Rettet die Naturvölker

Description

Rettet die Naturvölker, also known by its English names Friends of People Close to Nature or fPcN interCultural, is a German non-governmental organization working for the rights of indigenous peoples.

It was founded by Hartmut Heller on 1 October 1991 and was first headquartered in Lauenburg. Since Heller’s death in 2003 it has been based in Ludwigslust, Germany. As of 2025, its chairs are Arne Salisch and Katarina Respondek.

The organization believes that the hardships facing indigenous peoples come from the imposition of outside interests rather than from any shortcoming in their own way of life. Its campaigns operate on a global level, and members have travelled to East Africa, the Amazon rainforest and the Philippines to support indigenous communities.

Rettet die Naturvölker has produced a series of documentary films about indigenous struggles, including works on the Aeta people of the Philippines, the Akha people, and the West Papuan peoples’ resistance to Indonesian rule.