Ngaromoana Raureti Tomoana is a painter from the East Coast of the North Island. In more than 30 years she has produced and shown a large body of work, like many other women artists concurrently juggling motherhood and artistic performance. Over approximately the last 10 years, she has formalized her education completing the Advanced Diploma for Maori Visual Arts at Toihoukura in Gisborne as well as a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Maori Visual Arts at Massey University. The artist, who identifies as an Indigenous Village Artist, is hardly known outside her local area of Northern Hawkes Bay, and, apart from a short feature in Mataora , a picture in Te Ata , and various catalogue entries, little has been written about her work. This thesis introduces Ngaromoana Raureti Tomoana and explores the notion of an indigenous village art. I incorporate feminist and postcolonial discourses into a political and critical engagement with her art, which addresses issues of village and land based cultural identity as well as race and gender. I argue that her work is politically motivated and important in the context of contemporary Maori art. Furthermore, based on a holistic world view, it simultaneously reaches out into the wider, global community. Intertwining local and personal history, her oeuvre is the manifestation of a female path and a female perspective, of identification with her village and beyond.

This dissertation investigates the human dimensions of environmental transformations spurred by international climate change mitigation agreements—such as the Kyoto Protocol—that encourage lowering greenhouse gas emissions with ‘green’ market strategies like biofuel and ecological services development projects. It is methodologically grounded in “collaborative activist geographical methods” and theoretically based at the nexus of development, political ecologies, neoliberalization of Nature, and geographies of hope literatures. It examines the contradictory and complex ways that state “climate change mitigation development” projects surround and infiltrate the Indigenous and Afro-ecuadorian ancestral territories of the canton of San Lorenzo (Esmeraldas Province), located in the “Northwest Pacific Fronter Territory-region of Ecuador”. This research asks to what degree the Ecuadorian state’s support and investment in oil palm plantation expansion—designed to meet biofuel crop demands—in the coastal rainforest regions results in the rearrangement, and often times, devastation of Indigenous Awá and Chachi and Afro-ecuadorian communities’ natural and human geographies. It also inquires into the Ecuadorian government’s recently approved (October 2008) state level conservation incentives project called Socio-Bosque (Forest Partners) developed to do the following: protect the rainforests and its ecological services, alleviate poverty in rural areas, and position the country as an ‘environmental world leader’ for taking concrete actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from avoided deforestation. Socio Bosque claims to be progressive and even revolutionary, but may enact new forms of exploitation and governance in Indigenous and Afro-ecuadorian territories that are specific to time and place, but are enduringly colonial. Nevertheless, this research also highlights geographies of hope by demonstrating that, contrary to the surrounding sea of monoculture oil palm plantations and the CO2lonial air of contradictory laws in relation to biofuel and ecological services development, Awá, Chachi, and Afro-ecuadorian communities maintain sustainable practices and enhance agricultural diversity within their territories. Additionally, it emphasizes the emergent place-based social movements in relation to defense of their territories and identities; Indigenous and Afro-ecuadorian communities avoid conflict pressures by creating interethnic networks. By casting social nets between their territories, their communities stay connected and, together, defend their rights to territorial self-determination and “Living Well” and the rights of Nature.

