Native Research Articles

Backfire: the settler-colonial logic and legacy of Smokey Bear

ABSTRACT Since the 1940s, the United States Forest Service’s (USFS) national fire suppression efforts have been bolstered by a public-facing ad campaign led by the Ad Council, most notably through the iconic rise of Smokey Bear. The consequences of decades of strict fire suppression, promulgated and solidified by this highly successful campaign, have been ecologically disastrous, and especially detrimental for fire-dependent Indigenous communities and ecosystems. Scholars have examined the Smokey campaign’s racialized, nationalist discourse, yet none have grappled with the campaign’s settler colonial logic, itself replete with gendered exclusion and speciesism. In this article, we combine intersectional theoretical frameworks with settler colonial and Indigenous studies to carry out a systematic content analysis of 201 unique campaign documents. We demonstrate how the campaign’s production of the careful citizen – one rooted in mid-to-upper class, settler masculinity – hinges on interlocking narratives of Indigenous erasure, low-class criminality, and the helpless victimhood of women and more-than-human species.

Thematic Analysis of Music-Making in US Residential Schools: Navigating Colonial Archives and Honouring Indigenous Perspectives

ABSTRACT Extracurricular activities such as sports and music offer a means to glimpse the complexity of students’ experiences in federally-run boarding schools for Native children in the United States. Studies of music in residential schools typically include a mix of quantitative and qualitative sources, including “unexpected archives” such as land records, census counts, tribal archives, cultural objects and community stories. The analytical strategy of thematic analysis – an established academic tradition that is consistent with Indigenous methodologies – offers a rich and effective way to evaluate sources. The wide analytical scope can align with Indigenous research tenets including self-determination, supporting the collective good and fostering respectful relationships. Decolonisation can function as a guidepost, supporting methods of analysis that centre the students and bolster the wellness of Indigenous communities. An Indigenous episteme does not oblige a division reason and spirit; rather, it encompasses a web of contextual relationships that integrate multiple sources of knowledge.

Climate change adaptation through traditional Buffalo knowledge: learning reflection from the Blackfoot indigenous community

ABSTRACT This paper highlights the potential of Indigenous Buffalo knowledge as a valuable resource for adapting to the impacts of climate change. Buffalo, particularly in regions where they have been traditionally reared, have played a crucial role in Indigenous cultures and livelihoods. Indigenous communities have developed an intimate understanding of buffalo behaviour, ecological interactions, and their relationship with changing environmental conditions. This traditional Buffalo knowledge encompasses observations, practices, and Indigenous knowledge systems passed down through generations, providing insights into adaptive strategies that can be applied in the face of climate change. Following decolonial and relational theoretical frameworks, we used deep listening to learn how traditional Buffalo knowledge contributed to climate change adaptation strategies in Indigenous communities; how does integrating traditional Buffalo knowledge into climate change adaptation policies and practices contribute to the resilience of vulnerable communities? What challenges and opportunities are associated with incorporating traditional Buffalo knowledge into mainstream climate change adaptation efforts?

Maternal deaths among Brazilian indigenous women-Analysis from 2015 to 2021.

This study examines maternal mortality among Brazilian indigenous women from 2015 to 2021, contrasting their causes of death with non-indigenous women. An observational study utilizing Ministry of Health data analyzed maternal deaths' characteristics, comparing indigenous and non-indigenous groups based on death certificates and live-birth records. Variables included age, region, location, time, and cause of death. Maternal mortality ratios (MMR) were calculated with linear regression and outliers identified with Grubbs test. Prevalence ratios compared MMR and causes of death. Between 2015 to 2021, Brazil recorded 13 023 maternal deaths. Among these, with 205 among indigenous women (1.60% of total). Indigenous women had higher MMR (115.14/100 000), than non- indigenous women (66.92/100 000), consistently across years. Hemorrhagic causes notably contributed to the indigenous women's elevated MMR. Indigenous Brazilian women face elevated maternal mortality rates across all causes, primarily due to hemorrhage, contrasting wih national trends.

