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Isaac Tut , We have our brother Gatpal here and we all understand he met with Nuer in other States; most importantly he is here in Omaha to meet with us. Before we start our meeting, I would like to ask Pastor to open our meeting with prayer. Prayer time

We suppose to start our meeting at 1:00pm ; due to lack of punctuality us as Nuer, we have delayed and wasted 4hours. If we are going to be here, we will be here only 3 hours. Since our time past, I will give Gatpal times. We have a lot to discuss with in time frame, because of that I will welcome Gatpal to show us what we do not know and what we all wanted to know as Nuer. Our society Nuer’s behavior became worth, and most of the sections in Nuer are divided into three. Because of that we want people like Gatpal to tell us the direction to go. Other wise, there will be no history about Nuer. Please, Gatpal welcome and we welcome you as Nuer Community.

This constitution was enacted in 2005 when I came. In 2005 I did not come for you; I came as speaker invited by Ethiopian. With my spare time, I met with you and was requested to help Nuer community. As of my observation, Nuer are Sudanese, Ethiopians, and Americans.

NICOC will organize Nuer in their respect dueling places, which will preserve their culture, language, religion, and even their children will not be assimilated to other cultures. The specific objective is to cultivate our culture to our children in different places they are born. We will raise our children, to like our way of living and we should not be ashamed of where we came.
It will facilitate, encourage, and consultate to meet for what Nuer mean in Diaspora or back home and what is their common denomination? In this case, no one will organize you if you do not organize yourself.
Those who have good knowledge, artistic, creativity, and scientific knowledge will compete with others to enhance our ways of life.
Members of Nuer community should have commitments in both dual responsibility and one self which mean what you should do for yourself and the community. Each an individual should be roll model for where we came from and where we are going.
How can our education and training we obtained reach our places, or how can our communities help other who misses these chances? As we all know other communities like Asians and Jews does that to their people.
Each an individual should that set time to attend conferences, meetings, and communication networking to help people in Diaspora and people back home to chare the same information.
Support principle of world peace, human right, and rule of laws as it is articulated in UN charter, African Union, and other world’s bodies.
The laws indicated people of 500 in number that wanted to maintain their heritage will be protected. Even our children and women branches away from culture, it will be our fault because we have not shown our system of living.
Seek out, organize our people back home, refugee camps, communities, and train them to recognize problems. Eradicated, combat illiteracy and food shortage to enable them cope with rising situation in various places they live.
Create, develop classes for adult education to combat illiteracy among elder back home and also in refugee camps with the view to empower them with knowledge to overcome problem in their environments. You also have to compete with other since you have learned among diverse communities.
- Members need to train people in neighboring countries in agriculture, farming, and other necessities to help them become self-sufficient.
- Another objective is our intellectuals, our knowledge and skills must be transfer to our areas.
- We cannot achieve anything without organizing ourselves.
- Organizing is vital of vision.
- No one will come to correct problems in Nuer society; we must work hard to correct our problems.
- The biggest among all is to identify short term and long term problems. The one that will destroy community in future must be stop and could not derail Nuer future.
- To prevent situation not prolong, we must separate situation either it is personal or community problem. We must put a side our differences and let one who know how lead; there for, other will benefit from his work.
- In reality, those who do not have system must be rule by laws. They will be treated as criminal because they have not shown they are responsible.

QA for Koang Thiyang. This organization does not exist before. It was created by the time I came, and I was asked to help Nuer. Today we are going to elaborate on how it will be form. It center will be Kenya and have many branches world wide. Orientation is like counseling. It will use it counseling through communities and religious institutions.

John Kuol Rik , I thank you and I agreed with all the things you have spoken. I will not have any thing to ask, but I want to inform you that Douglas County met with us. They are concerned about Sudanese in general. Sudanese are charges with domestic violent and some of them are in jail. They wanted to work with our elder if there is anything in our culture that could help minimize aggression. In that case, I would like to know if you have something to add that we could use in that matter.

Kuol’s QA. Community is spring board for the community. It corrects bad behavior and situation that rise within in the community. Through community we can discuss how we can correct situation they ask. We came here to United State not to hand over our children, but to learn and use it to enhance our way of life. These types of situations and crimes they are talking about ( Douglas County ) are handled through community back home. We will have to sit and discuss ways to manage them.

John Chuol Mai , my question will base on two issues you have mentioned. Our women refuse to go to school and they think they know it all. How can we make them understand the laws while they use police not to listen to what we are telling them`? What method do you think we should use?

