Through two capacity-building trainings organized by the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) in collaboration with Tempo Witness and supported by UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), 30 Indigenous women journalists from across Indonesia strengthened their reporting skills, enhanced their safety awareness, and expanded their ability to amplify Indigenous voices often overlooked in mainstream media.
The first training in Makassar from 18–21 May 2026, brought together 14 Indigenous women journalists from Bali, Jayapura, Maluku, North Maluku, South Papua, South Sulawesi, and Tana Luwu. It was followed by a second training in Bogor from 17–20 June 2026, which convened 16 participants from East Java, West Java, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, Riau, and Tano Batak in North Sumatra.
The initiative was developed in response to growing threats to press freedom and journalist safety worldwide, particularly for women reporting on Indigenous Peoples’ rights and environmental issues. Facilitated by trainers from Tempo Witness, the sessions equipped participants with practical tools to navigate increasingly complex reporting environments.
Together, the two trainings strengthened connections among Indigenous women journalists across regions, creating a platform for learning, mutual support, and collective action.
Highlighting the importance of Indigenous-led storytelling,, AMAN Secretary General Ms. Rukka Sombolinggi underscored the importance of Indigenous journalists in challenging stereotypes and ensuring that Indigenous Peoples can tell their own stories.
For far too long, Indigenous Peoples have been confronted with narratives that weaken and even dehumanize us, portraying us as anti-development and backward communities. That is why Indigenous Community Journalists, particularly women and youth, must take ownership of our narratives and reclaim communication spaces so that Indigenous Peoples’ voices are heard from our own perspectives. The challenges we face are indeed immense, but they are not obstacles to continuing to speak the truth.
Ms. Rukka SombolinggiAMAN Secretary General
Echoing the importance of community-based journalism, Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta, highlighted the indispensable role of local journalists in bringing community realities to wider audiences.
The role of community-based journalists is essential in documenting and elevating local voices and knowledge that are often absent from both national and international reporting.
Maki Katsuno-HayashikawaDirector, UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta
Indigenous Women Leading Change
For many participants, the trainings offered far more than technical skills. They provided opportunities to build confidence, strengthen leadership, and connect with a wider network of Indigenous women journalists facing similar challenges.
One of the participants, Ms. Erna Gultom, is a staff member of AMAN’s Information and Communication Division and a representative of the Natumingka Indigenous community in North Sumatra. Working closely with communities facing land and forest-related conflicts, she viewed the training as an opportunity to strengthen her journalism skills and promote safer, more informed communication within Indigenous communities.
Going forward, through the training I have received, I will be able to provide guidance and support, particularly to mothers who often use their personal accounts emotionally—for example, by posting videos during protests against companies without considering the potential risks
Ms. Erna GultomAMAN’s Information and Communication Division and a representative of the Natumingka Indigenous community in North Sumatra
Another participant, Ms. Sri Tiawati from the Punan Tugung community in North Kalimantan, has spent years documenting Indigenous issues ranging from traditional medicine and cultural heritage to land conflicts. For her, the training reinforced the importance of writing as a way to share the realities, knowledge and strength of indigenous communities.
Through writing, I want to tell the real stories of my community—not only our challenges, but also our knowledge, culture, and strength. I hope more Indigenous women gain the confidence to speak up and share their voices.
Ms. Sri TiawatiJournalit, the Punan Tugung community in North Kalimantan
The experiences of Erna and Sri reflect a broader shift taking place across Indigenous communities in Indonesia, where more women are stepping forward as storytellers, advocates, and defenders of community knowledge and rights.
Building on the momentum created through the trainings in Makassar and Bogor, the initiative will move beyond capacity development to establish longer-term protection and support mechanisms for Indigenous community journalists. Planned activities include the development and rollout of dedicated safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Indigenous women journalists, the production of in-depth reporting on issues affecting Indigenous Peoples, and a national campaign to promote journalist safety.
Together, these efforts aim to ensure that Indigenous voices, knowledge, and experiences are not only documented, but heard, valued, and protected for generations to come.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/indigenous-women-journalists-reclaim-narratives-and-strengthen-safety-across-indonesia?hub=701