Accounting as a social and moral practice: bridging cultures, balancing indigenous factors, and fostering social accountability

Purpose This study aims to investigate accounting practices within a non-Western (indigenous) context and provide insights into alternative accounting approaches and perspectives. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts an interpretive research approach to gain an in-depth insight into the functioning of accounting in Solomon Islands’ unique cultural and social-political context. In-depth interviews were conducted to gain insights into the perceptions and meanings held by participants concerning Western accounting practices and their limitations. Findings The findings provide unique insights into different interpretations of accounting and accountability through two distinct cultural lenses – Western and non-Western. The complimentary and rival explanations on what accounting and accountability are doing and what accounting and accountability should be doing will help close the gap in knowledge and contribute to shaping a better world for indigenous people. Practical implications Implications for practice involve fostering collaborative efforts among individuals, communities, leaders and institutions to harness cultural strengths through accounting. Additionally, continuous capacity building and education are essential to develop accounting skills, enhance financial literacy, promote professional expertise and build a pool of skilled accountants with local knowledge to support indigenous communities. Originality/value This study is original and provides novel insights supporting the need for accounting to recognise the importance of indigenous perspectives, adapt to cultural sensitivity and integrate cultural norms and values into accounting practices to make an impact and achieve greater social and moral accountability.

Indigenous bodies, gender, and sexuality in the Jesuit Missions of South America (17th–18th centuries)

Many studies tend to apply categories of gender and sexuality to indigenous peoples in the same way as they are used in the West. This ignores the fact that indigenous peoples have their own notions of people, which are often at odds with Western binary standards. The issue at stake in this article is the inclusion of the analytical categories of gender and sexuality in South American communities, starting with the Jesuit Missions that spread across present-day Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay during the 17th and 18th centuries. To this end, it uses as historical sources a set of 1212 Jesuit writings, including manuscripts and books, as well as architectural, sculptural, and pictorial remains. Using techniques specific to paleography to read manuscripts, the project’s methodology makes use of ethnohistory guided by Content Analysis, thus producing a reading that starts from contemporary indigenous problems in order to build an Indigenous History. The study’s discussion considers that indigenous bodies, once produced by village collectives made up of extended families, were forged in the Jesuit missions according to the parameters of the colonial project. The article therefore demonstrates the genealogy of the bodies of indigenous men, indigenous women, and abject indigenous people, concluding that the current scenario of gender and sexual violence in South America has its origins in the colonial process, and not in indigenous cultures.

Cosmology of To Cerekang; The Indigenous Community's Principles of Environmental Conservation

Cosmology of To Cerekang; The Indigenous Community's Principles of Environmental Conservation

Representation of Andean Communities: Indigenous Cultures and Languages in Peruvian Cinema

ABSTRACT Peru is a country that has a world-renowned cultural heritage. However, there is a set of historical discrimination in different instances of society against the indigenous population, their cultural identity, social recognition, and even legal protection. Due to this situation, there have been recent manifestations in the cinema, television and education products with the purpose of recognizing, integrating and valuing all people and their cultures. This differs significantly from almost all of republican history, characterized by the unilateral representation of the privileged classes of the Peruvian cities. For that reason, this article analyzes three independent films dedicated to representation of Andean characters: Wiñaypacha (‘Eternity’) (2017), Retablo (‘Altarpiece’) (2017), and Willaq Pirqa, el cine de mi pueblo (‘Speaking Wall, the cinema of my town’) (2022), which have achieved a high degree of acceptance by the public and specialized critics. The proposal analyzes the recognition and revaluation of the Andean characters in these films, based on the linguistic, cultural and social dimensions, and the ideas of nationhood that are developed discursively and symbolically.

Co-existence of potentially sustainable indigenous food systems and poor nutritional status in Ho indigenous community, India: an exploratory study

Co-existence of potentially sustainable indigenous food systems and poor nutritional status in Ho indigenous community, India: an exploratory study

