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Indigenous Youth Storytellers Circle Ambassadors

The Indigenous Youth Storytellers Circle (IYSC) is a global platform for Indigenous youths to share their unique perspectives online.

The IYSC Ambassadors initiative aims to establish a global network of Indigenous youths who are committed to reclaiming their identities, their languages and cultures, and their relationships with the land, and who wish to help spread the word about the IYSC in different parts of the world.

Working together, we wish to inspire Indigenous youths around the world to share their stories and have their voices heard.

Abraham Ofori-Henaku (Akan) is a young Ghanaian communications professional who loves storytelling both as an art and a craft. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Media Arts and Communication, Institute of Journalism (formerly, Ghana Institute of Journalism). He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Relations with Marketing in the same institution.

Abraham’s personality is a blend of melancholic and sanguine — two sides of him that are heavily reflected in the way he deeply connects with the world, through his stories. When he’s not at work or school or creating memories with loved ones (including friends), he’s either in the comfort of his bed watching his favorite sitcoms or getting lost in a good book, or getting hitched by his solitude and writing out his personal-lived experiences and thought pieces on the environment, culture, arts, and perspectives on controversial social topics.

He also enjoys dancing, swimming, and occasionally creating content on social media. Abraham is an easygoing, humble, friendly, and curious young gentleman who cares for nothing more than simply being the voice that inspires others to tell their stories. And he hopes to set that example through his works.

Ceren Kazancı

Ceren Kazancı and Soner Oruç: Ceren Kazancı (Laz from Caucasus) and Soner Oruç (Turkey) are ethnobiologists, studying traditional ecological knowledge in the Western Lesser Caucasus at the Turkish–Georgian border region, one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots of the world.

Like other ethnobiologists, they recognize that Indigenous Peoples, traditional societies, and local communities are critical not only to the conservation of cultural and linguistic diversity but also biological diversity.

Ceren completed her doctoral degree in ecology at Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia. She focuses on highland communities and is interested in the ethnobotany of transhumant pastoralists in the Lesser Caucasus. As an Indigenous Laz, she would like to detail the ties and relations of the Laz People with all living and non-living environments. She seeks to unearth her culture and contribute to its conservation and continuity. Since 2020, she has been gardening in Arhavi near the Black Sea coast on the border of Georgia. She is eager to contribute to the conservation and revitalization of the agricultural heritage of Colchis lands and its past by tracking the traditional ecological knowledge of the Laz People.

Fauzi Bin Abdul Majid (FAUZ MA), a Palu’e-Malaysian youth from Indonesia, is a poet, writer, dancer, choreographer, and coach of modern dance. He graduated from Nusa Nipa University in Maumere, Indonesia.

Now he is pursuing a Master of English Language Studies at Sanata Dharma University. Fauzi believes that values such as respect for fellow humans, nature, and the creator, are very important teachings.

Manju Maharjan comes from Nepal, a country with a diverse landscape, culture, and language. She was born into the Indigenous Newah community, who primarily reside in Kathmandu Valley, the nation’s capital.

Growing up in an area with a rich cultural heritage, she developed interest in understanding the biocultural diversity that her community held from an early age. Thus, she researched how the Newah people use various plants as an essential component of their daily life in a variety of ceremonies and celebrations. She continues sharing stories about her community and people through writing. Since 2018, she has contributed to Langscape Magazine, where she shares stories about the various facets of Newah communities, encompassing cuisine, language, and art. Currently, she lives in Taiwan for her studies and research. Besides her academic research, she gets in touch with Indigenous people in Taiwan and tries to understand their lifestyle and culture. She is actively involved in learning about Indigenous cultures and the traditional knowledge they possess.

Kanna K. Siripurapu (IYSC Ambassador Program Coordinator): Kanna K. Siripurapu is Assistant Dean of Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability (ERS), at the School of Arts and Design, Woxsen University, India, where he teaches Environmental Studies; Material, Culture, and Cognition in Product Design; and Indigenous Art, Design, and Culture.

Kanna is passionate about biocultural diversity, traditional knowledge and practices, and the strengthening of community-based traditional natural resource governance systems. He encourages Indigenous youths to write about their lived experiences and their contributions to biocultural diversity through his project “Indie-Narratives.” He is the co-founder of Nayasa, a trust-building digital application for organic farmers and consumers interested in buying organic products.

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