QA for John chuol. Education is a very strong instrument. The worth case scenario is bitterness between men and women. That bitter does not work. You both will remain with empty handed; the children will run away from you. The most important one is tolerant; as you all know woman is another man’s daughter and the same thing apply to a man. Events that you did not created some time can endeavor you; those events that have endeavored you, you have survived them; those events need certain degree of tolerant, even if you have bitterness toward each other. We came here to remove that bitterness. How are we going to remove them? if you do not want your children to remain here; even though, what you do here is not what you usually do back home, you have to redesign your living style so it fit to the environment you are dueling in. The problem I have found from you is that you call others with your problems; in other hand, that person you have called has the same situation. Those you have called to resolve the issue will come to increase it. Even a person that cannot insult you will leave his own issues and find ways to insult you. If you cannot find tolerant some where then, both of you are looser (husband and wife).

Tor Mach Kuet, my question base on Nuer International Cultural Orientation Center . I understand, it is new and we have Nuer Community Development Service here in United States . Is it difference and if so how can we contribute to two Nuer communities?

QA for Tor Mach. Nuer International Cultural Orientation Center will focus on solving differences in Nuer Communities, Religious group, and also will create awareness to accept weakness in us to be removed. For these purpose NCOC is difference and will not replace Nuer Community Development Service. The way it will be finance is to have some one will sacrifice one of his meal for NCOC. That is how it will generate its income among you.

Dobuol Tharjiath , one woman from our community asked question to Douglas County officials ( Nebraska ). Does our culture fit in your laws? ( Douglas County workers, Nebraska ) The answer was no. My question to Gatpal, how does our culture fit? I would like to hear from you if you know anything from other international bodies that might help fight this cruelness. Second, I might be perceived as I branch from topic. Since the toppled of Ethiopian regime, many nuer values you as one of their roll model that might help in Sudan like Matip Nhial and the rest. How do you answer to those Nuer?

QA for Dobuol Tharjiath. Is this federal workers or counties worker? Well if these are Counties workers, they might not know you base on your recent arrival. They might have known only people that are rule by their laws; they did not know people that have difference cultures like Jews and others. For laws marker and international bodies, it is not like that. It cannot prevent people from proclaiming their culture, but you cannot proclaim your culture as an individual. It has to be proclaims in group. The group as to proclaim it in a organize way in which our values are seen as productive. In that case, you will be recognize and acknowledge with your basic rights in your communities.

Chuar Juat, we are going to 21 century. How are we going to reach 21 century as Nuer that have our culture, language, and way of life while still maintaining them? Second, 70% our children do not speak our language, women divorces and raise children without father, how do we solve these issues?

QA for Chuar Juat. Last year when I spoke with you, I have told you we are in cultural shock. Back home our age sets did not want to learn in school. All they wanted was to have cattle, rifle, and reject other influences. Their concept was if you have ox and rifle, you are millionaire. Within that concept, the young generation changes all of that within 25 years.

Those changes were made when SPLM took armed to fight Sudan government. Before that if you live in village your mattress was not spring bed, but a cow and an antelope hide with big garden as main task. If you are a woman your job was to make good food, wine, liquor, and paved house to be free of molds and roaches. At this modern time, our hut and house became one and no separation between men and women; for that reason, you are tide of looking at each other in the same room.

We have to acknowledge this achievement which we have achieved within small period. You should not do thing like in the Stone Age or look at your women like in the village or the way they use to do things. Right now these women are industrial workers. You have to change your attitude because women have achieved difference professions. All these differences created cultural chock, to progress, we cannot progress when we fight as communities or spiritual leaders. The external changed is already completed, but what we lack is internal changes. As I said earlier, our identity is our beliefs, ways of life, and our language which is the main value which bind us together and brought to this modern life.

This second session will deal with membership and governance. The constitution said we should have board of Directors (Board of trustee and board of management). Board of trustee will supervise management, fund raising roll, and planning for NICOC rolls in various Nuer Communities. Board of management will deal with day to day activities such as what to be done and how will it is to be done.

The problem number one that brought Nuer community problem and have other communities succeed than Nuer community; is combining political and communities activities, they are not separated. Political culture is ideology and principle method. Membership is identity in a party that has the same belief that wanted other to adapt it methodology. In our Nuer Community, community is the birth right; in the same token, political membership is social right and principle. In that case they are difference and should not be mixed. Those who come from other ethnic can have right to be in political party.

Things that had happened back in our communities were not from community level, but a political ideology between parties. If you have realize that than as Nuer, you should come together as one ethnic from different countries which want it social and economic benefits, but most importantly as ethnic that want to maintain its cultural heritage. For that reason our identity as Nuer makes us share certain values which are our belief, language, and birth right.

