Ontario, Canada: The 21st North American Tibetan Associations’ Conference was held in the first week of September in Ontario, Canada by the Ontario Tibetan Association and the Office of Tibet in North America.

The conference was attended by Tibetan delegates consisting of North American Tibetan Parliamentarian Tenzin Jigme, President of the International Campaign for Tibet Tenchoe Gyatso, Canada Tibet Committee’s Chair Samphe Lhalungpa with Executive Director Sherap Therchin, and Tibet Fund’s President Bob Ankerson. Apart from them, around 40 participants from 19 regions in North America also attended.

Over the course of this three-day conference, the participants deliberated on strategising Tibet Advocacy, preserving Tibetan language and culture, creating awareness amongst Tibetans about the significance of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s four noble commitments, mounting up the young Tibetan’s engagements in Tibetan freedom struggle, and issues concerning Tibetan Chatrel (Green book) payment. It concluded successfully with the passage of resolutions.

President of the International Campaign for Tibet Tenchoe Gyatso and Canada Tibet Committee’s Chair Samphe Lhalungpa briefed on the importance of campaigning for Tibet in their respective regions and regarding how to undertake advocacy initiatives. Tibet Fund’s President Bob Ankerson introduced the organisation’s undertakings within the exiled Tibetan community.  Representative Dr Namgyal Choedup of the Office of Tibet also addressed the gathering.

Coinciding with the 63rd anniversary of Tibetan Democracy Day, the Ontario Tibetan Association marked the official occasion with a programme attended by the participants of the conference. Representative Dr Namgyal Choedup and Tibetan Parliamentarian Tenzin Jigme delivered their respective addresses for the occasion. Dr Gyalo, a Tibetan activist and educational sociologist addressed the participants on China’s education policies that endanger the Tibetan language and how Tibetans in diaspora can take on this concerning challenge.

The conference concluded on 4 September with a cultural presentation by the weekend school students. Sonam Langkar, the new President delivered the vote of thanks. The 22nd North American Tibetan Associations’ Conference is scheduled for August 2024 which will be hosted by California Tibetan Association.

Considering the significance of this year’s conference, it received coverage in TV, radio, web and print media.

To gain an understanding of the history of the Tibetan associations, you can access the following facebook and youtube accounts.

–Filed by the Office of Tibet, Washington DC