"We are herders. We derive our livelihood from livestock. We have our laws and our traditions and we are known by all these things. "Our livestock are valuable and beneficial to us and beneficial to others as well. Last night every person here asked for tea with milk. Milk comes from our wealth. People choose to eat meat. Meat also comes from our wealth. Our wealth has value and people like it. "Keeping livestock is hard work but most people don't value our work - they don't respect it because they do not know it. Also as pastoralists we don't respect our work either. In short, if we respect ourselves and our work, other people will respect us too. "Before we start seeking help from other people, we ourselves must first appreciate our own way of life. We must know our work. We must know what we ourselves need to do, so that our work gets the recognition it deserves. After we recognise our work, after we know our capabilities, our problems, our strengths and weaknesses, then we shall be able to solve the problems we are facing. "After knowing and understanding all these things, then and only then can we go to the government and tell it what we want. I want to tell you that if there is any work we are supposed to do for ourselves, we had better do it before we approach the government or any foreign donors for help. It is meaningless for us to expect others to do for us what we are supposed to do for ourselves. This is not about asking for aid; it is for us to know and understand what we need to accompalish for ourselves and what we can ask the government to do for us as its citizens." Oromia Pastoralist Association Chairman, Nura Dida, speaking at a gathering of pastoralists from Ethiopia and Kenya held at Koora in Kenya's Kajiado District, August 2008. Click here to learn more about the Koora Gathering

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