The second issue is nepotism. My age group when they loose their position, will come up with section of such (chie ngak) disrespect us, then the whole group will stand up to fight without questioning that individual.

The third issue is that all these crises we have learned from them and we know what is not right for us. As in our social life, to get wealth you obtain it from being bless with many girls, more cattle, and crops. Now a day in this country you obtain wealth either through work, family wealth, or making businesses. The worth case scenario is that most countries include Africa after independent, most people gain wealth without working. Then people want the same thing because someone else gets it without working on it. For that reason, wealth without work is a deadly sin and that concept is in us.

We need nationalism so that we succeed in doing thing. One thing you should know that stealing is not only breaking in somebody’s house, but obtaining something from people which is not yours. An example, we know we contribute money for good reason and they always end up in someone’s pocket. That is not leadership, it is stealing from people.

Self centrism is another illness that we need to fight and we individually should fight one self to eradicate that self centrism.
We cannot achieve anything if we cannot forgive others. We have to look at little thing and stop it before it bring national failure.
The other issue is knowledge without character. If you do not show good characteristic, then you will be level to character you have shown. In other hand, you have to recognize each other for individual achievement.
Business without moralities is another failure. Doing the same thing that will end up causing you to fight is another issue. Fight it by doing different interest; if you know someone open grocery store, then go open a computer store.
Science without humanity is a failure. God created man, man created monies, and then monies made man nutty. All I am saying is that let the scientific gain be accompany by humanity.
Worshipping without sacrifice is failure, this thing is vital issue. In our belief back home whenever you belief something, you always sacrifice something to show sign of your worship. In churches we must give our gift to the churches. We should follow Christianity norms if we think we are Christian.
Decision which is already decided should not be dissolve without present of those who made it. In our decision making, we always go against decision due to someone suggesting it; you are not fond of them. Even if that issue can save our nation. We must drop that hatred and focus on the outcome of that result.
We isolate each other and seek help some where, but return to each other when you have problem. For example, in Tennessee there was a man call Gatwech Lul. He owned a store, but in some sense people go about forty miles to by somewhere. When time come, the same person comes to Getwech, hey my children have nothing to eat when he/she got problem. That belief is wrong and we should trust one another.
Politic without principle is wrong. You must have master plan for that reason create that party.
You cannot walk along side your own blood relative, it is wrong and need to be eradicated.
In meeting, we extremely branched away from agenda. In most organize meeting, if people disagreed, they always concluded it by vote. Let us follow agenda if other agreed and you’re disagreed with them, it does not mean it is not good idea. It is always documented and uses in future to remind other of what you have said. This process is exercising democracy and that is how peopling progress.
Another factor is claiming to be elected to position you cannot do. We always thing if that person (ngak) can do it, then I can do it. If other does not want him to have, he always calls his relatives such section (chie ngak) disrespect us.
If you represent whole Nuer spirit world wide then you are more important than minister or vice president.
Differences among us were created by elder people long time ago. You should embrace each other because you have achieved something together. There fore, your uncles and brothers are not important then someone you have faced these entire problems together.
- As of this reason Nuer will never apologize for wrong doing but will say (maath ku wa) son just go, which mean letting you do what you know because they cannot change you.
- You have to be frank to one another, you and your wife. You cannot leave cultural values. As you know in our culture, if a woman found an elephant, whose elephant is it? It is belonging to her husband. You cannot give gifts illegally without your spouse knowing it.
- As it is said in the bible, if you think like slave you will leave like slave. If you think like free man, then you will live as free man. To enjoy your liberty, it is in your hand you and your women.
My message to you is to set stage and create difference environment for other. To achieve all these, you have to accept attitude changes because you are generation of changes.

Biel jock, I thank Gatpal on his message attitude change. It is not easy to change attitude if there is nothing to force you to accept change like holding a gun to your head and when you have chronic attitude problem. My question base on center as it was asked earlier. You have said it will be in Nairobi, Kenya. You have mentioned board of trustee and board of management, are they already existed? If not how would Nuer from various places like Sudan, Ethiopia, Australia, and other countries fit to this?

QA for Biel Jock. This center is a concept from you when I came to USA. You have demanded two things from me. Become Sudanese and Help in Nuer crisses. As I thought of these reason, I said no to become Sudanese and yes to elevate Nuer in their catastrophe, because I can validate question base on concept of NCOC. This organization will systematize our youth, men, women, communities, and spiritual leaders. It main intention will be casting out obstacles that visage us. We cannot do those things without organization, and if we do, you will have planning and thought. If you have problem and just talk about it and do nothing, it will not go away. You need to have system to resolve the issue.

