Tirso Gonzales, assistant professor of Indigenous Studies
New Horizons in the Struggle for Decolonization set for May 18 to 20
Self determination and autonomy have been central struggles for Indigenous cultures around the world for ages. The 41st Annual Congress of the Canadian Association for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CALACS) to be held at UBC’s Okanagan campus Friday May 18 to Sunday May 20 will bring those issues into focus.
The conference will examine not only political and cultural issues, but the idea of knowledge transfer between Indigenous cultures to the Western world, says Tirso Gonzales, conference organizer and an assistant professor of Indigenous Studies with the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
“Western society has much to learn from the lessons of Indigenous peoples, particularly in such areas as sustainable agriculture and environmental practices,” says Gonzales, who has worked extensively with the United Nations and global organizations to further the cause of Indigenous rights and awareness.
The conference is expected to attract about 130 delegates, plus 85 participants in a virtual forum, from more than 20 countries. The academic sessions cover topics such as climate change, Indigenous peoples and autonomy and self-determination in Canada and Latin America.
Among his research projects, Gonzales is a collaborator and cultural expert on a $3.4-million project between UBC and two major Peruvian institutions examining food security and small-scale and Indigenous peasant agriculture in the mountains of Peru.
“When we take the opportunity to share our knowledge, we find solutions to common problems,” says Gonzales.
For millennia, many Indigenous people have lived in harmony with their immediate environment, contributing to the management of ecosystems, food security, and adaptive strategies to climate change, says Gonzales. “The key is often found in the small-scale practices of Indigenous peoples, informed by their unique and resilient worldviews that have contributed to sustainable living by nurturing life as a whole.”
The conference will also examine political issues common to Indigenous cultures around the world, including Canada’s First Nations.
“The session’s objective is to seek a balance regarding the experiences and process of Indigenous self-determination and autonomy in Latin America and Canada,” says Gonzales. “Contemporary relations with nation-states, international cooperation, domestic and international legislation, the practices and visions of Indigenous peoples as well as their multiple struggles for decolonization will all be taken into account,” says Gonzales.
Gonzales, a Fulbright scholar and Martha Piper award winner, has served as the Latin America and Caribbean author on the International Assessment of Agriculture Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), funded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
Conference sessions take place at the Charles E. Fipke Centre for Innovative Research.
A complete conference schedule and more information are available at: http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/latin/CALACS2012/Program.html
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