Minga of thought in the Inga Indigenous Resguardo of Albania

On 16 and 17 May 2023, at the Inga Indigenous Reservation of Albania, ACIMVIP convened a minga de pensamiento to characterize the context and analyse risk, with the support of the Norwegian Human Rights Fund, within the framework of the project «Baitawami kincharirkani, waira mana iaikungapa» («I protected myself with a shawl, so that the wind would not get in»). Twenty-three people took part, according to the attendance record.

The community reconstructed its community activities, regional and national events and security incidents for 2022 and 2023, and on that basis identified its capacities, its vulnerabilities and the capacities to be strengthened. Among the capacities that Albania recognizes in itself are self-government, cultural identity, community work, its internal regulations, the backing of ACIMVIP, collective defence, leadership and mingas de pensamiento with the grandparents. Among the capacities to be strengthened, it pointed to the construction of housing within the Reservation, motivating young people towards higher education, strengthening the mother tongue, constant spiritual harmonization, strengthening the Wasikamas and Chaskis, territorial monitoring and strengthening Indigenous justice. The results of the risk analysis are for the restricted use of the community and ACIMVIP.

It was the last of the five mingas de pensamiento of this kind held in May 2023, together with those of Nukanchipa Taita Kausadiru, Blasiaku, San Miguel de la Castellana and Cachiacu Andaki, in which 117 people took part, 70 of them women, and which helped participants learn about and understand protection strategies and tools for formulating prevention and self-protection plans. In April 2024 the project concluded in Albania with a harmonization ceremony.