SYMPOSIUM
Conservation, Racism and Indigenous Peoples Human Rights
Exploring the intersections of racism, colonialism and conservation and calling for an environmental justice movement based on Indigenous Peoples Human Rights.
To commemorate the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the International Day of Forests, over 500 participants joined us in Cuk-Ṣon (Tucson Arizona) and online for this two day symposium on Thursday March 21 to Friday March 22 exploring the intersections of racism, colonialism and conservation and calling for an environmental justice movement based on Indigenous Peoples Human Rights. International speakers includes Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples José Francisco Calí Tzay and John Knox, the former Independent Expert on human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
Watch segmented videos of each speaker on YouTube
Thursday, March 21
Pascua Yaqui Tribe - University of Arizona Microcampus (PYT-UA)
7400 S Settler Ave, Tucson, AZ 85746
Friday, March 22
James E. Rogers College of Law, Ares Auditorium, Room 164
1201 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
| Time (MST) | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00am-9:00am | Breakfast Buffet |
| 9:00am-9:10am | Traditional blessing |
| 9:10am-9:30am | Welcome, Introduction of Sponsors/Acknowledgements of Support Mia F. Burcham, Arizona Journal of Environmental Law & Policy Editor in Chief, Robert A. Williams, Jr., Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program Faculty Chair, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, Rebecca Adamson, Bay and Paul Foundations), Watch recorded video |
| 9:30am-10:00am | Keynote address by Jose´Francisco Cali Tzay, Watch recorded video Download the Statement United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right of Indigenous Peoples and former Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). |
| 10:00am-10:30am |
Featured Speaker: Ruben Reyes, District Director, Rep. Raul Grijalva, U.S. House of Representatives, co-sponsor of H.R.7025 - Advancing Human Rights-Centered International Conservation Act of 2022 |
| Morning Session | Fortress Conservation, Racism, Colonialism in Historical and Contemporary Perspective |
| 10:30am–11:00am | Featured Speaker: Robert A. Williams, Jr., Watch recorded video Regents Professor, E. Thomas Sullivan Professor of Law; Faculty Chair, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program |
| 11:00am–11:30am | Featured Speaker: Fiore Longo, Watch recorded video Director Survival International France and Spain (Online) |
| 11:30am-12:00pm | Featured Speaker: Edward Ornstein, Watch recorded video Special Counsel on Environmental Affairs for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida (Online) |
| 12:00pm- 12:15pm | Q & A |
| 12:15pm- 1:15pm | LUNCH BREAK |
| Session | Racism, Conservation and Human Rights Violations of Indigenous Peoples in Africa |
| 1:15pm- 2:45pm |
Moderator: Elifuraha Isaya Laltaika, Regional Campaign Manager, IPLP Initiative on Indigenous Peoples Affected by Protected Areas and Other Conservation Measures.
|
| 2:45pm-3:00pm | Wrap up-Q & A |
| Afternoon Session | Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, Discrimination and Conservation: Framework and Recent Developments |
| 3:00pm-3:30pm | Featured Speaker: John Knox, Watch recorded video first Independent Expert on human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. (Online) |
| 3:30pm-3:45pm | Q & A |
| Session | Racism, Conservation and Human Rights Violations of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America |
| 3:45pm-4:15pm | Featured Speaker: Juan Leon Alvarado, Watch recorded video International Indian Treaty Council Human Rights and Bio-Diversity Consultant. (Online) |
| 4:15pm-4:30pm | Q & A; Closing remarks |
| Time (MST) | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00am-9:00am | Breakfast Buffet |
| 9:00am-9:15am | Introduction of Sponsors/Acknowledgements of support (AJELP and IPLP) |
| Morning Session: | Racism, Conservation and Human Rights Violations of Indigenous Peoples in Asia |
| 9:15am-10:45am |
Moderator: Suhas Chakma, Regional Campaign Manager, IPLP Initiative on Indigenous Peoples Affected by Protected Areas and Other Conservation Measures.
|
| 10:45am-11:00am | Wrap up-Q & A |
| 11:00am-11:20pm |
Robert Williams: IPLP Protected Areas and Conservation Initiative |
| 11:20am-11:45am | Vishal Gaikwad: Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Advocacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence |
| 11:45am-12:00pm | Q & A |
| 12:00pm–1:00pm | LUNCH BREAK |
| Afternoon Session: | Addressing Systemic Racism in Conservation and Protecting Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights: Decolonizing Conservation and Protecting Biodiversity through a Human Rights-Based Approach. |
| 1:00pm-1:30pm | Featured Speaker: Helen Tugendhat, Watch recorded video Programme Coordinator, Environmental Governance at Forest Peoples Programme |
| 1:30pm-1:40pm | Q & A |
| 1:40pm-2:10pm | Featured Speaker: Chris Chapman Watch recorded video Indigenous Rights Researcher and Adviser at Amnesty International |
| 2.10pm-2:20pm | Q & A |
| 2:20pm-3:00pm | COFFEE BREAK |
| 3:00pm-3:30pm | Featured Speaker: Chrissie Grant, current Chair of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on World Heritage, (Online) Watch recorded video |
| 3:30pm-3:40pm | Q & A |
| 3:40pm-3:50pm | Video Message of Professor Verene A. Shepherd, Current Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Watch video message |
| 3:50pm-4:30pm | Closing summaries and acknowledgements |
For questions email law-conservation@arizona.edu
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