suffer through. The Americas Indigenous Literatures Award is aimed at preserving and encouraging literary works of Indigenous writers across Americas. Ruperta Bautista received the prize during the Guadalajara International Book Fair, a grand cultural event and one of the most important publishing events in Ibero-America.
The Role of Nature in Shaping Cultures
A delegation of African Indigenous youth from the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC) and the Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC) took part in a special UNESCO event to discuss the profound importance of nature to Indigenous communities. The delegates shared testimonies about the deep-rooted connection their communities have with nature and how it forms an integral part of their cultural identity.
They highlighted that nature serves as a vital source of water, resources, and cultural traditions, yet resource extraction, industrialization, and neglectful policies threaten both biodiversity and Indigenous livelihoods.
To address these issues the event concluded with the adoption of a permanent subsidiary body and Programme of Work on Article 8(j) of the UNCBD, ensuring the respect and preservation of Indigenous knowledge and practices.
That wraps up this month’s edition of Aurunico News. Thank you for joining us and please don’t forget to like and subscribe. Stay tuned for next month’s update!
References:
https://x.com/UNESCO/status/1878913393287110833
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/kumbh-mela-01258
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Prayag_Kumbh_Mela
https://www.unesco.org/creativity/en/articles/ruperta-bautista-voice-resistance-and-wisdom?hub=71469
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/indigenous-youth-insights-cop16?hub=701