Colonization has had a detrimental impact on Indigenous peoples and communities. Colonization has and continues to remove Indigenous peoples from full participation in Canadian society, which has forced some Indigenous men to search out other avenues in order to gain power, respect, and economic capital to survive. It is the direct result of colonial-shaped socio-political histories and ideologies that have led to the creation and proliferation of urban Indigenous street gangs. This dissertation examines 16 Indigenous male ex-gang members and their perceptions of masculinity, identity, and how this is supported through their involvement within a street gang. Relational accountability was the methodology utilized to engage and support the men through the course of the research process. It was from the focal point of relational accountability that photovoice methods could be modified to accommodate the lived realities of the men during the time of the study. Overall, fifteen individuals participated in the study, with nine engaging in photovoice methods to document and explain how they understood and practiced masculinity. The nine men, who completed photovoice, had their photographs and narratives brought together to create Brighter Days Ahead, to give back to the organization STR8 UP and help inform the broader community about the multiple issues that Indigenous youth face in the Canadian Prairies. The role of masculinity was integral for the men’s inclusion into street gangs. Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity and Bourdieu’s concept of habitus helped to create a framework to understand why some Indigenous men see street gangs as a viable option to practice masculinity. By examining the men’s histories, with a focus on their relationships’ with parents, siblings, family, peers, and social institutions, a more robust understanding the linkages to street gang involvement is created. The street gang epitomized the ideal “man”— tough, independent, emotion-less, and powerful, as it were these individual’s whom they would target for their recruitment. Analysis of the men’s narratives and photographs revealed how violence and trauma impacted their notions of maleness. It was through violent and traumatic experiences that the men would create a “mask” that they would wear to help them engage in hyper-violent behaviours within multiple fields and protect them from further victimization. This study directs our attention to focus future research on: 1) the impacts of colonization as both a historical and contemporary factor in the lives of Indigenous peoples; 2) the importance of relational accountability within the research process; 3) the potential of photovoice methods in expanding street gangs research; and 4) the need for gang prevention and intervention programming to focus on the concept of masculinity in order to deter gang involvement amongst Indigenous males and build healthier stronger communities.

