Advancing Indigenous Rights in Nepal
An advocate amplifies the voices of indigenous peoples in the country’s peace-building process
In Nepal, a person’s last name identifies their native community and language.
And so, when Stella Tamang introduces herself to others in Nepal with her full name, they know immediately that she is a member of the Tamang, one of Nepal’s largest indigenous groups and one of 59 formally recognized by the Government of Nepal.
The Tamang are a marginalized group marred by acute poverty and illiteracy in the Helambu region — about 50 miles from Kathmandu.
Stella is a founding member of the USAID-supported Nepal Transition to Peace Institute, which has played a critical role in amplifying the voices of indigenous peoples in the political and peace-building process.
Stella’s Story
Stella grew up in Burma, where her parents worked as laborers in a mine, speaking five languages in a multicultural environment. When she was 9, she and her family returned to Nepal.
Although back in her native country, Stella described feeling alienated in a public school system offering instruction only in Nepali, despite the many indigenous languages in the country. As a result, non-Nepali-speaking learners in Nepal tend to have lower learning outcomes compared to learners who speak Nepali as their first language.
After becoming the first woman from the Helambu region to complete the equivalent of Grade 10, Stella opened her own school, prioritizing native language education and a positive learning environment.
Within the walls of her school, she witnessed how women struggled to raise their children and operate in a discriminatory system. She became aware of the women’s movement in Nepal, but noticed it was comprised of elite women, and absent indigenous women.
Struggling to find herself reflected in the movement, Stella created the Nepal Tamang Women’s Group in 1991 as a space for indigenous women to raise their voices free from intimidation.
Despite numerous challenges, including the attempt by indigenous men to blacklist her, Stella organized the first National Conference for Indigenous Women’s Organization in 1997.
“Finally, they could say what they had suffered in their own voices.” — Stella
After the conference, Stella established a federation comprised of 47 local organizations formed by indigenous women leaders.
She continued to build momentum to advance the rights of indigenous women by engaging with the international community — including successfully leading efforts in 2005 to have the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues focus its third session on indigenous women.
In 2005, Stella was also jointly nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the organization 1,000 Women.
Inclusion in Peace Building
Observers have noted that Nepal’s Constitution — which came into effect in the fall of 2015 and replaced the Interim Constitution of 2007 — falls short of fully recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples. Many of their core demands were lost in the constitution writing process, and the final version backtracked on key issues such as proportional representation, state restructuring, and identity.
However, under Stella’s leadership, the Nepal Transition to Peace Institute, has promoted dialogue among activists, lawyers and civil society members to develop clear messaging on indigenous issues and promote their rights and interests.
“Ending conflict through reconciliation depends on inclusion.” — Stella
Stella believes the Institute has a role to play in mainstreaming indigenous issues, and ensuring that the constitutional implementation process is managed non-violently.
“We should focus on the space that this Constitution has created and on maximizing that space,” she said. “We should not be extreme or reject the Constitution as a whole, we must be focused and fight for amendments of the key provisions.”
USAID recognizes that indigenous peoples, such as those that Stella advocates for in Nepal, have a pivotal role to play in promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, preventing and resolving conflicts, enhancing democratic governance and providing access to justice, reducing poverty, and sustainably managing the environment.
As such, USAID recognizes the significance of this year’s 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — which embodies global consensus of the rights of indigenous peoples and established a universal framework of minimum standards for their survival, dignity and well-being.
About the Author
Amanda Cats-Baril is a Democracy and Governance Specialist in USAID’s mission in Nepal.
