240015 VO Indigenous Peoples’ and International Processes - A Practical Guide for Anthropologists (3.2.1) (2022W)

Indigenous peoples’ (IPs) have made significant gains in human and environmental rights – from the highest level human rights document designed to protect and promote indigenous peoples’ rights - the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Peoples adopted in 1993 - to the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), recognized in 1996 as the formal body providing direct advice to governments in regards to their work on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - to the influence of the International People’s Forum on Climate Change (IPFCC), the formal IP caucus established in 2008, collectively making their issues heard by government’s working on the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Throughout the globe IPs are working to bring these international level discourses and achievements down to the national and local levels.

As an anthropologist with over 2 decades-expertise working directly with IPs in these fora I will provide students with a solid overview, covering related key topics such as Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and discussions around carbon offset programs such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) and REDD+, which focuses on conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

The course is designed to provide vital information which could prove helpful in understanding some of these complex issues (potentially) affecting the communities the students (may) work with and/or could serve as an engagement point if shared.

As an applied anthropologist, working for 3 decades on these topics, I can present current discourse, key actors and the diverse strategies employed by indigenous peoples, including civil society collaborations, participating in UN meetings, etc. Students will learn accessing key information, e.g. UN documents via databases. My goal is that students interested in working on environmental/climate change issues understand indigenous peoples’ unique and diverse roles, important for work in NGOs, international organizations, etc.

The course will combine instructor lecturing and AV materials. Although lectures will form the basis of this course, via leading questions I will animate discussions and debates. Ample time for questions, debates and observations will be made. I will direct students to publications, websites and databases, etc. for further research.