© Andrew Peacock
To support the Grevy’s Zebra Ambassadors in their work, the Grevy’s Zebra Trust established the Elbarta Conservation Council (ECC) in 2014, a group of elders, warriors and women from the Samburu and Turkana ethnic groups who are leaders in their communities. They are responsible for creating awareness within their communities on peace, traditional law enforcement and grazing management. The group has been trained in conflict transformation and has extensive experience with real-life scenarios. They work closely with the chiefs in their community to prevent conflict and in many cases human and wildlife lives have been saved as a result of the ECC’s interventions.
“We appreciate the involvement of women in the Elbarta Conservation Council. This is a wind of change for us. Women are peace builders. We can be effective in delivering peace messages as we can control our anger and are patient. And, although resolving conflict can be a hard and complex process, we want to do something worthwhile rather than ignoring the problem.”
– ECC women members
Teresia Prevents a Poaching Incident
One day Teresia, a member of the ECC, went out looking for her lost livestock. She saw a small herd and moved towards them. However, as she approached, she heard men shouting in a language she could not understand. She had heard reports of Rendille moving into the area and she moved closer to see if the goats were hers. Then she saw a gerenuk in the middle of the herd, which was surrounded by four warriors, one of whom was aiming to shoot.
Teresia shouted, “Stop! Stop! What are you doing?” But they ignored her and continued aiming their rifle, trying to get a clear shot at the gerenuk. Teresia went towards the armed man and held the gun down, asking him again what he was doing. Immediately she was surrounded by the other warriors, all speaking at her in their mother tongue. One of them was able to communicate in Swahili, and he asked Teresia if she was a ranger and why she was so interested in what they were doing. She replied that she is a community member, mandated to take care of all the resources in their area. Then the warrior said that they were looking for food which is why they wanted to shoot the gerenuk.
Teresia said, “You have goats, camels and cattle, so you go to them. Wildlife is not allowed to be poached in this area.” She asked if wildlife was allowed to be killed where they come from, and they replied, “No, it is the same in our area.” Teresia told them, “We have elders, women and warriors who are chosen by the community to take care of all our resources. And there are laws, and consequences, if you kill wildlife”.
Then the Rendille warriors apologized to her and asked her please not to report the case to the elders. They promised they would not make the same mistake again, and that they would pass on the message to other warriors. Teresia agreed, but she warned them that she is not the only one looking after wildlife. Every Suyian community member, including the children, is responsible for wildlife and they are watching.
“We Are One” Festival
The Grevy’s Zebra Trust held its first ever “We Are One” Festival in December 2017 with the Samburu and Turkana ethnic groups in El Barta to promote peace and stability through shared identity experiences. More than 20 years of ethnic conflict has led to poverty and loss of life, as well as wildlife declines in the region. The three-day festival involved more than 300 community members from 14 villages. Senior officials from both national and county government also attended. Participants took part in dancing, story-telling, discussions and oath-swearing ceremonies, all aimed at celebrating “Oneness”.
The festival proved to be an emotional experience for both communities as they realized that they are all related and are hurting their own families. Immediately after the festival, Turkana pastoralists from outside the area were preparing to raid the Samburu in El Barta; however, the Turkana communities who attended the festival went to meet with them and turned the invaders back. It was reported that 2017 was the most peaceful Christmas period El Barta has ever experienced.
Despite these wins, the situation remains fragile. The warriors from both sides have been born into the conflict and do not know anything different, with no memory of a peaceful past. To build lasting peace, the warriors emphasized that outreach among warriors is critical. We are committed to supporting them in this process so they can convene and discuss the way forward for their communities and their own future.
