The Council of Indigenous Peoples and and the Austronesian Forum Taipei Secretariat in Taiwan successfully concluded the first Training Program in Guam for the "2023 International Indigenous Youth Forum" today, March 22, at the Pacific Islands Club Guam. This 5-day, 4-night program featured sessions on the sharing and exchange of issues related to Chamorro culture, language, history, traditional navigation, and transitional justice. Akiku Haisum, Chief Secretary of the Council of Indigenous Peoples, presided over the closing ceremony, during which local dignitaries and Chamorro experts presented certificates to participants, encouraging them to continue connecting and contributing their knowledge to the development of indigenous peoples.
Akiku, the Chief Secretary, highlighted the Council’s 20-year commitment to cultivating international talent among indigenous peoples, having trained over 800 indigenous people to date in international affairs. The training program welcomed participants from 11 countries/regions, totaling 24 exceptional Austronesian youth. In Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, there are 16 indigenous ethnic groups comprising nearly 590,000 people, each distinguished by unique language, lifestyle, and culture. Research in language, archaeology, and genetics consistently points to Taiwan as the origin of the Austronesians.
Akiku emphasized that the training featured lectures from several Chamorro experts and scholars and encompassed visits to the Office of the Governor of Guam, the Guam Museum, the Chamorro Culture Center, the Chamorro Language School, and organizations dedicated to preserving traditional navigation. The Council of Indigenous Peoples plans to continue organizing regional training programs in different countries, providing young participants with opportunities to visit diverse nations, deepen their understanding of local issues, and broaden their international perspectives.
The Council of Indigenous Peoples reinstated the "Austronesian Forum" as a permanent international organization on August 1, 2018, currently comprising 14 member countries/regions and one observer (Belize). With both Taiwan and Guam as members of the forum, the Council of Indigenous Peoples anticipates that this training program will foster ongoing collaboration with international partners, to promote the cultural heritage and sustainable development of Austronesian peoples.