Indigenous Perspectives on Conflict and Conservation: Sámi and Ainu Communities (A Road to Geneva Event)
Feb 8, 2021
|
Mirali Shukla
online
This event was recorded and can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/SqlEqo4xHUg
When: Monday (Feb 8) at 8am - 10am EET/ 3pm - 5pm JST
(Monday, Feb 8, at 1am - 3am EST / 6am - 8am GMT)
Community resilience in the face of drastic environmental changes requires a deeper understanding of the struggles being felt most dramatically. The speakers in this web series are part of a larger, global community of marginalized and indigenous community members, and we highlight these voices as agents of change in the fight for environmental conversation and conflict resolution. The first person, indigenous communication of the experiences and ideas presented is an extremely important feature of this event. We aim to present a platform for underrepresented indigenous voices to be highlighted as primary speakers on an international stage. Join Maya Sekine, Vince Okada-Coelho, Eero Orbas, and Mirali Shukla as we discuss how changes in the environment are causing conflict within the Sámi and Ainu communities. MAYA SEKINE was born and raised in the Nibutani area of Biratori town in Hokkaido, where 70–80% of the population are Ainu (approximately 400 residents) and Ainu culture remains strong. Currently, Maya majors in policy management at Keio University and belongs to the University’s Ainu Language Club. Maya promotes the Ainu language as the living language. She was awarded first prize twice in the Ainu speech contest. Maya was also an instructor of Ainu language lessons on STV radio in 2018. Her voice has been used for the announcement of Donan buses, which serve the Hidaka region of Hokkaido. Maya and her friend started their “Shito-channel” on YouTube to promote the Ainu language and culture to a wider audience in Japan. DR. VINCE OKADA-COELHO is deeply committed to community development with a focus on diversity, well-being, and social justice for Japan, Hawaiʻi, and the Asia-Pacific region. He shares these principle missions along with the goal of expanding youth leadership, international education, and the field of indigenous knowledge including identity formation and resurgence and sustainable community development.Dr. Okada-Coelho completed his Ph.D. in social welfare at the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Dr. Okada-Coelho also holds a master’s degree in international public policy and management from the University of Southern California and bachelor degree in education from Montclair State University of New Jersey. Dr. Okada-Coelho is an assistant professor of social work at Hawaiʻi Pacific University and is an editorial advisor of the Journal of Indigenous Social Development (https://ucalgary.ca/journals/indigenous-social-development). His interdisciplinary research focuses on Japan’s indigenous people, the Ainu, their welfare, and related policy issues. His article, “The Plight of Ainu, Indigenous People of Japan” was published in the Journal of Indigenous Social Development. EERO ORBAS is a tenth generation Finnish Sámi reindeer herder. He started reindeer herding in 1993 with his father. In that time, reindeer gathering was done by walking in the summertime and with snowmobile during the winter. Eero has given a talk about how climate change, environmental industry, and more have affected Sámi communities and how he himself has been affected by these environmental disruptions. He partnered on a project organizing, leading interviews, and translating recordings in order to understand Sámi perspectives of struggle from all over Sapmi and in the face of environmental change. Mr. Orbas is passionate about the protection of indigenous rights and environmental protection, a leader in the fight to continue the traditional ways of life that he and his family have practiced for generations. MIRALI SHUKLA is interested in researching the linkages between indigenous and local communities and local flora and fauna populations - especially in understanding how this relationship can affect conservation, human rights, and conflict resolution. She led a project in partnership with the Matsunaga Institute at the University of Hawai’i Manoa, and different Sámi communities around arctic Europe, documenting how traditional ways of life are being impacted by environmental disruption. She also works as a FLIR certified thermographer, collaborating with wildlife conservation and research organizations by supplementing their initiatives, using her own thermal equipment (a high-sensitivity (50mk) thermal imaging camera at 640/30 fps attached to a high-speed drone) and then interpreting the thermal data for them. She is the co-founder of the nonprofit organization, The Kind Learning Organization, which works to promote education in the South Pacific through scholarship, infrastructure, and donated supplies in the South Pacific. Ms. Shukla is also certified in Conflict Analysis, Mediating Violent Conflict and Designing Community-Based Dialogue by the United States Institute of Peace. NOTE: Please see the list below for the event time by timezone. All times are for Monday, February 8.- EET: 8am - 10am
- JST: 3pm - 5pm
- EST: 1am - 3am
- GMT: 6am - 8am
7 February 2021 | online
- HST: Sunday (Feb 7) 2pm - 4pm
- EST: Sunday (Feb 7) at 7pm - 9pm EST
- GMT: Monday (Feb 8) at 12am - 2am
- Vanuatu time: Monday (Feb 8) 11am - 1pm