Thesis (B.A.)--Boston University. University Professors Program Senior theses. / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / This paper analyzes the relationship between the global discourse on the environment and the discourse occurring in Nahuel Huapi, Argentina over the 20th century through the year 2007. This paper applies discourse analysis theory as used by Antonio Gramsci and Michel Foucault to the history of environmental discourse on a global, national, and local level. It assesses the institution of language and dialog through personal narrative , metaphor, rhetorical devices, and formal documentation in order to interpret the ways in which global environmental discourse has reached Nahuel Huapi. The primary examples of global discourse used are historical accounts by environmental sociologists , histories of the United Nations' incorporation of environmental discourse , and anthropological accounts of the global indigenous discourse. National linkages are made through studies of international treaties ratified by the Argentine government and laws implemented throughout the state. Local linkages are further made through anthropological assessments of local discourse as well as personal interviews . I analyze the global, national and local discourses in that order with a chronological focus throughout. Existing analyses of environmental institutions and their effectiveness tend to focus on the formal proceedings of international organizations, private citizens , or community actors but most fail to assess the informal mechanisms by which these global institutions can affect action at the local level. By arguing that language and dialog are indeed socialand political institutions, I conclude that through discourse, the international environmental regime has strongly affected local environmental discourse in Nahuel Huapi Argentina through two channels: 1) the National Parks System, which the international regime has impacted mainly through United Nations forums such as conferences and summits on the environment and development. 2) The Mapuche community , which the international regime has impacted mainly through the inclusion of indigenous communities in the international forum and the legitimization that the United Nations provides these communities with regard to environmental stewardship and selfdetermination. The study shows that early in the 20th century, when the Mapuche community and the government of Argentina were isolated from any global discourse , the dialog between them was virtually non-existent. [TRUNCATED] / 2031-01-02

Map-making is viewed among many planners, geographers, and anthropologists as a necessary first step in achieving land claims for indigenous communities in Latin America. However, map-making has yet to result in a land claim for any indigenous group, but the effects of establishing boundaries and claiming territories that have been traditionally shared are contentious. Through a literature review and interviews with three practitioners, this paper will critically examine the role of participatory ethnomapping on indigenous communities in Latin America, specifically their efforts to demarcate territory, procure land claims, and use these land claims to plan for social and economic development. / text

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Analyzing public transit accessibility to marginalized communities is critical to exploring the link between transportation inclusion and wellbeing in automobile-centered cultures. This study is an attempt to examine public transit accessibility to Indigenous residents in Winnipeg's North End. Apart from analyzing the current level of transit accessibility, the study explores barriers that hinder the use of public transit in the North End and examines strategies to improving transit accessibility to its residents. This study adopts a holistic approach to understanding 'accessibility' and recognizes the importance of socio-economic, perceptional, and demographic factors in shaping the demand for transit facilities in an area. Findings of the study illustrate the need to include transportation inclusion as an essential component of the urban Indigenous welfare policies in the country. The lessons learned will also provide an initial framework to understand the link between community wellbeing and transportation inclusion of other socio-economically vulnerable communities. / February 2017

Carissa lanceolata (conkerberry) is a perennial woody shrub used in traditional medicine by indigenous communities in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland for various medical conditions such as toothache, respiratory infections and the cleaning of sores, which all strongly indicate an antibacterial activity. A literature review revealed that the wood of this plant possesses significant antibacterial activity, which was found to be related to the presence of eudesmane type sesquiterpenes. C. edulis and C. carandus are frequently used in other traditional systems of medicine in different parts of the world, and thus have also been investigated for bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties. Some of these were found to be in line with the main findings of this work. Carissa lanceolata root was shown to exhibit significant antibacterial activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive organisms. A micro-broth dilution assay was performed on 96-well plates using resazurin as an indicator for microbial growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Bioassays carried out in this work showed that crude extracts of root bark and wood, particularly their polar constituents were more active against the four strains of bacteria tested. / Chemical investigation of the root bark revealed that it contains a volatile oil, which was isolated by steam distillation as well as solid phase micro extraction. It was found to consist of a single compound, which was identified as 2'-hydroxy acetophenone. The identity of this compound was confirmed by GC/MS and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the eudesmane-type sesquiterpene, carissone, was isolated from the root bark DCM and root wood hexane extracts. Its chemical identity was confirmed by IR, 1 [superscript] H and 13 [superscript] C NMR spectroscopy. The lignan, carinol, on the other hand, was isolated from the moderately polar fractions of the root wood MeOH extract. The obtained IR and 1 [superscript] H NMR data as well as Rf values all correspond to the literature. Two other yet unidentified compounds were isolated, but further studies into their chemistry and antibacterial activity were not possible in this current study. The antibacterial activity of the isolated compounds was considerable, with 2'-hydroxy acetophenone exhibiting the strongest effect, followed by carinol and then carissone.