Introduction. In 2006, a Peruvian environmental agency reported the presence of elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in indigenous communities of the Corrientes river basin. This is a territory in the Peruvian Amazon where oil activity has been associated with serious environmental effects, with impact on an ongoing social conflict. This PhD project aimed to determine the lead sources, risk factors and pathways in children of these communities and to suggest control and prevention strategies. Given the arguments attributing the lead source to the oil activity pollution, the second objective was to clarify any potential connection between the two. This project was conducted by a collaborative research partnership with the regional health authorities and the community-based organization. The third objective was to characterize the challenges, facilitating factors and the lessons learned from the research process. Methods. Two epidemiological studies were conducted. Study I (2009) was carried out in three communities and study II (2010) in six communities with different levels of exposure to oil activity. The participants were children 0–17 years old. Data collection included: determination of BLLs, hemoglobin levels and anthropometric indicators, a risk factor questionnaire, an environmental assessment and a risk map. Data analysis included univariate, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Data for the third objective came from field notes, documents, interviews and a process of collective reflection. Results. Study I (n= 221) found no significant difference in the geometric mean(GM) BLLs between the communities exposed and not exposed to oil activity. Older age and being a boy were found as risk factors for BLLs ≥ 10 μg/dL. In study II (n= 346), age stratified logistic regression models indicated that children 0–3 years whose mothers had BLLs ≥ 10 μg/dL, children 0–6 years who played with pieces of lead and children 7–17 years who fished 3 times or more per weekor chewed pieces of lead to manufacture fishing sinkers had a significant increased risk of having BLLs ≥ 10 μg/dL. Children who lived in communities near oil battery facilities also had a significant increased risk of having BLLs ≥ 10 μg/dL. In both studies, environmental samples showed lead concentrations below reference levels. The challenges and facilitating factors identified focused on five interrelated themes: i) mutual trust, ii) multiple agendas, iii) equal participation, iv) competing research paradigms and v) complex and unexpected findings. Conclusions. Metal lead appeared to be the main source of exposure. Playing with pieces of lead and chewing pieces of lead to construct fishing sinkers appeared to be pathways of exposure for children aged 0–6 years and 7–17 years, respectively. Mothers’ BLLs > 10 μg/dL was a risk factor for BLLs > 10 μg/dL in children aged 0–3 years. Living in a community with high exposure to oil activity was a risk factor for BLLs > 10 μg/dL. The identified connection with oil activity was the proximity of communities to oil battery facilities and thus greater access to lead from cables and other industrial waste. Despite the numerous challenges, participatory research appears to be the most appropriate approach for this type of context. The study findings led us to recommend:i) a comprehensive community-based lead control and prevention plan,ii) the introduction of substitute non-harmful material(s) for fishing sinkers and iii) secure containment of the oil company’s waste deposits. / Introducción. En el 2006, una agencia ambiental del Perú informó de la presenciade niveles elevados de plomo sanguíneo en las comunidades indígenas dela cuenca del río Corrientes. Este es un territorio en la Amazonía peruana, dondela actividad petrolera ha sido asociada con graves efectos ambientales, originandoun continuo conflicto social.Este proyecto de tesis doctoral tuvo como objetivo determinar las fuentes, factoresde riesgo y vías de exposición de plomo en niños de estas comunidades paraproponer estrategias de control y prevención. Teniendo en cuenta previos argumentosque relacionaban la exposición de plomo con la contaminación por laactividad petrolera, el segundo objetivo fue esclarecer cualquier conexión entreambos. Este proyecto se condujo con la participación de miembros de la DirecciónRegional de Salud de Loreto (DIRESA Loreto) y de la organización indígenaFECONACO. El tercer objetivo fue caracterizar los desafíos, las oportunidades ylos aprendizajes del proceso participativo.Métodos. Se condujeron dos estudios epidemiológicos. El estudio I (2009) sedesarrolló en tres comunidades y el estudio II (2010) en seis comunidades condiferentes niveles de exposición a la actividad petrolera. Los participantesfueron niños de 0–17 años. La recolección de datos incluyó: determinación deplomo sanguíneo, de niveles de hemoglobina y de indicadores antropométricos,un cuestionario de factores de riesgo, una evaluación ambiental y un mapa deriesgo. El análisis de datos incluyó análisis univariado, bivariado y multivariadode regresión logística. Para el tercer objetivo, los datos provinieron de notas decampo, documentos oficiales, entrevistas informales y un proceso de reflexióncolectiva.Resultados. En el estudio I (n = 221) no se encontró diferencia estadísticamentesignificativa entre las medias geométricas de los niveles de plomo sanguíneo delas comunidades expuestas y no expuestas a la actividad petrolera. Los niños degénero masculino y los del grupo etario de mayor edad tuvieron un riesgo significativamentemayor a presentar niveles de plomo sanguíneo > 10 μg/dL. Enel estudio II (n = 346), los modelos estratificados por edad indicaron que losniños de 0–3 años cuyas madres tenían niveles de plomo > 10 μg/dL, los niñosde 0–6 años que jugaban con piezas de plomo y los niños de 7–17 años que pescaban3 veces o más por semana o masticaban piezas de plomo para fabricarpesas de pescar tenían un riesgo significativamente mayor de presentar nivelesde plomo sanguíneo > 10 μg/dL. Los niños que vivían en comunidades cercanasa las baterías de petróleo también tuvieron un riesgo significativamente mayora presentar plomo sanguíneo > 10 μg/dL. Las muestras ambientales en ambosestudios mostraron concentraciones de plomo por debajo de los niveles de referencia.En cuanto al proceso de investigación, los desafíos y oportunidades másimportantes se centraron en cinco temas interrelacionados: i) la confianza mutua,ii) múltiples agendas, iii) participación equitativa, iv) competencia de paradigmasen la investigación y v) diseminación de resultados complejos e inesperados.Conclusiones. La fuente de exposición principal sería el plomo metálico. Jugarcon piezas de piezas de plomo y masticar piezas de plomo para la construcciónde pesas de pescar serían vías de exposición para los niños de 0–6 años y 7–17años, respectivamente. Niveles de plomo sanguíneo > 10 μg/dL en las madressería un factor de riesgo para presentar niveles de plomo sanguíneo > 10 μg/dLen niños de 0–3 años. Vivir en una comunidad con alta exposición a la actividadpetrolera sería también un factor de riesgo para presentar niveles de plomo sanguíneo> 10 μg/dL. La conexión con la actividad petrolera parece estar en laproximidad de las comunidades a las baterías del petróleo y por ende, el mayoracceso al plomo proveniente de cables y otros residuos industriales.A pesar de los varios desafíos, la investigación participativa parece ser el enfoquemás apropiado para este tipo de contextos. Los hallazgos nos llevaron a recomendar:i) un programa comunitario de control y prevención de plomo, ii) laintroducción de pesas de pescar de materiales seguros, alternativos al plomo yiii) el control de la disposición de residuos de la actividad petrolera.

