The South-East Asian Mountain Minority Peoples Culure and Development (MPCD-SEAMP),
previously called MPCDE, with headquarters in Chiang Mai, 137/3 Nantharam, has
been working with Mountain Minority Peoples since 1979. In its often-difficult
history as an independent NGO, MPCD-SEAMP has taken different forms and has
been involved in a wide range of activities. Started by Akha leaders in the
mountains of Northern Thailand and Akha women in Chiang Mai, MPCD-SEAMP has
over the years been faithful to the following objectives:
- To promote equal access for mountain minority peoples in Thailand and surrounding
countries, to modern education, primary health care, citizenship and the national
economy with integration of those elements of South East Asian mountain minority
peoples' culture, that had made them strong in the past.
- To promote adequate information, documentation and (action) research regarding
mountain minority peoples' cultures/traditional knowledge, their problems
of integration and their adaptation to modern times, for greater self reliance
in the future.
- To promote sustainable "self-development" of mountain minority
peoples based on human and cultural resources of traditional knowledge in
various fields, especially the ecological, as they have been built up over
centuries by their ancestors.
MPCD-SEAMP has also been at the origin of four Mountain Peoples' NGOs managed
by the people themselves. The first "Tribal" NGO's for education and
culture in Northern Thailand were strated in the 1980's, including the Akha
Association for Education and Culture (AFECT, started 1981, legally recognized
1989) and Inter Mountain Peoples for Education and Culture Association (IMPECT,
started 1986, legally recognized 1993).
In the 1990's MPCD-SEAMP's emphasis shifted to the Hani/Akha peoples in the
international Mekhong Quadrangle area.
See People behind the scene for information on
the people and organizations supporting our work.
Current projects overview 2002
Nantharam 137/3; Chiang Mai 50100; Thailand.
66-53-276 194; Fax: 66-53-274 947 E-mail: seamptri@loxinfo.co.th
Dr. Leo A.von Geusau, Director
-
Information, Documentation, Consultancy and Library
Regarding Mountain Minority Peoples in the Mekong Quadrangle.
Staff: Dr. Leo A. von Geusau and Assistant.
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SHAC(SEAMP Hani/Akha Culture) Research Projects:
2.1. DIARA (Dissemination of the Archaic
Resources of the Akha)
Activities:
- To Publish 2 books with Archaic Akha texts from the Phima (Reciter)
and Dzoema (Traditional village head) in one year 2001-2004 amongst
others :
Oer-zar: "The life-cycle of people, plants and animals"
Aq Yehr chaq: "The book of lost Songs"
Arka-eu Ar Xo Gakawq: "The Akha Yearbook"
- Set up an Akha education system with a curriculum, using practical
school books for beginning and advanced students, in Akha language(an
internationally agreed Akha writing system), following a curriculum
of practical subject-areas. CD-ROM can also be used.
- Take care of the schooling of the Akha teachers for the cities and
the villages, who knows the use of Akha language and know Akha customary
law. It is preferred that they also can use the computer and have studied
until at least 3rd or 6th grade highschool.
- DIARA Advocacy and publicity: Set up a web site Regarding Hani/Akha,
their Customary law and Traditional Knowledge, making also publicity
for books and CD-ROM.
DIARA Staff : Mr. Abaw Buseu Dzoebaw; Mr. Piche Piyalo; Mr. Lawgaw Mangpo; Mr. Acha/Thunyapong Dzoedang/Kiriseanjai;
Ms. Abya Dzoebaw; Ms.Noriko Higashide; Dr. Leo A.von Geusau.
2.2 DORESAKA (Documentation/Research
to Safeguard the Archaic Knowledge of the Akha)
Activities:
- To make an overview of all Akha/Zanyi subgroups in border areas of
SW Yunnan, China; the East Burmese Shan state; Northern Thailand; Northern
Laos; and N. Vietnam.
- To investigate/research reasons of contemporary abandoning by some
Akha of Akha Customary law and Traditional Knowledge of the Ancestors.
- To Co-organize International Hani-Akha research Meetings with Hani-Akha
research groups in Burma/Myanmar, China, Laos and Vietnam,discussing
the adaptation/revitalization of Akha Customary Law and Traditional
Knowledge.
