< strong > Specialist analyzes law that strengthens the identity, history and sense of belonging of native peoples < / strong >

Specialists from different indigenous peoples met at a dialogue table at the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura) with the aim of informing the Panamanian population about progress in regulating "Bilingual Intercultural Law 88: Current Application and challenges."

At this conference, the exhibitors exchanged ideas and expressed their views and inputs about challenges and actions currently under way with regard to law enforcement, which promotes educational proposals with intercultural methods and incorporates the training of pedagogy with a view to strengthening the identity, history and sense of belonging of the native peoples.

Elmer González, deputy director of the National Environmental Education Section of the Ministry of Education (Meduca) stated that "we have to enact and publicize the law, empower educators, leaders and institutions to form intercultural citizens."

For his part, David Binns, an instructor of the Bilingual Intercultural Methodology, recommended "training teachers in the management of the alphabet, conduct research about different cultures, sensitise indigenous and non-indigenous peoples about discrimination and production of educational materials about legends and native peoples' stories."

The issues addressed by panelists included: Bilingual intercultural education, proposals for educational establishments, progress with law 88 bilingual intercultural, clothing, alphabet and tongue, among others.

The meeting was attended by David Binns, teacher and instructor of Bilingual Methodology, Enrique Gardel, National Director of Bilingual Intercultural Education at Meduca and Elmer González, Assistant Director of the National Director of Environmental Education at Meduca. Welcome to Cunampio, Cultural Proponer of Intangible Cultural Heritage at MiCultura and Bernal Castillo, Director of the Office of Indigenous Peoples at the University of Panama and Evilio Rodriguez, content coordinator, researcher, translator and interpreter of Ngäbere's Inmaterial Cultural Heritage department at MiCultura.