In Canada, sentencing has been the target of reforming the criminal justice system with a view to alleviating the over-representation of indigenous people in the criminal justice system and the historic injustice perpetuated against indigenous communities through colonialism. My thesis explores how sentencing decisions from the Nunavut Court of Justice construct and shape Inuit identity in Nunavut. My research analyzes the sentencing decisions of the Nunavut Court of Justice since its creation in 1999. Using selected sentencing decisions as case studies, I interrogate how the Court uses notions of “Inuit”, “Inuit culture”, and “Nunavut”, both implicitly and explicitly. I show how rather than a tool for alleviating the historic injustice perpetuated against indigenous people through colonialism and systemic racism, the sentencing process perpetuates historic injustice through constructing binary, essentialized notions of Inuit identity. The consequences affect both the criminal justice system and the realization of indigenous self-determination. I conclude that as a result the Nunavut Court of Justice exemplifies an intractable dilemma facing the criminal justice system for indigenous people that sentencing reforms cannot solve. I suggest new ways of imagining criminal justice and indigenous self-determination that provide hope for a way out of the intractable dilemma. / Graduate

An emerging program is developing between Canada’s Department of Justice and Indigenous Communities, addressing incarceration and recidivism rates among Canada’s Indigenous peoples. Both parties concede current rehabilitation programs have proven ineffective, if not detrimental to the population as we witness a fracturing of fragile human relationships – self, community and spirit. The design proposal integrates the mandate of the Canadian justice system with Indigenous ceremonial activity. The community of the Okanese First Nation located in Saskatchewan informs the project and guides the exploration of ceremony, site, history and action in the interior environment.

This thesis questions the connection between Indigenous and immigrant Prairie literature, taking six contemporary texts as a case study. Aboriginal texts include Maria Campbell’s Halfbreed, Beatrice Mosionier’s In Search of April Raintree and Marilyn Dumont’s A Really Good Brown Girl. Immigrant narratives discussed are Hiromi Goto’s Chorus of Mushrooms, Esi Edugyan’s The Second Life of Samuel Tyne, and Madeline Coopsammy’s Prairie Journey. Read alongside one another, these texts demonstrate that Indigenous and immigrant populations do express similar concerns through literature, generally having to do with Canadian multiculturalism. Specifically, this project will discuss bodily and linguistic differences from a white, English-speaking ‘norm,’ home making on the prairies, and story-telling as an alternative indicator of home. This thesis asserts the importance of studying cross-racial literary engagements as they nuance existing discussions of race and space on the prairies and in Canada.

