29/08/2026
ROOTS AND RIGHTS| Phase One | Hoachanas
We have arrived at the final stop of Phase One of the NTLA Youth Forum's Roots and Rights initiative: Hoachanas, the historic home of the 1858 Hoachanas Treaty.
On Day One, the NTLA Youth Forum paid a courtesy visit to Gaos Kooper, where we introduced the purpose of the initiative and respectfully sought permission to engage with the young people of the Kai |Khau |ǀAes Traditional Community.
With the guidance of traditional leadership, we proceeded to engage the young people around a fundamental question:
WHO WERE WE AS NAMAS?
The conversation opened space for young people to reflect on Nama identity, history, traditions and our connection to our ancestral lands. We listened to and documented Indigenous knowledge shared through the oral narratives of our elders, recognising that these stories carry knowledge that has survived across generations.
As we reach the final stop of Phase One, the journey continues to remind us that understanding our rights begins with understanding our roots.
Today, we listened. Tomorrow, we continue the journey.
