About

Vison

Indigenous Kui people with strong solidarity, a robust economy, vibrant culture, dignity, and happiness.

Mission

To cultivate and strengthen the spirit of participation, build capacity, and support community initiatives in conservation and the development of socio-economics, culture, identity, land governance, and sustainable resources in accordance with the Kui indigenous context.

Core Values

  • Integrity
  • Prioritizing the Collective Interest
  • Ownership and Self-Reliance

Identity

An organization established and led by the Kui indigenous people to serve the interests of the Kui people, while contributing to the public interest of humanity and the preservation of nature.

Our History

In 2022, a group of Kui youth and elders gathered at the Kui Hai camp in Andas Village, Kampong Thom Province, to discuss collective Kui affairs. Our discussions encompassed the economy, land issues, natural resources, traditional culture, Kui identity, and language revitalization. Following these discussions, we considered establishing a systematic framework for Kui-led work and deliberated on the creation of a Kui institution. Various ideas were raised regarding organizational structure, human resources, and financial sustainability. By early 2023, we decided to apply for legal entity status with the Ministry of Interior under the name “Kui Hai Organization” to mobilize Kui resources for the collective benefit of the Kui people and other indigenous groups in Cambodia.

The Kui Hai Organization is a local, non-profit non-governmental organization officially registered with the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia on September 6, 2023, under Letter No. 4627 BRAKA. The term “Kui Hai” is a Kui linguistic expression meaning “Our Kui” in Khmer. The vision of the Kui Hai Organization is to see: “Indigenous Kui people with strong solidarity, a robust economy, vibrant culture, dignity, and happiness.” A primary mission of the Kui Hai Organization is to “mobilize human resources and strengthen capacity for the conservation and development of Kui communities in Cambodia.”

Cambodia is recognized as a country with a relatively strong framework for indigenous rights compared to others in the region. However, data regarding indigenous populations in Cambodia remains inconsistent, with significant variations across different sources. According to the 2019 General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia, out of a total population of approximately 15,552,211 (51.31% female), indigenous peoples accounted for approximately 172,980 individuals, or 1.11% of the total population. In contrast, commune-level database identification in 2014 identified 252,337 indigenous persons, while socio-economic survey data from 2015 showed 243,357 indigenous persons.[1]

According to the preliminary 2021 report on the “Demographic and Socio-Economic Status of Indigenous Peoples,” jointly prepared by the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Rural Development (Appendices, pages 142 to 148), we find that:

  • The Kui indigenous group resides in four provinces: Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, and Kampong Thom. However, only 25 villages were listed, with a total population of 13,998 (7,001 females).

There are notable gaps in this data; for instance, several Kui villages were excluded, such as Kokir, Andas, Sala Visai, and Sre villages in Sala Visai Commune, Prasat Balangk District, Kampong Thom Province. This does not yet account for other indigenous villages throughout Cambodia. Nevertheless, these figures serve as preliminary data for the Kui Hai Organization to continue its data collection efforts.

[1] Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Rural Development, the Report on the Demographic and Socio-Economic Status of Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia 2021