Seroprevalence of Rickettsia Spp. and Orientia tsutsugamushi in Indigenous Populations from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Background: Rickettsia spp. are vector-borne zoonotic pathogens that cause febrile illness in humans. Rickettsioses is not included in the Colombian national surveillance system and is subsequently expected to be underreported. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Rickettsia spp. and the closely related Orientia tsutsugamushi in two indigenous populations residing in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Materials and Methods: Serum samples (n = 539) were collected from the Wiwa and Koguis people between 2021 and 2022. Serum samples were screened for spotted fever group (SFG) and typhus group (TG) Rickettsia spp. using the Fuller laboratories Rickettsia IgG IFA kit and for O. tsutsugamushi with the Scrub Typhus Detect™ IgG ELISA. Results: We observed an overall seroprevalence of 26.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.5-30.1] for Rickettsia spp. of the SFG, 5.4% (95% CI 3.6-7.6) for Rickettsia spp. of the TG and 4.3% (95% CI 2.7-6.3) for O. tsutsugamushi. Common risk factors for zoonotic disease infections were assessed for 147 of the Wiwa participants. Increased odds of seropositivity for SFG Rickettsia spp. were observed for Wiwa participants who cared for livestock, including assisting with the birth of cattle (odds ratio [OR] = 8.85; 95% CI 1.54-50.90; p = 0.015) and goats (OR = 7.60; 95% CI 1.70-33.90; p = 0.008). Conclusions: These results highlight a notable exposure to Rickettsia spp., especially the SFG, in rural Colombia. Together with recent reports of high mortality for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in nearby regions of South America, more detailed investigations focusing on improving knowledge and awareness as well as "One Health" and "causes-of-fever" studies are needed. The characterization of Rickettsia spp. infections in humans, livestock, and tick vectors with their potential transmission routes could make a high impact on these easily treatable diseases.

Underrepresentation of Indigenous mental health professionals in Bangladesh

Indigenous people worldwide are at increased risk of mental health problems compared with non-Indigenous people. Longstanding impacts of colonisation, systematic exclusion from rights and subsequent discrimination, and lack of access to quality education and healthcare, including mental healthcare, have been identified as contributory factors to these disproportionate mental health problems. With limited access, Indigenous people are less likely to seek healthcare, owing to the insufficient number of healthcare professionals representing Indigenous communities. In the face of growing numbers of mental health problems in Indigenous people in Bangladesh, this paper sheds light on the inadequate number of mental health professionals, particularly from Indigenous communities, and the potential impacts of this on the well-being of Indigenous people, and considers ways to increase representation of Indigenous mental health professionals. The aim is to ensure that the mental health system in Bangladesh is inclusive and embraces the country's diversity.

Indigenous Environmental Consciousness and Life Interconnections: The Aesthetics of Tamang Songs by Tamba

The indigenous communities remain in close, harmonious, and respectful relationship with nature. They acknowledge nature as nourishing mother and a source of energy that gives life to each and every being on earth. The Tamang, one of the indigenous communities of Nepal, shares intricately closer ties with nature. They worship nature and wish to remain under the ever oozing blessing of mother earth. The popular folk narratives and myths among the Tamangs illustrate immense respect and appreciation of nature, which are mostly sung by Tamba, the spokesperson of Tamang community. This paper examines eco-consciousness of Tamang community in the selected songs of Tamba, which are taken from Shantabir Lama (Pakhrin)’s book Tamba kaiten whai rimthim [Ancestral custom and songs of the Tamangs] (2014). The paper focuses on analyzing Tamangs’ perception of nature and significance of their indigenous knowledge in terms of nature-human harmonious bonding. The paper uses textual analysis to examine the selected songs of Tamba, incorporating the concept of Tamang knowledge and aesthetics to shed light on eco-consciousness of the Tamangs of Nepal.

Tourism Through Local Eyes: A Potential Assessment of Danawan Lake

Tourism bridges different aspects together. It depends most of its assets on the abundance of nature. This study was conducted in Danawan Lake, located at Sitio Darayaw, Panaytayan, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. This study, in partnership with the local government unit, is focused on the potential assessment of Danawan, a mountain lake, with a specific lens on gauging community perception when it comes to tourism development. Aside from the physical attributes of a destination, community participation in tourism development is very important as it will dictate its sustainability. This ethnographic study employed a qualitative approach from SWOT analysis through observation, mapping, and personal interviews. The results showed that Danawan Lake has potential for adventure and ecotourism, but its sustainable development requires careful consideration of both strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The indigenous community living near the lake has signified their acceptance of tourism activities and development in the area if advanced communication is considered. Collaboration and inclusivity should be at hand to attain the desired goals reflecting that the community considers the lake sacred. Future researchers may use other alternative potential assessment tools to gain more in-depth findings.

