Gimpo celebrates International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Children give a dance performance during a celebration of the 2nd International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in Korea at Yanggok Middle School in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
GIMPO, Gyeonggi Province — More than 250 guests from various countries came together at Yanggok Middle School in Gimpo, Sunday, to mark the 2nd International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples celebrated in Korea. The event showcased the richness of diverse cultures, the uniqueness of Indigenous identities and the beauty of distinct traditions, creating a vibrant space for cultural exchange and mutual appreciation.
Hosted by the Jumma Peoples Network Korea, a cultural organization of the Bangladesh Jumma Indigenous people established in 2002, and Dream of Nations Myanmar Community, an organization for Myanmarese Indigenous refugees resettled in Korea.
The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on Aug. 9 was first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1994. This year's celebration recognizes and honors the rich diversity of Indigenous cultures, and acknowledges historical injustices, ongoing struggles and their contributions to humanity.
It has been said that Korea has become home to many Indigenous peoples from around the world, including the Jumma Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) and Indigenous peoples of Myanmar. Many Indigenous people living in Korea faced human rights violations in their home countries.
The event was a colorful showcase of the cultural and ethnic identities of Bangladesh's 11 Jumma ethnic minorities and Myanmar's eight Indigenous minorities, who largely settled in Gimpo when they came to Korea, along with an invited family from Central America and a Nepalese traditional music performance by the Gimpo Nepal Community.
People from various backgrounds participate in a celebration of the 2nd International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in Korea at Yanggok Middle School in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
Chakma Nikhil, president of Jumma Peoples Network Korea, expressed his deep gratitude to the government and Korean society in his welcoming remarks, noting that the country’s nondiscriminatory social system has provided opportunities for members of the Jumma community. Currently, over 180 Jumma people reside in Korea, including more than 45 children.
“Thanks to Gimpo Foreign Resident Support Center, I believe our collaboration with the city has played a vital role in making this event a success. I look forward to continuing our work together for the benefit of our residents,” he told the Korea Times.
However, he stressed that the day’s celebrations could not be separated from the ongoing challenges faced by many community members, who have yet to achieve complete freedom and recognition as human beings. “That’s what refugee recognition is all about,” he emphasized, pointing to the barriers many still face in finding proper jobs or accessing health insurance.
Calling for wider awareness, he urged both the Korean government and civil society to address these pressing issues. He concluded with a broader message of hope: “I wish that all oppressed people around the world, regardless of religion or caste, will regain their rights, and that peace will be established everywhere."
Ronel Chakma Nani, an Indigenous rights activist and counseling team manager at Gimpo Foreign Resident Support Center, highlighted that Aug. 9 was chosen for the special day in recognition of the first meeting of the U.N. Working Group on Indigenous Populations, held on that day in 1982.
Ronel Chakma Nani, Indigenous Peoples' Rights Activist and Counseling Team Manager at Gimpo Foreign Citizen Support Center, participates in the 2nd International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in Korea at Yanggok Middle School in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
“Though the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples guarantees rights like self-determination and autonomy for Indigenous peoples, in most countries, human rights violations such as land grabbing, economic exclusion and social, political and religious violence are being committed against Indigenous peoples. Since then, the Indigenous population has been recognized as the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized people in the world," he said.
He cited several instances of persecution of Indigenous people throughout history, from the massacre of thousands of people by the Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus between 1492 and 1514, to contemporary atrocities in Bangladesh, Myanmar and many other countries.
"Today, Indigenous Peoples' Day is celebrated by many around the world to advocate for their rights and cultural values,” he said.
For Korean participant Oh Yoo-hyun, a certified psychologist and psychotherapist and co-representative of Homointer, a local nonprofit organization which is committed to supporting refugees and migrants living in Korea, the event was a surprise.
Reflecting on the experience, he shared his surprise and delight upon meeting members of the Jumma and Myanmar communities in Gimpo. “In daily life, they are not visible in Korean society, but they exist, they are here, it was nice to see them, their happiness and their memorable day,” he said.
He mentioned that recently his organization organized a Community Psychosocial Supporters (CPS) Workshop, bringing together participants from the Jumma and Myanmar communities, as well as Afghan refugees in the area. When asked about the role such events play in fostering multiculturalism in Korea, he expressed mixed feelings. On one hand, he acknowledged that gatherings like this help showcase cultural diversity in Korea. On the other hand, he questioned the depth of multiculturalism if different groups live in isolation from one another.
“Today, I was grateful to be here, but I noticed there were not many native Koreans present,” he said. “It would have been better to see Koreans interacting with these communities. Maybe what we need is not just multiculturalism, but interculturalism, where many cultures truly come together and connect.”
People attend a celebration of the 2nd International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in Korea at Yanggok Middle School in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
Initiatives like the CPS Workshop continue to create spaces for cultural exchange, with the hope that Korea will move beyond simply acknowledging diversity to fostering genuine interaction and understanding among its many communities.
It has been mentioned that about 476 million Indigenous people live worldwide, which accounts for 6.2 percent of the global population. In over 90 countries, there are over 5,000 distinct Indigenous groups who speak over 4,000 languages, on every inhabited continent and in every climate zone.
Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He’s also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and a freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.