Afterword

The facts as conveyed in this report prove false the belief of a few academics, government officials and members of the general public that the various San groups of southern Africa would never unite under one body. To the contrary, there is a strong trend among San towards co-operation, unity and solidarity while still retaining the distinctive identity and culture of each group. This is clearly indicated by, among other things, the fact that a South African San Council representing all San groups of South Africa is in place; that this body negotiated a memorandum of understanding with the CSIR on behalf of all San; that San from Namibia and South Africa were firmly committed to assisting the Angolan San representatives by explaining the steps they have to take to set up their own organisation; and that San from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana are always enthusiastic about meeting and advising one another at the WIMSA AGM. While WIMSA is under no illusion that attaining the ultimate San goal of a position in SADC involves a difficult and time-consuming process, the organisation strongly believes that their achievements to date testify to the San having made a solid start towards this long-term goal.

Acronyms & Abbreviations

AIWO African Indigenous Women's Organisation
APSO Irish Agency for Personnel Service Overseas
CASS Centre for Applied Social Sciences
CCN Council of Churches in Namibia
CKGR Central Kalahari Game Reserve
CBO community-based organisation
CPA Communal Property Association
CRAM Cultural Resources Auditing and Management Project
CRIAA SA-DC Centre for Research Information Action in Africa, Southern Africa
Development and Consulting
CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
DWNP Department of Wildlife and National Parks
EMC educationally marginalised children
FNDI First Nations Development Institute
FFF Forum for the Future
FPP Forest Peoples Project
FPW First Peoples Worldwide
ICD International Co-operation for Development
IPACC Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee
IRDNC Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation
ITFEMC Intersectoral Task Force on Educationally Marginalised Children
IWGIA International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs
KFO Kuru Family of Organisations
LAC Legal Assistance Centre
MET Ministry of Environment and Tourism
MRLGH Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing
NAMCOL Namibian College of Open Learning
NANGOF Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations' Forum
NAU Namibia Agricultural Union
NCIV Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples
NDF Namibian Defence Force
NIED National Institute for Educational Development
NNC Nyae Nyae Conservancy
NNDFN Nyae Nyae Development Foundation of Namibia
NNFU Namibia National Farmers Union
NT Negotiating Team (CKGR)
PISC Platfontein Implementation Steering Committee
OST Omaheke San Trust
RSH&CC Regional San Heritage and Culture Committee
SADC Southern African Development Community
SANPB South African National Parks Board
SASEF Southern African San Education Forum
STD sexually transmitted disease
TDT Teemashane Development Trust
TOCaDI Trust for Okavango Cultural and Development Initiatives
Trócaire Irish Catholic Agency for World Development
TUCSIN University Centre for Studies in Namibia
UNAM University of Namibia
UNHCR United Nations High Commission for Refugees
UNWGIP United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations
WTO World Trade Organisation
YMCA Young Men's Christian Association

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