FLI organized a Community of Practice (CoP) on culture and arts on March 14, 2019 in Islamabad which was attended by 16 people from 11 language communities of northern Pakistan. The event was aimed to figure out why the local arts and music were facing the danger of extinction and what steps should be taken to revive the local musical arts. Eight people, belonging to Torwali, Gawri, Khowar, Shina, Wakhi, Hindko, Palula and Kalasha language groups presented their presentations on how music, an integral part of their indigenous cultures were eroding and what were the reasons. They also floated their recommendations for promotion of their cultural heritage. The conclusion brought up many reasons varying from geographical to atmospheric factors effecting the very cultural aspect of the region. Some of the findings of the CoP listed below:

• Music was no more a likable and profitable profession in some societies of northern Pakistan
• Music and musicians are stigmatized in some areas
• Globalization, religious extremism, social stigma and government negligence were blamed for overall degradation of local arts.

Factually, every indigenous culture in northern Pakistan, as come out of this event, had been giving great importance  to the music in the past. In some places, the music was used not only for casual entertainment but was it also a part of daily life of the inhabitants. In Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral region, some type of musical instruments are still being played during the traditional polo competitions, meant to create thrill among the players. The same was done in the past during wars.

FLI has been requested by the participants of this event to work for the revival of this aspect of cultures in its target region. FLI will surely seek government help for the purpose though its advocacy efforts.

UN has declared the upcoming calendar year of 2019 the International year of Indigenous Languages. UNESCO has launched a website for awareness raising on indigenous languages. Organizations and individuals who work for preservation and development of indigenous languages can register with UNESCO and contribute.

The website can be accessed by clicking on https://en.iyil2019.org/

16 people including three women from Khowar language community of Golaghmuli village in district Ghizer, GB gained the ability of writing in their mother tongue in a workshop. FLI held this Writers’ Workshop for Khowar Community in the first week of November 2018 in their village, Golaghmuli. The purpose of the activity was to enable the community people to understand how writing system of a language is standardized. External facilitator Farid A Raza and Sr. Literacy Officer of FLI, Naseem Haider facilitated the training.

A language researcher of Khowar language community, Afsar Ali Khan translated UNESCO’s MLE promotional documentary in Khowar language and recorded the narration. FLI then dubbed the video. We appreciate the other language communities to do same as this short film highlights how UNESCO supports the idea of starting education with mother tongue.

Click Here to view the video

The Forum for language Initiatives arranged a Community of Practice (CoP) on Indigenous Resources Management on 30^th of April 2018 in Islamabad. 18 people belonging to various language and culture groups attended this one day event. The goal of this CoP was to provide the communities of North Pakistan an opportunity to share the very indigenous wisdom of managing the natural resources in their particular areas and learn from each other. Secondly, they had to translate the learning from this event into a lesson and apply in their own context. 12 people from north Pakistan gave their presentation elaborating how the natural resources; Land, Forest, Water and Pastures (grasslands) are currently or have been traditionally managed in their respective regions.