The study made An Investigation Into The Attitudes Of The !Xun And Khwe Communities In Northern Cape, South Africa. Towards Protection Of Indigenous Knowledge Systems And Their Implications For Policy And Research. Taking into consideration the complexity of investigating the attitudes of these indigenous communities, the research followed a participatory and triangulation approach. In order to explore the personal experiences of the respondent community members, the researcher undertook to document these experiences in the form of narratives. The use of narrative in this study was one way of moving away from western empiricism and epistemology. They also help to describe sequences of experiences undergone by a certain group of people in a study area. The major findings of the research were: As a result of isolation from their places of origin and the problem of unemployment, the !Xun and Khwe communities. especially the young generations have become dependent on social welfare grants. However, the majority of the elder generations continued to utilize indigenous knowledge and practices to augment the low income. As a result of historical circumstances including removals, the !Xun and Khwe people have experienced various changes in their lives including westernization. This has impacted on their relationship and attitudes towards the utilization of indigenous knowledge and practices for livelihood. Their satisfaction of basic needs has changed from depending mainly on the veldt products to include wage labour and social welfare grants. The !Xun and Khwe communities expressed the desire to benefit from the new democratic dispensation in South Africa through provision of housing. water, electricity and other social amenities. Education was a necessity that most respondent members valued. It was seen as a vehicle for social mobility in modem conditions of life. The respondent communities realized the role of research in influencing policy that affects their lives. As a result. they wanted to be involved in all research processes instead of merely being used as objects or subjects. There were various aspects of community life that required protection through policy and legislation. These included local resources. especially access to land, indigenous language; cultural heritage and practices including dances and music. Various community structures had been established to address different issues facing the survival of these communities. They called for a better government policy coordination including their participation in policy and legislation formulation and implementation to ensure the survival of their culture including language. On the basis of these findings the study presents the following recommendations to the study communities. individual researchers. organizations and governments within the Southern African region where these indigenous people are located: Researchers should be sensitive to me interest of indigenous communities as participants and co-owners of the whole research process including research results; Researchers should acknowledge the use of narratives as a method of collecting and interpreting data among local and indigenous communities. Narratives help to explore the personal experiences of the community members in relation to the problem under investigation: Researchers and policy makers involved with indigenous communities should not only consult but should ensure that the respective communities as beneficiaries become part of whole research and policy formulation and implementation process. There is need for more research on the impact of westernization. especially the lack of policy and legislation enforcement to protect the lives of indigenous communities against the vagaries of western modernization such as HIV/AIDS. commercialization of indigenous knowledge and resources for profit motives. / (Ph.D.) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2004

For the Asiniskow Ithiniwak (Rocky Cree), the Missinipi (Churchill River) holds many traditional resource areas and cultural landscapes with oral histories that transfer knowledge through the generations (Linklater 1994; Castel and Westfall 2001; Brightman 1993). In recent decades, hydroelectric development in north central Manitoba has impacted Cree livelihood by altering resource use, limiting access to significant cultural landscapes and accelerating the erosion of campsites and ancestral burials into the water. Even with existing provincial heritage legislation, some of these heritage resources remain threatened by land-based developments because of the limitations related to their identification, documentation and presentation in the cultural resource management field. The tendency to focus on physical manifestations of heritage such as archaeological sites, heritage objects and built heritage overlooks other resources of heritage such as places known in the local language. I argue that these biases result from cultural divergences that exist in the understanding and definitions of heritage, particularly Indigenous heritage. In this dissertation, I articulate how underlying theoretical assumptions of reality influences our understandings of heritage. I present a postcolonial understanding of heritage as interpreted from the perspective of the Asiniskow Ithiniwak using an Indigenous research paradigm, methodologies and the nīhithow language, in conjunction with knowledge based on Western intellectual traditions. The use of a bicultural research model led to new ways in identifying heritage resources important to the Asiniskow Ithiniwak and meaningful interpretations of archaeological materials based on legal traditions. Further, this case study demonstrates that there is no singular or universal definition of heritage for Indigenous peoples. For successful heritage resources protection, I illustrate that understandings of heritage need to be contextualized locally through a community’s language, culture, customary laws and local landscape. This view, promoted by UNESCO, emphasizes that the values and practices of local communities, together with traditional management systems, must be fully understood, respected, encouraged and accommodated in management plans if their heritage resources are to be sustained in the future (Logan 2008; UNESCO 2004). This outcome demonstrates the need to reexamine the practices, policies, legislation and procedures concerned with Indigenous knowledge in cultural and natural resources management in Canada.

This thesis seeks to explore the idea of Indigenous participation in Canada’s federal electoral system and whether such involvement can wield positive change to the Canadian/Indigenous relationship. The analysis presented throughout this thesis highlights the development of a tarnished Canadian/Indigenous relationship as well as the debate surrounding the belonging of Indigenous peoples in relation to the Canadian state and their own Indigenous nations. Additionally, this thesis demonstrates that Indigenous peoples voting in Canada’s electoral system do not hinder Indigenous sovereignty, but may heighten its recognition instead, as well as how participation in Canada’s political system may wield influence by Indigenous peoples over Canada’s elected officials. Although potential for Indigenous influence within Canada’s electoral process exists, further research is needed to delve into the subject matter at a deeper level.