Welcome to The Global Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Nepal (GFIPN)

WHAT IS GFIPN?

The Global Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Nepal (GFIPN) welcomes you to GFIPN's international network of Indigenous peoples of Nepalese origin (IPNO). GFIPN was founded at the First Gathering Indigenous Peoples of Nepalese Origin in New York in 2005. The initial thrust of GFIPN was fighting human rights violations of Indigenous peoples of Nepalese origin. Human rights, discriminations, racialism and injustice violations continue to be a major issue for IPNOs living in Nepal and outside the country. GFIPN has now set its priorities in pooling our resources, both financial and professional, for the benefit of IPNOs. Toward this goal, we welcome you to join in this international effort.

ABOUT US

The GFIPN formed with the goal of establishing cooperation between the different indigenous groups of Nepal and for helping each other with documenting, preserving and promoting the many unique aspects of Nepalese cultures, languages, religion, customs, traditions of the Indigenous groups of Nepalese worldwide and to assist them to obtaining equal rights and developing.

The establishment, development and updates of Nepali indigenous people's organization in USA:

Being aware of ever increasing numbers of Nepali indigenous people in different states of USA as a result of globalization, better employment opportunity in USA and universal trend of global migration of people from developing countries to developed countries, we Nepali indigenous people realized the need of a social organization for social networking and communication for cooperation, mutual help and welfare of all Nepali indigenous people. With the purpose of interaction on such issues among all Nepali indigenous people living in USA, Nepal Kirat Rai Association of America organized a mass meeting with all representatives of all Nepali indigenous people living in USA on December 1, 2005 in Jacksonheight New York on the chairmanship of Mr Durga Rai

Almost all representatives including Dr Krishna K Rai, Ramesh Shrestha, Nagendra Rana, Karma Galzen Sherpa, Pasang Sherpa, Gambu Sherpa, Lobsang Khile, Purna Limbu, Harka Gurung, Anjan Shresstha, Ratan Lama, Keshab Ram Rai, Bel Bhujel, Narayan Gurung, Subash Tamang, Sonam Lama highlighted the need of Nepali indigenous organization and advocated for the establishment of an organization on behalf of all Nepali indigenous people currently living in USA. Other representatives of different Nepali indigenous communities living in USA who expressed their views and stressed the need of unity through a single strong organization in the gathering were as shown below----

Mr Phurba Sherpa - United Sherpa Association

Mr Ram Tamang - Tamang Society

Ms Kumari Gurung - Tamu Society

Dr Kumar Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Dr Pankaj Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mr Bal Gurung - Tamu Society

Mr Shambhu Moktan - Tamang Society

Mr Binod Pomu Limbu - Kirat Yakthung Chumlung

Mr Nuchchhe Dongol - Newa Guthi

Mr Moti Thapa Magar - Langhali Association

Mr Hem Bahadur Thapa Magar - Langhali Association

Mr Kamal Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Ms Susma Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mr Dinesh Lumbu - Kirat Yakthung Chumlung

Mr Chandeep Shrestha - Newa Guthi

Mr Sukra Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mr Bal Tamang - Tamang Society

Mr Lal Kaji Gurung - Tamu Society

Ms. Maiya Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mr Prem Limbu - Kirat Yakthung Chumlung

Ms Sushila Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mrs Kazim Gurung - Tamu Society

Mr Parkhi Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mr Anil Limbu - Kirat Yakthung Chumlung

Mr Devendra Limbhu - Kirat Yakthung Chumlung

Mr Chosan Shrestha - Newa Guthi

Mr Makar Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mr Subash Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Ms Mary Limbu - Kirat Yakthung Chumlung

Ms Dristi Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mr Netra Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mrs Suju Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Mr Kishan Gurung - Tamu Society

Ms Lalita Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Ms Bashanti Rai - Nepal Kirat Rai Association

Ms Kanchan Gurung - Tamu Society

Mr Heet Kaji Gurung - Tamu Society

Responding to the concern of few representatives in favor of postponing it for future, Nagendra Rana strongly argued and stressed the need of immediate establishment of organization as such attempts had been failed many times in the past due to repeated postponement and due to difference of views. Ultimately, his argument took the momentum and all representatives agreed the idea of establishing the Nepali Indigenous Organization. Finally an ad huc committee was nominated by the mass gathering under the chairmanship of Mr Karma Galzen Sherpa, and other committee members were as seen below. The session was conducted by Mr Narad Rai.

First committee endorsed by the general mass gathering.

Coordinator: Karma Gyaljen Sherpa

Member: Nagendra Rana

Member: Narayan Gurung

Member: Subash Lama

Member: Anjan Shrestha

Member: Pasang Sherpa

Member: Narad Mani Rai

Member: Sonam Lama

Member: Purna Limbu

Subsequently, the constitution was drafted by a committee under the chairmanship of Mr Nagendra Rana under name of Global Federation of Indigenous People of Nepal (GFPIN) website: www.gfipn.org. Later coordination committee extended to regular board after the constitution was drafted and the was transformed into the Board committee of Global Federation of Indigenous People of Nepal (GFIPN) on the basis of newly drafted constitution. The permanent committee composed of the following people.