We will have conference this coming November. We will create center here and that center’s purpose will be

Reath Khor, I also thank Gatpal. My question base on what you have said before. You have mentioned you are Nuer of Ethiopia. How can you help Nuer of Sudan while you are Nuer of Ethiopia?

QA for Reath Khor. Territorial laws violation is not acceptable. Those laws are not break easily as we think. Doing something as Nuer mean I did also participate in it.

Wichluol Gach, I came from Cananda. How can this message reach Canada so that we work with you?

QA for Wichluol Gach. The spirit we injected here in USA, will be injected in Canada, Australia, Europe, Asia, and in Africa. Any place with number of 5 Nuer will have that spirit work there.

Keak Ruon. My own company is Southern Sudan news international Inc. my question is culture within culture, how can we adapt new culture as you mentioned we are in cultural choke?

QA for Keak Ruon. International can be categorizing in many ways. Something being done by more than one country is international work. Border of two countries which have difference constitution, the line between them is an international border. Our focus point is being Nuer which binds us by birth right, language, and belief. If we do not organize ourselves where we are living, we will be assimilated to other community. There fore, your success in your dream is our success.

Dobuol Tharjiath. My question is that Nuer has sections. Gatpal how are we going to summit contribution, will it be individually or collectively?

QA for Dobuol Tharjiath. Nuer section is not something difference, it is a part of anthropological heritage. Your name Dobuol is yours alone. If you have ten children, they will not be called Dobuol. They will have difference names and even also will have ten difference cities name after them. Our problem is limitation of identity. Creation of organization is structural. As in USA, you have federal, state, county, and cities government. These steps are structural of organization. For you as Dobuol if you a have house, children, and city. Where are all these going to end up? They will end as things belong to Nuer. There for, your contribution is sacrifice from you. You will prove yourself to be loyal to Nuer by your participation and contribution to various Nuer communities in need of your support.

Nin Chany. My question will base on Board of trustee and management, as you indicated that the center will be in Nairobi. You know we are in different geographical location and also in different countries. How do we ask contribution here? The other issue is how can you ask American government and others to take money from here to Nairobi?

QA for Nin Chany. Here in USA, we will create organization with Board of Management and Board of Trustee. They will work to supervise and organize youth and women to come to their senses. The main office that will monitor all these will be in Nairobi. This Board of Directors will have job description to minimize confusion. In this case, it will be a hierarchy of command for whom to reporting. We cannot do these entire things without system. We need system to do work. After conference of USA, we will establish management bodies in Nairobi. These bodies of management and those in USA will create Nuer Information Networking to discuss day to day activities. They will communicate the strong and weakness in failure and success of project. In that case, it is an individual responsibility to make NICOC work to remove barrier in our communities.

Chol Gatwech. In nuer society if someone wanted to do something, other will put it in difference way. Then that person will get confuse and forget what he/she wanted to do. Last time I sang a song about our government, but no one seems to understand it. Today I will sing a song about Nuer.

Nyachan Gach. I thank you all; I think we came together and follow this. Always if I hear something about Nuer, I like to be there even if it will cost me $100 dollar to find a baby sitter.

The two women sang song about Nuer Unity. You have to watch video to know what they are saying.

Nyanchar Laam. What you are doing is good. Bring us back from this disarray. Our grandfather and those of Garang tried to set us from oppression. I am not here to ask question, but I came here because I like what you are doing.

Nyachara Puk. I greet you all. My question is about lack of information from leaders. Why don’t you inform people about meeting?

James Maluit. This man called Thokwath Pal is a good man. If we have education today, it is because of Thokwath. In Ethiopia, he has done well for our community. Let us not destroy ourselves. No one likes to be with you if you are self destructive person. Let us work together with Thokwath.

Kuol Rik. What does Thokwath mean? Thokwath is a door for us. What does thokwath need from 1983 up to now; he wanted us to be better people.

Tor Mach, I am still not convinces with two Nuer communities existing. I do not see it as a good thing, but a failure to the good thing you are doing. How are we going to contribute two organizations?

QA for Tor Mach. The existing Nuer Community organizations have there lack of organizational structure, commitment, and seriousness. This Nuer International Cultural Orientation Center is not here to replace other Nuer Communities. Its purpose is to do counseling work to various Nuer communities. Let me explain something about these two communities.

In conclusion, do we like to change from old attitude to the new attitude? If the answer is yes, then I urge you all to give up one meal from your meal to create changes through Nuer International Cultural Orientation Center. My mission is not to come and replace Nuer community or Nuer religious institutions.