Wayfinders Circle ​Twenty-third session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Special Event

Background

World Union of Indigenous Spiritual Practitioners (WUISP) is an open voluntary alliance of Indigenous spiritual practitioners, shamans, healers, sacred sites guardians, cultural activists, holders of traditional Indigenous knowledge and values, Indigenous organizations and clans committed to working together with the common goal of achieving the mission and vision for protection of Mother Earth and strengthening of pristine ties human-nature-culture for the survival and wellbeing of generations to come.

From 2021, WUISP has been implementing the innovative “ORIGINS Traditional Arts Fellowship Program” in the mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Mongolia. The program focuses on creating a unique training and support system for Indigenous creative youth to reconnect with their heritage, deepen their roots, and renew their commitment to Earth guardianship through artistic and cultural practices. The knowledge, experiences and lessons learned from this program will be shared during this event. Drawing inspiration from the diverse traditions, customs, and practices of Indigenous communities, Origins aims to foster greater awareness and appreciation for the cultural richness, resilience of Indigenous peoples and their rights for self-determination.

World Union of Indigenous Spiritual Practitioners (WUISP) has actively participated in discussions at the Parliament of the World’s Religions 2023 and engaged in dialogues concerning the UN Plan of Action on Countering Hate Speech and Fostering Peace Mediation and Just Societies, facilitated by The Peacemakers Network in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention of the Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG).

In addition, WUISP has been one of the founding organizations of Wayfinders Circle, providing spiritual guidance throughout the initiative’s development. Additionally, Pawanka Fund and Nia Tero are two other supporting organizations involved in the initiative.

The Wayfinders Circle is a global network of indigenous peoples from around the world who work to strengthen self-determination in managing their lands and territories and maintain cultural and spiritual continuity through intergenerational transmission. At present, the Wayfinders Circle comprises 15 members, including Indigenous communities that collectively steward over 37.5 million hectares of land and 72.8 million hectares of oceans across Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Arctic, the Pacific, North America, and Russia. wayfinderscircle.org

Objectives

• Promote cultural exchange by bringing together Indigenous artists and audiences from different backgrounds, age and regions, highlighting the unique identities, histories, and traditions of Indigenous communities worldwide.
• Raise awareness about the challenges and issues facing by Indigenous communities, including cultural preservation, intergenerational transmission, collective rights, environmental sustainability, peace, and harmony.
• Empower indigenous youth artists to share their stories, perspectives, and experiences with a global audience.
• Build collectively a powerful statement on the importance of acknowledging, respecting, and honoring the roots, cultures, traditions, spirituality and rights of Indigenous Peoples, promoting peace around the world.

Preliminary Agenda

Dialogue youth and elders and exhibition of experiences (2 Hours)

Indigenous peoples from different parts of the world will share their experiences, focusing on how they engage with youth, the concept of exchange and transmission, and the importance of spiritual and cultural continuity in their communities. They will highlight how these elements relate to the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples and their ongoing struggle for rights, land, and development while preserving their identity.

Experiences will be shared through various cultural expressions such as music, art installations, and more.

Interactive session (1 hour: 30 minutes explanation and time for people to participate and 30 minutes for lunch and informal interactions)

In the last hour of our session, we’ll have an interactive creative activity. We’ll showcase artwork that features ancient embroidery, a tradition found in every family in Central Asia. This embroidery holds significant meaning, with each symbol conveying a powerful message.

Participants will receive a piece of special cloth and have the option to write down their thoughts, ideas, wishes, or blessings, or they can draw symbols representing their nation or land. These contributions will be collected and displayed on a panel. When the elders return home, they can sew their piece onto the panel, creating a collective message to share with the world.

Art Exhibition

“Infinity” is showcasing the enduring journey of the indigenous peoples of central and inner Asia, embodying the wisdom, warmth, and soulful heritage of Indigenous ancestors, inviting to experience the eternal significance within life’s fleeting moments and embrace hope for a brighter, peaceful future.

The exhibition features diverse artworks from Buryatiya, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, and Pamir, offering through sculptures, embroidered panels, installations, paintings, and graphics, a fusion of modern and traditional cultures deeply rooted in ancient knowledge, inviting viewers to engage in self-reflection, contemplation, and interactive exploration of symbolic meanings and contextual narratives.