Indigenous peoples : towards an interconnective and conscientising dialogue

This thesis is the story of the Indigenous peoples’ movement and of their journey to attain human dignity and justice internationally, regionally and nationally. It is also the story of diminishment and of conscientising agenda. I have written this thesis as a non Aboriginal person who has been invited by Indigenous peoples from all regions of the world into a diversity of local, national and international contexts and experiences (community based and inter-governmental). My role has been that of a participant observer, a facilitator, translator and interpreter of political and cultural dialogue. Participating within Indigenous arenas of activity for more than a decade, ongoing study of relevant literature, and an engagement with documents, legislation and conventions provide the basis of analysis. Perspective and insight is also informed through involvement in the dialogue at inter-governmental and community levels, and knowledge gained through relationship with Indigenous peoples’ in various regions of the world. The thesis aims to challenge, to decontextualise and recontextualise knowledge and thinking identifying the inherent assumptions in discourse, and the points of divergence in understanding and worldview. Also revealed are the strategies and methodologies by which a separately informed vision for humanity is repeatedly thwarted and confused at all levels of negotiation and agreement. Examination of specific considerations within dialogue reveals relevant aspects of world politics. Case studies provide a detailed analysis of processes claimed to provide Indigenous peoples with human equality, but which simultaneously serve to deny them rights and justice. The Case studies which include Africa, Asia and the CANZ Bloc countries of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, serve to ground analysis and make explicit the critical disconnect between international and national dialogue, between objectives and outcomes, and constructed and imposed representation, and culturally lived identity and voice. They also reveal the inherent and historic nature of institutional processes and thinking which results in the ongoing diminishment of Indigenous peoples’. The central contention of this thesis is that the global project of sustainability and stability requires a paradigmatic shift in thinking, values, priorities and intent. It is further argued that to achieve this, multilateral processes need to be informed by those parts of humanity whose cultures are inherently more sustainable and who retain knowledge vital to existence because it is collaborative with nature and yet are at risk