President: Mr Karma G Sherpa.

Vice President: Mr Purna Limbu

Treasurer: Mr Nagendra Rana

General Secretary: Mr Narad Mani Rai

Secretary: Mr Shambu Moktan,

Joint Secretary: Mr Kishan Gurung

Joint Treasurer: Mr Pemba G Sherpa.

Member: Mr Keshab Ram Ram

Member: Mr Binod Pomu

Member: Mr Hem Thapa Magar

Member: Mr Bel Bhujel

Member: Mr Anjan Shrestha

Member: Mr Pasang Shrestha

Chief Advisor:

Dr Krishna K Rai

Dr Harka Gurung

Dr Om Gurung

Mr Prashuram Tamang

Dr Krishna Bhattachan

Mrs. Lucky Sherpa

Dr Mahendra Lawati

Advisors:

Mr Durga Rai,Mr Shyam Limbu

Mr Narayan Gurung

Mr Subash Tamang

Mr Labsong Khile Salakha

Mr Sonam Lama

Mr Dal Bahadur Magar

Legal Advisor: Mr Ramesh Shrestha

The executive committee initiated further development and extension of the organization to different states of United States, which includes organizing General Assembly meeting, further review and revision of constitution including changing the name of organization from Global Federation of Indigenous People of Nepal (GFIPN) to Federation of Indigenous People of Nepal in America (FIPNA) which was endorsed by 2nd General Assembly of Nepali indigenous people held on July 13, 2008 in New York, USA. Accordingly organizational structure such as state council system and federal council system has been developed and endorsed by the 2nd General Assembly in order to bring and connect all Nepali indigenous in single organizational platform physically and mentally together.

Under the revised constitution 2nd GA also elected new executive committee under the chairmanship of Mr Karma Galzen Sherpa on the same day for continuation and for the development of the Nepali Indigenous organization. As universally understood, the executive committee is supposed to perform all the administrative, management, financial including fund raising responsibilities and programmatic responsibilities whereas Federal council deserves the supreme power of the organization including review of revision of the constitution. Now onwards, further information will be placed in the website of FIPNA.

Report by Narad M Rai.

OBJECTIVES

To raise funds through contributions and other means on a regular basis and at special occasions for promoting social and cultural activities all over the country as well for the relief and rehabilitation of any person or groups of indigenous people of Nepal affected by natural catastrophes and other calamities.
To establish a strong relationship among the different Indigenous groups and foster their interests towards social welfare and progress in the USA as well as other countries.
To promote legitimate interests of the Indigenous community living in different countries as a whole and Nepali Indigenous People living in particular countries.
To help the Indigenous communities in different countries to promote legitimate secular and developmental interests of the countries in which they are resident.
To assist organizations of Indigenous people in capacity building.
To facilitate in the development and protection of Indigenous people's language, literature, script, religion, culture and education of Indigenous people and assist in the preservation and promotion of their rights.
To organize interaction programs among the Indigenous People of Nepal on the global level to deliberate and decide on common issues and problems facing them, including education and technology.
To provide a forum at periodical intervals to discuss, debate and decide on common problems and issues facing groups of Indigenous of Nepalese abroad and initiate measures to redress their grievances.
To disseminate regularly information on global, regional and national developments affecting Indigenous community abroad as a whole or substantial parts thereof.
To support the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) for lobbying with the government for the compliance of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other Instruments including the ILO Convention No. 169 and the Draft United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
To develop channels of communication between groups of Indigenous of Nepalese resident in different countries and between them and Nepal.

GFIPN should address itself to common problems and issues and not to individual complaints.
Every Organization of Indigenous People shall gather for support if any one of its Indigenous people of Nepal is hospitalized or has a funeral.
No one country should dominate the decision-making in GFIPN and organizations of Indigenous of Nepalese Origin in all countries should be provided access to bring common problems and issues before the GFIPN.
Philosophy of participation and democratic decision-making should pervade GFIPN.
There is a need for flexibility and an experimental approach in view of different status of development of indigenous organizations in various countries.
GFIPN organizational structure should encourage widest participation while ensuring responsible decision-making by as representative institutions as possible.
The principles of GFIPN shall be applied uniformly and universally.
Books and financial records of GFIPN shall be made available to all members of GFIPN, upon request who will be required to bear photocopying and postal expenses.
GFIPN should promote the creation of GFIPN chapters and national organization in each country in which indigenous people of Nepalese origin are residing. The membership of GFIPN national organization should be open to GFIPN chapters and qualifying and people of Indigenous organizations. Details about GFIPN national organization are given in Appendix No. I.

ACTIVITY

Conducting campaigns in newspapers and other media to focus attention on specific problems affecting community of Indigenous people of Nepalese abroad.
Act as a lobby, pressure group in support of cause of Indigenous people.
Undertake regular and periodical publication activity.
Raise funds for specific activities of the GFIPN.
Undertake studies or commission studies on specific problems and issues affecting Indigenous people of Nepalese abroad.
Act as a liaison between groups of Indigenous people in specific countries and national governments, Government of Nepal and international organizations in realization of the objectives of the GFIPN.