The Olakira le Maa Trust
The Maasai are a pastoral group found in Kenya and Tanzania, comprising of a number of sub-tribes living in different clusters, known in Maa as ILOSHON.
The Olakira le Maa Trust is a grassroots organisation which has been established to secure the future for Maasai generations to come. The main aim is to understand the present day challenges and to respond strategically and creatively to them. The secondary aim is to promote a culture of peace by sharing, presenting, promoting and showcasing the best aspects of the Maasai to the world.
One of the key objectives is to re-engage the human sense of the art of exploration and adventure as a tribute to Joseph Thomson.
About Ezekiel:
Ezekiel ole Katato is the founder and Executive Director at Olakira Le Maa Trust (OLM). A Maasai elder, peace, cultural and environmental activist, Ezekiel graduated with a Higher Diploma in Range Management and animal health from the Animal Health Training Institute, Nairobi.
Ezekiel has worked directly with rural communities in the areas of education, health care, water, peace building, wildlife and environmental conservation. His work over the last two decades has been to seek solutions to address issues of inequality, marginalization and poverty among vulnerable groups. He has also contributed to local and global activities in culture, conservation, the changing climate and peace.
His passion, along with others who share his vision, is working to secure the socio-economic future of the Maasai people. They are building strategic relationships with other global indigenous cultural networks.
Ezekiel conceptualized, directs and oversees Olamal Le Seriani (Journeys through Maasailand in the footsteps of Joseph Thomson). Joseph Thomson walked through Ezekiel's village of during his expedition in 1883 which gave Ezekiel the impetus to develop this journey. This walk is aimed at giving people the opportunity to have an experience far beyond the usual safari holiday.
Ezekiel made contact with the Joseph Thomson Group in 2010 after finding articles about events they had held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Joseph Thomson’s birth in 2008 including a meeting between the Joseph Thomson Group’s Archivist and descendants in the Ewart Library. He then contacted the Group via the D & G Standard. The Joseph Thomson Group introduced John Hastings-Thomson to Ezekiel. In 2014, John then participated in a walk in Joseph Thomson’s footsteps organised by Ezekiel. John and the Joseph Thomson Group then both funded Ezekiel to visit the UK in 2015.
