IK: Other Ways of Knowing (Journal)
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When the Earth Shakes: A Status Report on Dissertation Research Regarding Mexican Volcanoes
Get PDFSituated above multiple tectonic plates, central Mexico and highland Guatemala often experience strong earthquakes and volcanic activity. During the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, this unpredictable topography shaped the human interactions with the natural environment. While indigenous populations in these regions were familiar with this terrain, Spanish colonists struggled to make sense of this volcanic topography upon their arrival. This field report provides an overview of 4 months of dissertation research completed during fall 2017 in Mexico City, Puebla, and Tetela del Volcán. This research occurred in the aftermath of a 7.1 earthquake, measured on the Moment Magnitude scale, that struck central Mexico 2 weeks after my arrival. This essay discusses the realities of living in post-earthquake Mexico and the archival research undertaken in each city. Preliminary findings reveal that knowledge concerning the volcanic topography influenced the outcome of property conflicts in favor of indigenous litigants. Research for this project will continue throughout 2018 in Spain and Guatemala.
A Review of A Culture\u27s Catalyst: Historical Encounters with Peyote and the Native American Church in Canada
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Cornell University\u27s Kassam Research Group Collaborates with Indigenous People to Create Ecological Calendars
Get PDFStrengthening Traditional Governance Systems for Sustainable Biodiversity Management in Southeastern Zimbabwe
Get PDFIn pre-colonial Africa, local communities lived in harmony with nature and used indigenous knowledge systems and traditional authorities to manage biodiversity. The introduction of European colonial regimes in Africa eroded the traditional institutional framework and capacity for sustainable natural resource management. The post-independence governments tended to perpetuate the status quo. This study analyzed the contemporary traditional governance systems for biodiversity management and assessed the effectiveness of traditional institutions and methods in protecting the ecosystem. Key informant interviews, questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, and in-depth document interrogations corroborated and yielded valuable data that sustained the discourse. The study revealed that traditional governance systems in Zimbabwe have been significantly weakened by both colonial and post-independence governments that consolidated and centralized power. Traditional authority is marginalized in the governance of mainstream natural resources despite the fact that indigenes\u27 culture imbues the conservation of natural resources. The study underscored the dire need for traditional authority to be restored and enhanced; the need for roles of traditional leaders and local people be clearly defined; the need for responsibilities and accountability of all actors to be emphasized; and the need for institutional capacities to be strengthened to ensure sustainable biodiversity management and livelihoods for the local communities
