Jennifer Haire, guest editor for Border Crossing’s special issue on Aboriginal/Indigenous dialogue, MLIS Masters of Library and Information Science , University of Western Ontario, academic librarian at University of Ottawa since 1991 and Librarian responsible for Aboriginal Studies since 1996.
Kwey. It is an honour to be guest editor for the June 2015 issue of Border Crossing on the theme of Aboriginal/Indigenous dialogue. This month’s issue contains seven informative and thought-provoking articles, submitted by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous academic scholars from Canada, United States and Colombia.
Why publish an issue on Aboriginal/Indigenous dialogue and why should this topic be of importance to embassy staff worldwide?
These articles cover a wide variety of subject matter including philosophical, social, political, legal and historical issues such as Indigenous philosophy and Huron wisdom, intimate partner violence and gender equality, Indigenous dispute resolution and the Arctic, Aboriginal Peoples and natural resource extraction, Indigenous self-determination and the geographical legacy of settler-colonialism in the United States, social classes and Indigenous rights in Colombia.
It is important to raise awareness, to break down preconceived notions, to understand the effects of colonization and settler-colonialism, to develop a deeper respect and understanding of Indigenous knowledge and to appreciate the value of the Indigenous perspective in relation to contemporary global issues such as human rights, the environment and natural resources. Indigenous approaches to dispute resolution can provide guidance and direction for international policy. It is now time to put words into action and to involve Indigenous peoples in the decision-making process. The following three examples prove that much work remains to be done:
Rigoberto Menchu, Mayan activist received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 “in recognition of her work for social justice and ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples” – these issues are still very much in the forefront today.
Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples – this is the 2nd international decade and how far have we come?
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – how can nations better understand and identify the rights and provisions of UNDRIP and how have these rights and provisions been successfully applied by Indigenous Peoples around the world?
Chi, Meegwetch
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