Handcrafted objects, products derived from forest resources, and items reflecting ancestral knowledge: in Makao, exhibition stands set up as part of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (IDWIP) provided a platform to showcase the traditional skills and knowledge of Indigenous communities from Makao, Thanry and Bomassa. Beyond their cultural significance, these products reflect a long-standing and close relationship between communities, their environment, and the natural resources that surround them.
This year’s celebration, held on 9 August under the theme “Honouring Indigenous midwives: preserving life and well-being,” featured the exhibition as one of its key innovations. It gave communities an opportunity to display objects and products linked to their practices and knowledge, while sharing part of their cultural heritage with authorities, partners and visitors attending the event. The initiative helped strengthen recognition of knowledge passed down from one generation to the next and created spaces where communities themselves could share and showcase their heritage.
Through its Community Conservation (CoCo) team, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park supported this initiative alongside local communities and authorities. This involvement reflects an approach that recognises the role of Indigenous Peoples in preserving their knowledge, culture and environment. With more than 500 participants, the celebration in Makao provided an opportunity for exchange, dialogue and the appreciation of cultural diversity as an integral part of conservation efforts across the Nouabalé-Ndoki landscape.