After several years, the Annual Meeting of Province Coordinators for Jesuit Ministry among Indigenous Peoples (JEMAI) was convened at the Indian Social Institute (ISI), New Delhi. Coordinators from across provinces, along with POSA, resource persons and representatives from allied ministries, gathered to reflect, reconnect and chart the way forward for JEMAI in today’s socio-political context.

The meeting, hosted by Conference Coordinator Fr. Stanislaus Tirkey, focused on “Reimagining JEMAI for the Next Five Years” in line with the Reimagining and Restructuring of the Society of  Jesus in South Asia (RRSJSA). Fr. Tirkey outlined a vision to build empowered  Adivasi/Tribal/Indigenous communities through evaluation, safeguarding identity, collaboration, political education, inter-ministerial networking, and codification of customary laws.

Resource person Fr. Alex Ekka revisited the history of JEMAI and its landmark 2004 Statement, while POSA, Fr. Stanislaus Jerome D’Souza, emphasized leadership-building, education, research, and sustainability of Fr. Stan Swamy’s legacy for long-term empowerment.

Province-wise sharing, reflections on challenges such as identity threats, migration, and fundamentalism, as well as hopes for collaboration, enriched the discussions. Suggestions included a JEMAI news bulletin, stronger digital connectivity, revisiting the JEMAI Statement, and profiling Adivasi communities.