Video

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐰 𝐍𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐰𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐏

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 presents the lived realities and ecological wisdom of the 𝙈𝙖𝙬 𝙉𝙖𝙮 𝙋𝙬𝙖 Karen ethnic group, whose way of life nurtures both people and nature. The film documents …a groundbreaking moment as Indigenous communities in 𝑻𝒂𝒘 𝑶𝒐 district, 𝑲𝒂𝒘𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒊, Burma, take leadership in the governance of the 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒘𝒕𝒉𝒊 𝑻𝒂𝒘-𝑶𝒐 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒌 (𝑻𝑻𝑰𝑷).

Through a territorial-level election, representatives from 18 territories and 12 ethnic representatives from six Karen Indigenous groups are chosen to form the 𝑻𝑻𝑰𝑷 General Assembly. This decentralized governance model is rooted in Indigenous rights to self-determination, ensuring that power, legitimacy, and law come from the people – not imposed from above.

In stark contrast to the Burma military junta’s centralized and dictator system, 𝑻𝑻𝑰𝑷 offers a peaceful, inclusive alternative—one where Indigenous voices shape decision at every level. The documentary reveals how true peace and coexistence between humans and nature can only be achieved through participatory governance led by Indigenous communities themselves.

Watch, reflect, and witness a movement that redefines leadership from the ground up.Show More

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐰 𝐍𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐰𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐏

Meeting with Moo Moo, a passionate Women’s Research Team Coordinator at KESAN.

ဃိၣ်လိာ်တၢ်မုာ်တၢ်ခုၣ် : နီၢ်ကံၢ်ကူၣ်ဝါ

Way Boo Hta Declaration

Meeting with Saw Albert, Field Director of the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)

The Living Cultural TerritorySacred and Historical Sites in the Salween Peace Park

The Salween Peace Park, the first Indigenous-conserved territory in Kawthoolei as well as in Burma/Myanmar, is rich in abundant natural resources, biodiversity, and cultural heritages. It is the “living cultural …territory” that connects intergenerational bonds within the Karen (K’nyaw) community and preserves the ancestral memories so that the young generation will continue to understand, appreciate, and carry on the cultural spirits to the future. Salween Peace Park also embodies reciprocal relationships between human and nature, safeguards traditional and cultural heritage and identity, and sustains local histories from different generations.
.
Located in Mutraw District, there are many sacred lands and historical sites in Salween Peace Park. They include vast network of beautiful rivers, mountains, valleys, waterfalls, cliffs, spiritual gravesites, caves, and others. These sacred lands and historical sites nourish us every day not just in terms of supporting our livelihoods but also spiritually. From September 2024 to March 2025, we undertook community-based participatory research as a way to bring attention to these important sacred and historical sites in Salween Peace Park. Crucially, we did this to defend and reclaim our territorial rights, strengthen autonomous governance systems, preserve cultural heritage, and actualize our collective self-determination rights. The sacred and historical sites included Thawthi Kho (Mount Thawhti), Paw Law Pu, Ler Mu Kho Ser (Stony Cliff), Htee Nu Pu (Cave), Hlo Pwor Bi (Ancestors’ Spiritual Gravesite), Pwo Pwor Lay, Hkeh Pa Lay in Luthaw Township; Ker Kaw Lay, Hkoe Ler Phar, Thu Mu Lay, and Htee Theh Lay in Dwelo Township; and Par Baw Lay, Tar Ko Law Kyoe, and T’ Ri Kyoe (only photos and video were obtained) in Butho Township of Mutraw District in the Indigenous-conserved territory of the Salween Peace Park.
.
This research is our collaborative initiative to document the historic narrative and importance of Salween Peace Park in Mutraw District from Indigenous Karen perspective that centers our intimate and spiritual relations with our sacred land, forest, water and wildlife. Therefore, this research and this report will be instrumental to move forward in achieving the Salween Peace Park’s goals of peace and self-determination, environmental integrity, and cultural survival.Show More

The Salween – In Memory of Saw thomas – A Musical Tribute to the Salween River

With heavy hearts and deep respect, we honor the life and legacy of 𝐒𝐚𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 — 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 whose music gave voice to the land and people of Burma.
Today, …we are sharing a 𝐧𝐨𝐭-𝐲𝐞𝐭-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 he composed: “𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫.”
Originally intended for release earlier, this powerful piece was delayed due to various challenges. Now, we feel it is the right moment to bring it to the world — as a tribute to Saw Thomas’s incredible talent and his deep commitment to the causes he cared about.
“Salween River” follows the path of the mighty river as it flows through Shan State, Karenni State, Karen State, and Mon State — weaving together the stories of four ethnic regions with four traditional melody styles, beautifully blended with modern music.
The song captures the 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧, raises 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞-𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐬, and calls on 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞.
This is more than a song — it is a message, a memory, and a legacy.
🎶 Through this release, we celebrate the life and spirit of Saw Thomas.
🕊️ May his music continue to inspire us. May his soul rest in peace.
🎵 Listen to “Salween River” – dedicated to the memory of Saw Thomas.
📽️ We are also working on a music video that will bring this song to life through powerful visuals — showing the beauty of the Salween River and the diverse cultures of the ethnic peoples who depend on it.Show More

World Refugee Day Event