Ancient civilization meets modern culture in Palmer

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- From the train depot in downtown Palmer, Valley resident Catherine Inman will try to recreate one of the most isolated and ancient civilizations in the world by bringing slide-show images, clothing and cultural artifacts from the remote mountain district of Dolpa, Nepal, a community only accessible by small planes or days of foot travel.

Inman arrived in Dolpa in 1993 as a member of Greenpeace. Her mission was to help the indigenous people preserve their culture even as modern technology and government intervention brought contemporary Nepali culture to a once-isolated people group.

During her work with the Dolpa people, Inman founded Friends of Dolpa, a nonprofit organization focused on helping the indigenous people preserve their culture through special school programs.

Friends of Dolpa also assists indigenous groups in their process of defining and controlling their own development, while maintaining their heritage and traditions.

On Thursday, Dec. 16, Inman will recount her experience living in a Nepalese village 12,000 feet above a remote mountain valley.

"We want to introduce people to a completely different area of the world and highlight the community school project there," Inman said.

Inman's group works with local residents to help provide local children with access to education that would preserve their traditional language and culture. Many of the younger generation are at risk of losing their cultural identity, as the traditional livelihoods of farming and barter trading are no longer practical.

Inman said the Ya Ne Dah Ah School in Chickaloon bears many similarities to the Dolpa school projects in that they are both regular government schools supplemented by teachings and traditions from village elders.

Last month, Inman gave the same presentation at the Anchorage Museum of Art and History. The presentation at the Palmer train depot will begin at 5:30 p.m. Inman will field questions during and after the presentation and snacks will be provided.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.