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OUR WORK

 A Native Future is a sustainable future for the indigenous peoples with whom we partner and the ecosystems on which they depend.

Our current work takes place with the indigenous people of Panama.

GOALS

Wounaan land rights legally recognized and actively respected.

Ngäbe, Buglé and Wounaan receiving education that meets their personal and indigenous development goals.

Strong, self-sustaining indigenous governance institutions and NGOs supporting the indigenous rights and development needs of their people.

Wounaan communities protecting and managing their forests and natural resources in a sustainable, productive, and conservation-oriented manner, as they have done for generations.

Results

Native Future's work with partners has helped bring about change.

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  • Today, 120 native elementary, high school and university students are in school with our help.

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  • We assisted Leonides Quiroz in attending law school (the first Wounaan from his village). His testimony helped pass Panama Law 72, a special procedure for collective title of native land. He continues to work as legal counsel for his people.

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  • We have helped increase Wounaan capacity to communicate in the press and on social media the threats to their land and natural resources.

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  • Three Wounaan communities have received collective title to their land: Puerto Lara, Caña Blanca and Arimae.  

 

We work in partnership

Since 2004, Native Future has worked in direct partnership with indigenous organizations that represent their people, such as the Wounaan National Congress (CNPW) and the Wounaan-led Foundation for the Development of the Wounaan People (FUNDEPW). On a regular basis we meet with our indigenous partners to best align our goals and objectives with theirs, assess progress, and plan for the future. 

 

Native Future’s partnership with the FUNDEPW has been instrumental to their organizational development, helping it move from an organization on paper to a staff of three by 2008. Today, the CNPW and FUNDEPW manage and implement projects funded by government, foundation, academic and non-profit partners such as Native Future. 

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Native Future's scholarship programs are also managed by local indigenous partners, such as the CNPW, the Buenos Aires Artisan Cooperative and the El Jacinto Agricultural Cooperative. Our partnership approach  builds local capacity to carry out and meet the needs of their people.

Our Work is not Done

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ONLY 3% OF NATIVE YOUTH GRADUATE FROM UNIVERSITY
ONLY 18% OF NATIVE YOUTH GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL
350K ACRES OF LAND ARE STILL UNTITLED