Bridging the Gap by Exploring Inequalities in Access to Land and Disparities in Agrarian Law in Indonesia

This article explores the historical underpinnings of unequal access to land in Indonesia, tracing its roots to colonial legacies and the lasting impact of Dutch colonial rule. Through an examination of laws such as the 1870 Agrarian Law, it highlights how indigenous peoples were systematically dispossessed of their land, exacerbating social inequality and perpetuating economic injustice. It also underscores the widespread legal uncertainty faced by marginalized groups, which hinders their access to essential services and deepens social and economic disparities. After the proclamation, Indonesia chose to create new regulations by passing Law No. 5/1960 on the Basic Regulation of Agrarian Principles (UUPA). This law became the legal framework for Indonesia's agrarian reform. Furthermore, this article explores the critical role of agrarian reform in reducing this disparity, advocating for comprehensive policy reforms that aim to strengthen legal protections for the land rights of marginalized communities. By elucidating the historical trajectory of land access inequality and its contemporary manifestations, this article contributes to a better understanding of the complex socio-legal dynamics that shape land tenure in Indonesia. Through a critical examination of colonial legacies and current policy frameworks, it seeks to inform efforts aimed at promoting social justice and equitable resource distribution. Ultimately, the article underscores the importance of agrarian reform that prioritizes the rights and welfare of marginalized communities, hoping to pave the way towards a more inclusive land governance regime and sustainable development. KEYWORDS : Land Access, Inequality, Agrarian Law, Agrarian Reform

Https://www.shdisj.com/index.php/shdisj/article/view/110

A person lives nowadays in a multicultural world, and transformations of the conditions of social life lead to the changes in the sphere of values and worldview of both the indigenous population and the representatives of national minorities. Family values of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar youth living in mainland Ukraine after the occupation of the Crimea, were investigated. The purpose of the research is a cross-cultural study of family values and parental attitudes of Ukrainian and Crimean youth. Methodology. Sample: N=220 (110 Ukrainians (55 boys and 55 girls) and 110 Crimean Tatars (55 boys and 55 girls) aged 17-24. Methods: Schwartz's value questionnaire, PARI questionnaire, "Family atom" by E. Eidemiller, "Role expectations and harassment in marriage" by A. Volkova, questionnaire "Development of a complete personality in the conditions of modern changes" by O. Vlasova, V. Shcherbina, "Scales of multicultural identification" by A. Mambetova, "Emotional self-awareness" test by O. Vlasova, M. Berezyuk. Results. The majority of Ukrainian youth demonstrate the values of stimulation, which are pronouncedly expressed in the form of the desire for novelty, the need for changes and deep experience, the value of a life full of thrills, new impressions and complicated tasks, as well as universalism (tolerance, protection of human well-being and natural environment). Among the Crimean Tatar youth the values of safety, achievement, universalism and conformity are expressed at a high level (in ½ and more of the respondents). In the course of this research common (nuclear) parental attitudes of the respondents were revealed, which serve as the basis for the formation of transcultural values. Both ethnic groups are characterized by avoiding conflict, developing the activity of a child, partnership relationship, suppression of aggressiveness, verbalization.

Land, indigeneity and archaeological ruins in Ottoman Palestine: the people of Beit Jibrin and the Palestine Exploration Fund

ABSTRACT Palestinian nationalism and visions of Palestine as a nation have, since the loss in 1948 of 78% of Mandate Palestine to the newly founded State of Israel, focused on notions of rootedness and connection to the land. However, as a result of the disruptions to Palestinian culture stemming from the refugee lives of a large proportion of the population, and the loss or fragmentation of many personal and institutional archives, sources for the quotidian details of rural life and how the relationship between land and people played out in different parts of historic Palestine are often scarce. This article experiments with the use of accounts by Western archaeologists as potential repositories of such information. This derives, the author argues, not just from the descriptive features of such writings, which they share with other commonly used sources such as travelogues and the memoirs of missionaries and other temporary residents, but also from the nature of archaeology itself as an activity which intimately, if at times controversially and destructively, engages with land and soil, and in which local people were often hired to carry out excavation on their own lands. While fully acknowledging the many issues raised by the use of imperial documents to consider the lives of indigenous and subaltern peoples, I seek to employ techniques such as reading against the grain to investigate how such archives can contribute granularity and detail to our understandings of rural life in Palestine at the end of the Ottoman period.

Indigenous language and social justice as recognition: a participatory study with a Mapuce school

ABSTRACT The structure of the national educational system negatively affects the recognition of indigenous Mapuce people, who have been affected with regards to love, equal treatment and social esteem, as understood from the social justice approach of recognition described by Axel Honneth. This is evident in the indigenous knowledge and practices that have been removed from the Chilean school curriculum. This research was carried out through a participatory study using the dialogic-kishu kimkelay ta che methodology, forming a research community with professors, kimces and academics. The results relay, from the voices of the community, the work developed to reverse injustices such as disparagement toward the indigenous language at school, this was achieved through actions for reciprocal recognition based on the incorporation of educational practices associated with the language regarding sonority, nature and territory.

