INVITATION TO THE VIRTUAL FORUM FOR CONSULTATION AND DIALOGUE:

"Indigenous Peoples, Self-determination and Autonomy in Latin America and Canada"

September 5 to October 5, 2011

The Bolivian Centre for Multidisciplinary Studies (CEBEM), the International Secretary for Human Development, (ISHD)/ York University and the Indigenous Studies Program at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, (UBCO), invite you to participate in a Forum for Consultation and Dialogue: “Self-determination and Indigenous Autonomy in Latin America and Canada.” This is a follow up to the course “Indian Self-Determination and Autonomy in Latin America and Canada” which took place during July and August 2011 and which was attended by 19 individuals (professionals, academics/policy makers /indigenous leaders/community members) from Argentina, Bolivia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Spain, the United States, Honduras and Peru.

This activity will be conducted in preparation for the Annual Meeting of the CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN STUDIES (CALACS) to be held at UBCO, Kelowna, British Columbia, from May 18 to 20, 2012. The main theme of the CALACS Annual Meeting is “Between Indigeneity and Transnationalism: Place and Mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Further information about the Annual Meeting of CALACS can be found at http://www.can-latam.org/

The sponsoring organizations of this Forum support the idea that the exchange between a community of thought and a community of action can lead to establishing bridges between individuals involved in academic institutions and organizations whose efforts are directed toward leading contemporary struggles for the rights of indigenous peoples in the Americas. Each week, we will hold dialogues on a specific topic that will eventually help us to outline a panel proposal for the CALACS’s Annual Meeting in 2012. At the end of the dialogue process, we will share the proposal with the organizations that have sponsored this forum in order to ensure a collegial and collective effort.

OBJECTIVE OF THE FORUM

Over the duration of four weeks of the Forum, we will discuss, according to the perspectives and proposals of the participants, both research and practical experience regarding the objective and the key issues to be presented in a CALACS panel / session on indigenous self-determination and autonomy Latin America and Canada.

Through dialogue on the thematic areas, we will look at the state of the art, the methodology of the panel / session, and eventually to meet potential participants.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

The Virtual Forum is for leaders of indigenous organizations, academics, non-governmental partners supporting the struggles for the rights of indigenous peoples, and officials of sub-national government entities who are leading processes in construction / design and negotiation of indigenous autonomy in different countries of Latin America and Canada.

It also is aimed at all those concerned to deepen their knowledge of the autonomy processes in the regions listed above, and to establish professional relationships and set up contacts of mutual interest relating to the defense and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples.

DATE
Start: Monday, September 5, 2011.

LANGUAGES

Spanish and English.

WEEKLY QUESTIONS

The forum will aim to answer the following questions every week:

1. What would be the main objectives and the key issues to be discussed in a CALACS panel / session on indigenous self-determination and autonomy in Latin America and Canada? Provide a brief reflection on the importance of the issues identified. (1st week)
2. What would be the most appropriate methodology for the session? (2nd week)
3. What organizations and actors could be invited to participate and why? (3rd Week)
4. How can we best effectively disseminate the results of the session? (4th Week)

RESOURCES

Through the CEBEM blog (http://blog.cebem.org), we will have a space where all participants can dialogue and share their research and experiences in their own spaces of action. The blog will also provide a space for publications such as documents, videos, recordings, photographs, etc. that participants wish to submit. Participants will enter the Virtual Forum, where they will find the question for each of the weekly forums and a suitable space for their responses, ideas, suggestions, etc. A summary of each week’s exchange will be published in the same blog as will be the final synthesis of the Forum.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

1. A dialogue between a community of people interested in learning, sharing, and expanding their knowledge of the rights of indigenous peoples in Latin America and Canada.
2. Identification of subject areas, state of the art, methodology, and potential participants for a CALACS panel on Indian Self-Determination and Autonomy in Latin America and Canada.
3. Exchange of materials and resources to expand the knowledge of participants about the issues of the Forum.

COORDINATION

The coordinators of the Forum are:

Tirso Gonzales, Professor of Sociology and Rural Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Gonzales is Professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Canada.

Miguel Gonzalez, Professor of Political Science, York University (Toronto). Dr. Gonzalez teaches in the Development Studies Program of York University.

REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION

Registration for the Virtual Forum has no cost. Applications will be received until Monday, August 29, 2011. Mandatory requirements to register for this forum are: full name, mailing address, country, institution where the registrant carries out their activities, and summary of experience in the field. We have only 50 seats for the Forum, so there will be a screening of the participants. A digital certificate will be sent by email to confirm participation.

Registration

Consultations