Cultural Heritage, Globalization, And Collaborative Research With Aboriginal Peoples Of The Circumpo

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Cultural Heritage, Globalization, And
Collaborative Research With Aboriginal Peoples
Of The Circumpolar North

• James Andrew McDonald
• University of Northern British Columbia

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Just to locate the case study
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The Province of British Columbia
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the interaction of globalization and local
development

• the phenomenon of climate change that is starting
  to deeply affect the north.
• natural resources in the north gas, oil,
  precious gems like diamonds that are becoming
  more and more accessible to industry.
• indigenous peoples have had their traditional
  ways of life uprooted by the changes that are
  occurring in the north

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How to realize this type of development locally?

• the importance of effective, collaborative
  research with aboriginal peoples of the
  circumpolar world.
• The spirit of Vilhjálmur Stefánsson

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HDI plus other aspects of human development

• the ability of people to determine their own
  destinies,
• cultural continuity in the sense of nurturing
  traditional values and ways of life, even while
  embracing some of the obvious benefits of
  modernization, and
• close relationships with the natural world.

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Globalization the paradox

• creates economic conditions attractive to many
  peoples seeking a better life
• contributes to undermining of local cultures and
  to the breakdown of local societies

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local indigenous peoples want developments

• that address their needs,
• that are inclusive of their cultural values,
• that respect their collective identities, and
• that provide sustainable development for their
  communities.
• Development with Identity.

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UN Human Development Reports

• Human development is first and foremost about
  allowing people to lead the kind of life they
  chooseand providing them with the tools and
  opportunities to make those choices

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UNHDR 2006

• human development shares a common vision with
  human rights. The goal is human freedom. And in
  pursuing capabilities and realizing rights, this
  freedom is vital. People must be free to exercise
  their choices and to participate in
  decision-making that affects their lives. Human
  development and human rights are mutually
  reinforcing, helping to secure the well-being and
  dignity of all people, building self-respect and
  the respect of others.

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2 assertions

• for development to benefit indigenous people
  there must exist a true partnership
• this type of partnership will also strengthen the
  larger society

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Key anthropological concepts

• holism,
• the cross cultural approach, and
• a historical approach to studying culture

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Anthropological methods

• Policy Research
• Decision Making, policies
• Globalization, knowledge, and power
• Participatory approaches, community based
  research, community centred research

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2004 UNHDR

• There is a need for dialogue and benefit sharing
  when the modern world national or international
  meets indigenous culture in order to provide
  the space for growth and development as chosen by
  indigenous peoples.

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Cross-cultural challenges

• identifying the factors associated with the
  organization of knowledge in each case society,
• identifying and contacting the proper authorities
  in each culture
• developing a cross-cultural understanding of the
  research, and
• Determining the proper ways to ask the questions
  and to obtain the answers.

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Collaborative research

• Address problems of cultural heritage under the
  conditions of globalization
• holistic perspective
• cross-cultural approach
• cultural change.
• policy perspective
• careful not to replicate the cultural values of
  the dominant society
• respect the cultural integrity of the people and
• permit culturally supportive development.

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UNHDR 2004

• The potential and the threat of globalization to
  cultural diversity and choice are noted the
  report suggests that the most effective response
  is to embrace choice, while providing an
  encouraging and supportive environment for local
  culture, so that it can flourish, not be swamped

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Barriers to effective local development

• assimilation of indigenous people by legislative
  means,
• resulting disruption of cultural knowledge,
• unilateral appropriation of indigenous resources
  by legislation
• criminalization of indigenous resource management
  practices and other laws
• cultural prejudices in Canadian society

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Development with Identityprotects and promotes

• identity,
• culture,
• Territorial relationships
• also
• the local governance of the traditional society
  and economy,
• indigenous control over natural resources,
• and social organization.

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cultural models

• co-management models require study of
• indigenous systems of land tenure
• assumptions of ownership of traditional resources
  
• cultural complexities and nuances of land tenure
  system

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Tsimshian resource management

• Key areas
• property,
• indigenous laws, and
• social structure.

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Conclusions

• Important principles are
• holism,
• cross cultural analysis,
• culture change,
• cultural integrity, and
• curating cultural knowledge,
• community-centred methodology
• These can assist communities to
• articulate and express their needs and interests,
• preserve their heritages,
• develop sustainable communities
• Research With Identity

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THE END

• My thanks to
• the organizers of the Social Science Square
• the Stefánsson Arctic Institute
• the University of Akureyri