Professor Kyle
Powys Whyte, Michigan State University
On Indigenous
Resilience: Histories, Theories and Practices
Indigenous peoples’
environmental and climate
justice movements have long been among the most visible and
impactful
environmentalisms globally. While Indigenous peoples often refer
to
“resilience” as one of their environmental aspirations, little
is still known
or taught in academic, professional and policy spheres about the
Indigenous
intellectual traditions and histories from which Indigenous
concepts of
resilience arise. This presentation will provide an overview of
Indigenous
environmental studies as a field with ancient roots and
contemporary theories
and practices. Some of the key findings of this field are the
different ways in
which concepts similar to resilience are developed through
studies of moral
relationships, including responsibility, interdependence and
justice. The
presentation will show how this field presents important
insights for
academics, professionals and policy-makers who are interested in
resilience or
using resilience frameworks. The Pacific region has been an
important location
for Indigenous environmentalism focused on concepts of
resilience, some recent examples
including the legal victory of the Whanganui Iwi in Aotearoa to
push New
Zealand to recognize the Whanganui river as a legal person, the
Inuit Petition
to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Seeking Relief
from Violations
Resulting From Global Warming Caused by Acts and Omissions of
the United
States, and the diverse actions and publications on Indigenous
traditions of
sustainable development organized by the Tebtebba Foundation
(the Indigenous
Peoples' Centre for Policy Research and Education). The
presentation will
discuss Indigenous resilience in this context as well as cover
some recent
research findings on how Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners
interested in
resilience can work together best.
Bio