For nearly 25 years, Cultural Survival has been developing strategies to assist indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities in dealing with national and international societies as equals. The success of the efforts of indigenous peoples to control their own future depends in large part on whether the world hears their voices and responds. Through our publications, projects, outreach, education, and advocacy programs, Cultural Survival has shaped the debate on the most pressing isues affecting indigenous societies, and has helped to raise awareness to new level of international attention and action. The Special Projects program provides organizational assistance, administrative support, and in some cases, start up funding, to grassroot indigenous initiatives. These projects are aimed at assisting indigenous peoples and ethnic groups to secure basic human rights, land rights, build effective organizations, manage natural resources and become economically independent.
All projects seek in some way to preserve, protect and promote the cultures if indigenous peoples.
Cultural Survival's Education Department translates the work of the organization into tools to educate the greater student community. As CS continues to receive reports, updates and appeals from organizations and specialists in the field, the Education Department develops new programs and materials to channel the information directly into the hands of educators. The Curriculum Resource Program on indigenous peoples is currently being developed for high school students. By brining the issues of Indigenous peoples to the classroom, Cultural Survival is expanding its partnership with schools and cultivating the growing international awareness of today's students. Cultural Survival recently piloted sections of the curriculum resource program in local Boston areas schools.