FoSHoL-CARE project, Piloting & Innovation Team, Chapai Nowabganj has observed the International indigenous day first time in Chapai Nawabganj district on August 09, 2007. 100 non-participant indigenous people (indigenous people but not our project participants) and around 50-60 representatives from Government of Bangladesh (GoB) district administration, civil society, local NGOs, journalists of national electronic and  print media and representative of local government were attended the rally followed by a discussion session and cultural program”. It was an exciting event for the indigenous people that created opportunity for them to congregate and reflect upon on their rights, problems, and probable solutions. They spoke about different types of deprivation, exclusion and discrimination to bring it to the attention of present GOB high officials, representatives of civil society, NGOs and media personnel.

The program was designed into three individual events. The first one was a colorful rally participated by 700 participants bearing their symbols of culture and paraded 2.5 Km covering the main points of the district town. The 2nd one was a discussion meeting where indigenous community people, GoB officials including Deputy Commissioner, District Cooperative Officer, District Women Affairs Officer, Union Parishad Chairmen, media personnel, civil society and NGO workers highlighted the importance of the day, rights of indigenous people, how they could help them in their existing crisis, The participants thanked FoSHoL-CARE project for organizing such an event. The event provided an indication that the indigenous community is eager to raise their voices to be heard by the mainstream of the social to get their rights what they deserve.

The third event was an enjoyable and colorful cultural program which was performed by the indigenous participants of FoSHoL project which highlighted their culture, practices and changes that has taken place as a consequence of involvement with the FoSHoL-CARE project. In all judgment, this day long program was one of the spontaneous and encouraging events to all of the audiences present. The event was covered by electronic and print media on August 9-10, 2007 through ETV, ATN & the Daily Star, Daily Prothom Alo, daily Jugantor, daily Somokal, daily Independent & local news paper Sunshine, & Gourshambad, etc.

After a few days of the events, the reflections collected from the indigenous community people, leaders, GOB officials and civil society are as follows:

• Indigenous project participants made post communication with the invited guests to give thanks for their presence on the International Indigenous Day. In response, every one showed their interest in indigenous people's concerns and willing to help them on their desired needs.
• Deputy Commissioner (DC) raised the issue of khas land distribution to the meeting of District Khas land Distribution Committee and advised them to explore the ways on how to distribute more khas land among the indigenous people of Chapai Nawabganj district. He also advised to district cooperative officer, AC land, UNOs, Deputy Director of Youth Development Department to give priority on indigenous people interest while leasing out the khas water bodies in the district.
• Shacheton Nagorik Committee (TIB) member Advocate Mr. Saiful Islam thanked FoSHoL-CARE project for giving respect to the indigenous people through organizing such a big event that could be compared with a religious festival of indigenous people. He also showed interest to work with FoSHoL-CARE on share cropping issues.
• District Cooperative Officer, Surjo Hemrom, commented that he would like to help the indigenous village groups of FoSHoL project, Chapai Nawabganj.
• Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sadar asked for the list of Khas water bodies from indigenous people where they could culture fish.
• Local elite thanked the FoSHoL colleagues and project participants for demonstrating exceptional in Chapai Nawabganj district. He also commented that it was out of his imagination that such a big number of indigenous people are living in Chapai Nawabganj who were able to present such a big program.

  Reflection from indigenous community people

• FoSHoL created an opportunity for them to share with the district administration discrimination, deprivation that they face as compared to the mainstream population.
• For the first time they have been able to know that there is an international day for indigenous people.
• They termed the day as very enjoyable like a religious festival.
• They feel honored and proud
• It was out of their iImagination to have seat with the district administration but indigenous day had created that opportunity.
• FoSHoL-CARE has proved that the program was exclusively for the indigenous people as all activities from invitation to closing session were performed by indigenous project participants.
• It was demonstrated that CARE preaches and practices the same .
• Some participants were unhappy for not getting chance to give his/her speech during discussion.
• Absentee participants expressed sadness when they came to know about the success of the program.
• It was termed as the best initiative for gender equality of indigenous people.
• They more confident than before while dealing with any issue at the community level.