Thank you for visiting the website of the Sustainable Indigenous Futures (SIF) Fund.

The SIF Fund supports medium and long term development projects for the indigenous people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands affected by the tsunami. Here you can find relevant information about the idea and goals of the SIF Fund.

Background

The Sustainable Indigenous Futures (SIF) Fund was created in June 2005 for a period of three years to support the rehabilitation process of the indigenous peoples living on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands affected by the Tsunami. From the six indigenous populations, the Nicobarese who inhabit the coastal areas in the Nicobar archipelago are the most affected. Of the approximately 30,000 Nicobarese, nearly a third have been washed away by the tsunami waves, and the remaining have lost their homes, property and coconut plantations on which they live. The SIF Fund decided to spend a substantial part of its budget to projects supporting the indigenous peoples of the Central Nicobar Islands.

Since 1956 the Nicobar Islands became protected under Indian law, the Andaman and Nicobar Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation that regulates entry into those islands through a special permit. Dr. Simron Jit Singh, a Human Ecologist at the Institute for Social Ecology of the Klagenfurt University has been conducting research on the Nicobar Islands since 1999. When the tsunami occurred, indigenous leaders contacted him for help. To be able to provide the needed support the SIF Fund was created with contributions of three donor organisations:

• Universal Music (proceeds from the sale of the music CD produced within  the initiative “Austria for Asia”, led by André Heller).
• Caritas Austria
• Institute for Social Ecology, University of Klagenfurt (donations collected through the Andaman & Nicobar Trust Account).

The SIF Fund has an independent identity and is not owned by any of the donor organisations. The aim is to support ecologically sustainable, economically feasible, culturally appropriate and socially equitable projects, planned and realised by indigenous organisations themselves in coordination with SIF guided by a Steering Committee.

If you want to support this endeavour your donation is much welcomed!