This thesis is written at a time when the world faces many challenges. Gross violation of human rights persists, discrimination against and alienation of marginalized groups continues, the gulf between rich and poor yawns ever wider, and the rapid degradation of the environment continues to gain momentum. One area upon which environmental degradation impacts most crucially is water. In terms of vulnerability and scarcity as a commodity, water has come to be called by some 'the new oil'. Already, water has influenced political strategies and been the cause of wars. The aim of this thesis has been, firstly, to identify the status and trends in inland water ecosystems and their immediate dependents, with particular reference to indigenous communities living close to the water source, and hence more directly affected. If the destruction of inland water ecosystems is allowed to continue unchecked, it will inevitably have disastrous universal consequences. The thesis also discusses the protection of indigenous knowledge and innovations, provided by intellectual property and other instruments, and attempts to analyse developments in international law, which have relevance for indigenous peoples in connection with the conservation, management and sustainable use of inland water systems.

This thesis incorporates social history and consultative action research to analyse the development of cross-cultural nutrition services for Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory from 1974-2000 and promote the development of stronger partnerships in 1999-2001.The historical development of nutrition services is analysed against current theory and a model of capacity building for health promotion. Nutrition infrastructure and services have developed systematically, incrementally and substantially. Strengths include the development of enduring and successful inter-cultural partnerships and leadership.Two facilitative narratives which aim to improve inter-cultural knowledge sharing, strengthen capacity and promote participatory action in community based projects were developed, implemented and partially evaluated. Services can be further strengthened by long-term commitments to examining power issues, promoting improved Indigenous control and problem solving and comprehensive bi cultural evaluation that identifies significant indicators to improving outcomes. Participatory action research, facilitative story telling, capacity building, Indigenous education theory and critical social science can inform and guide these efforts in complementary ways. / Master of Arts (Hons) (Critical Social Science)

In collaboration with members of the Comcaac (Seri Indians) community of the central coast of Sonora, Mexico, it has been possible to join oral historical evidence with archaeological, ethnographic, and documentary data towards a better understanding of the Comcaac past and its continuity into the present. Collaborative research creates opportunities for innovative frameworks and methodologies that can integrate diverse historical narratives while responding to Comcaac perspectives and desires. The research approach emphasizes the historical and social context-dependent dialectical nature of material culture and its acquired meaning through social practice. It defines a cultural landscape as an environmental setting that is simultaneously the medium for, and the outcome of, social action. The Comcaac cultural landscape is tied to history, culture, and society, where places localize, commemorate, and transmit traditional knowledge derived from the people's historical memory that is anchored to the land. This study formally, spatially and temporally documented a vast range of social practices that constructed and continues to construct the Comcaac cultural landscape. In tandem with standard archaeological survey techniques, we developed a distinctive methodology for simultaneously recording oral histories and traditions along successive landscape segments. This project improves the discipline of anthropology through methodological advances to build theory that better understands object and people relationships in the past and today. The results not only exemplify a productive collaboration endeavor but also enhance archaeological knowledge of the poorly known Comcaac region.

Solid waste management (SWM) is a growing problem in developing countries around the world. In Guatemala, indigenous communities, which are predominantly rural and remote, are particularly hard hit by a lack of basic SWM services. Todos Santos, situated in the Cuchumatanes mountain range of northwestern Guatemala, is one such community. As projects developed, planned, and implemented from 'the top down' continue to be ineffective, the literature provides little insight about remote communities' perspectives on exactly what issues SWM creates, influences, and exacerbates, and how they might respond to these concerns themselves. Using a participatory systems approach, this study investigated the systemic structures and behaviours that maintain and exacerbate SWM challenges in Todos Santos, and where key places (leverage points) to intervene in the system may exist. The study presents a wide selection of locally appropriate SWM solutions to target these leverage points in the form of four future scenarios These scenarios act as a step-wise implementation plan for gradual implementation in the community, each building upon the previous, ultimately reaching a community-defined vision for SWM.

The purpose of this study is understand the violence against indigenous peoples in contemporary Brazil, it is necessary from a systemic and long-term analysis, considering their interrelationship with power. Power used in the process of occupation and settlement, in the disputes over land, or in the process of settlement, acculturation and assimilation. For this analysis it is necessary to understand the violence from the Colonialidade of power, with the independence of the colonies of the Iberian Empires, the colonial power remained. / El objetivo de esto estudio es entender la violencia contra los pueblos indígenas en el Brasil contemporáneo, se hace a partir de un análisis sistémico y de largo plazo, considerando su interrelación con el poder. Este poder ha sido utilizado en el proceso de ocupación y asentamiento, en los conflictos sobre la tierra, o en proceso de aculturación y asimilación.Para ese proceso de análisis se hace necesario entender la violencia de la Colonialidad del Poder, que aún con la independencia de las colonias de los imperios ibéricos, el poder colonial se mantuvo.