Food ethnobotany of forest resource in the high-altitude Himalaya Mountains: Enhancing the food sovereignty of ethnic groups

The vital knowledge of traditional foraging techniques used in indigenous peoples' cuisines may be preserved through gastronomical field studies before it is lost forever. Certain plants are appreciated for their gastronomic, social, economic and ecological importance in the High Himalaya because they play such a significant role in the daily life of the local indigenous populations. To determine the plant cultural indicators for each ethnic group, the data were analyzed using an indicator species analysis. Semi-structured interviews of 167 participants, focus group discussion, and field observations were used to gather information from February 2019 to August 2022 for a comprehensive and systematic gastronomical survey. Across four ethnic groups, a total of (N = 99) wild edible plant species and (N = 9) fungi species from 38 families were documented. Tender leaves were the most commonly used, while tubers were the least commonly used. The majority of the species reported were used as vegetables, followed by species used as fruits and herbal tea. For the first time, we examined cross-cultural similarity and dissimilarity for gastronomic usage: vegetables and savoring plants,fruits, and herbal tea across the cultures studied from the perspective of food ethnobotany. We discovered a clear difference in how different cultures used forest resources, with Gujjar and Pahari showing the most species similarity. This is because these ethic groups are culturally linked with one another and share a common social structure, geography, and language. We calculated plant cultural markers for each species, and 19 of them had significant p-values among the four ethnic groups. The findings revealed a positive relationship between the Gujjar and Pahari ethnic groups and the gastronomical indicator values, while the Kashmiri ethnic group had a negative relationship. The Kashmiri ethnic group experienced the loss of traditional knowledge because of the economic transition that caused people to prefer purchasing vegetables from the market rather than foraging for them in the wild. Traditional knowledge was also dwindling between the Gujjar and Pahari ethnic groups because of social changes brought on by developmental activities that changed their way of life. The identified plant cultural markers were significant to local residents and frequently had adaptations to extremely harsh climatic and environmental conditions. Our finding that 47% of species had market value suggests that these species have a sizable market demand and a promising economic value. They have the potential to boost food security, local community sovereignty, and people's living standards. Food production systems may become more resilient and sustainable by incorporating these indicator species into conventional agriculture. The current study raises awareness about forest resources and enables ethnic groups to live in a natural environment without food scarcity.

Socio-economic geography and the land rights of indigenous peoples in Paraguay

AbstractThe article investigates the long-term tendencies of Paraguayan political-economy, in particular the mounting impacts of export-oriented agribusiness on its indigenous peoples. The analysis is based on the theorisation of the geographical force of subtraction, that is, the evanescent properties of capitalist development, in which economic growth takes place via an interconnected elimination of rights, opportunities and alternatives. The discussion is focussed on the land struggle of the Paĩ Tavyterã in the northeast of Paraguay and members of the same ethnic group who live in Brazil (called Guarani-Kaiowa). It is a relational narrative that draws insights from various actors, communities and situations. The main conclusions are that, despite the fact that Paraguay is now a major exporter of agribusiness commodities, what has prevailed is the accumulation of multiple forms of political, environmental, social and economic violence. At the same time, the decolonising reaction of indigenous peoples, in alliance with other sectors of the working class, aims at reverting the deficit caused by systemic socio-economic subtraction and in pursuit of transformative additions.

State Strategy, Diamond Mining, and Indigenous Dispossession in Botswana

In a world-system built through dispossession and exploitation of African and Indigenous peoples, the case of the San in Botswana is significant. The government of Botswana recently led a protracted campaign of dispossession of the Indigenous San, likely due to there being diamond reserves near and within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. This article argues that synthesizing critical theories of accumulation, dispossession, and State strategy can help us understand how and when dispossession of the Indigenous San led to commodification and/or proletarianization, while also helping to understand what became of the dispossessed. It expands theorizing on the sociology, geography, and political economy of (under)development, Indigenous rights and sovereignty, and State-Capital relations in Africa. The structural pressures for States in the periphery to cultivate extractive economies while seeking integration within the circuits of global capitalism remain present, decades after achieving colonial independence. This highlights the tensions, limitations, and illusions of successful ‘development’ in the stratified world-economy. Finally, the findings in this article critically challenge the story of Botswana being the ‘miracle’ of post-colonial Africa.