Staff: Mr. Ayoe Lawbyie (Wang Jianghua); Mr. Suida Hgoeq mehr(Yang Zehua);
Mr. Abaw Buseu Dzoeqbaw; Mr. Lawgaw Mangpo; Dr. Leo A.von Geusau Supervisor.
Activities:
- To give scholarships to promising Mountain Peoples' students in secondary
school and higher studies. (Nursing School; Teacher College; Technical College;
Agriculture College; Commercial College; University etc.) with a preference
for those engaged in studies having a direct impact on the Akha communities
in the Mountains (Lawyer; Nurse; Teacher; Agriculturists.)
- To teach, as a necessary complementation to those studies the Akha Language
and Akha Customary law, in weekly classes.
- To assist students in additional study of English and computer.
Staff: Ms. Abya Dzoebaw; Ms. Deuleu A.von Geusau/Choopoh; Ms. Mikui Lawbie(Li
Haiying).
(In 2002 there are 18 students, getting support.)
Mae Sruai, Moo 2, Pabong village. Tel. 66-53-786 379
Activities:
- To give scholarships for high school and vocational studies to young Akha
women who lag behind because of poverty and absence of such studies in the
villages, and give them a hostel.
- To give Akha Education in language and Customary law/Traditional Knowledge,
by training in Akha writing and reading, following a curriculum of several
important aspects of Akha customary law and morality, traditional knowledge
and culture (Zangr).
- Training of students in handicraft and embroidery.
- Training of students in English and computer.
- Start training students and villages women in self help primary health care
and in general in self-sufficiency.
- Be a center near the Akha villages for the training of villagers in the
study of Akha Customary Law and Akha writing.
At this moment there are 25 students in the ABU center and it is related
to about 20 villages in the Mae Sruai, Wiang Papao and Mae Chan / Mae Fa Luang
districts.
Staff: Manager: Mr. Acha/Thunyapong Dzoedang/Kiriseanjai; B.A.; Mr. Atu Jupoh
Training in sewing, song/dance and gardening. Mr. Buseu Jupoh, Mr. Lawgaw
Mangpo; Teachers of Akha customary law and Akha Language; Ms. Adeu Dzoebaw.
The Abu Akha Women committee is composed by: Ms. Deuleu/Darunee A.von Geusau/Choopoh
Mae Sruai; Moo 2, Pabong village. Tel. 66-53-786 379.
Activities:
- To set up village based "First help" units, for current and urgent health
problems both, managed by volunteers, preferably women and with the help
of traditional healers and herbalists.
- To set up regular training of such village-volunteers, including traditional
healers and herbalists, in the first principles of human physiology and symptomology.
- Try to combine in such training the traditional herbal medicine and treatments,
including massage, with modern medicine and methods.
- Develop some "easy to use" and practical handbooks, in Akha and Thai language,
on human physiology, symptomology and first help treatment.
- To promote study, training as nurses, medics, pharmacists and "barefoot-doctors"
of Akha students.
Staff: Abya/Jindaporn Yo Yae; Assistance from the following Akha "Barefoot
doctors", promoted by MPCDE/SEAMP: Asang/Nimit Jeu-lui; Atang Yaw Cheh; Miyaw
Dzoebaw (They are in Government service now).
Committee of promotion: Dr.Jim Asher, Mesa, Arizona USA; Mr. Steven Lanjouw,
Chiang Mai; Dr.Frans van der Horst, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Stages of this project until December 31, 2002 :
- Surveying and promotion of knowledge of traditional medical knowledge in
several Akha villages, since 1989 (See TEKAM reports 1995)
- Promotion of Akha "barefoot doctor nurses", since 1986 and 1996 (SEAMP Student
program), ongoing.
- Pilot training of local herbalists in the use of modern medicine in one
village (Saen Chareon Kao) since 1980.
- Health surveys is 10 Akha villages by professional medics: August 2000;
August 2001 (See reports);
- Confection of practical medical training books.
Activities planned for 2003-2004:
- Training of ABU Project students and Village women with the help of training
books. Training will also be given in medical massage techniques.(Ms. Abya
Yeu Cheh and Mr. Nimit Jeului).
- A medical fund and a deposit of modern medicine will be available for
training and a first praxis.
- A first simple learning book in traditional medicine will be made.
- Intensification of scholarships and training for barefoot doctor/nurse.
Seamp has also tried to take care of the Informal Chiang Mai Akha Community
Group.
