Indigenous Exclusive: an online news platform for the world, by indigenous youths

Bangladesh is home to a great number of indigenous communities that hold a rich diversity of living heritage and culture. But unfortunately, we have very few sources to know about their distinct cultures, languages, daily phenomenon, or even their struggles. As minorities, they are still struggling to get their socioeconomic, political, and cultural rights, and their stories are often ignored and neglected. To tell the world about these unheard stories, some indigenous youths created an online news media platform, 'Indigenous Exclusive' in October 2020.

Building a safe and useful news media platform for indigenous people

In 2017, there was a massive communal and arson attack in Longadu under the Rangamati district of the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT). However, it did not get much national media coverage as it should have.

This unfortunate and saddening situation led Arjyashree Chakma to generate a plan of creating a media of their own, where the stories and issues of indigenous people can be highlighted, and people across the country and abroad can acknowledge them and know what they are facing.

In late 2020 when the world was still close to a halt, Arjyashree, studying at Holy Cross College, thought of executing her dream to do something for her people. She and her close friend Eve Elizabeth Khockshi founded 'Indigenous Exclusive' on 22nd October 2020.

Initially, they only used to create weekly news. But now, they update on a daily basis with a wide range of stories.

A group of enthusiastic and energetic indigenous youths

At first, Arjyashree used to gather members for her team, edit the news and write-ups, and Eve used to make covers for their stories. Now, they have a team of 23 youth members who are working hard for the betterment of indigenous communities.

Interestingly, all of these youths are indigenous students, mostly studying in different high schools and some are in universities. This platform has members from indigenous communities such as Chakma, Marma, Garo, and so on.

Besides upholding the stories of these communities, she had a target to create a platform where indigenous students can write fearlessly, and feel included. This is why it is only open for indigenous students to join the core team, and to create sufficient opportunities for them to participate in such extra-curricular activities.

All about 'Indigenous Exclusive' platform

At 'Indigenous Exclusive', all these news are published in English as they want to reach maximum audiences all around the world, and let people know about their communities. For now, these stories get published on the free website and update about the recently published stories on their Facebook page on a daily basis.

They feature stories about their culture, food and traditional meals, history, notable personalities of their communities, daily phenomenon, and so on. For example, they did news on Mohendra Lal Tripura who was an author, poet, and lyricist at the same time and belonged to the Tripura community. He left a huge contribution to their native music and literature, but most people do not know about his works. They also raise important issues such as the lack of quality education in indigenous communities, miserable transportation systems, etc.

Moreover, they focus on the inspiring and success stories from indigenous communities such as they did a blog on F Minor, the first all-female indigenous band. Check out their Facebook page to know more about such incredible stories and people. These wonderful write-ups and posters need a lot of effort.

The team of 'Indigenous Exclusive' uses books related to indigenous communities' history, issues and culture, and does a good amount of online research before publishing them. Their articles are read by people across the country and people from India, Nepal, Canada, the USA, France, among others.

Hoping to overcome the obstacles and make it a bigger platform for indigenous people

Arjyashree is still a college-going student, and most of her team members are also from high schools. For obvious reasons, it is quite troublesome for them to manage their academic studies and this platform. It also takes a lot of courage and determination to work for a platform that is exclusively for indigenous communities. Moreover, they do not have a domain for an actual website. They have developed it on a free domain as it is hard for them to bear the maintenance costs of an actual website as a student-based organisation at such a young age.

However, Arjyashree has an aim to buy a domain whenever she starts to earn on her own and make it a bigger platform for indigenous communities. She hopes to expand it more in the future for the betterment of these people.

Ajyashree adds, "If we do not come forward for our community, then who will come instead? Let us come forward and do something well for our community."