International Indigenous Women Research Cohort Completes Special Edition of the Knowledge Makers Journal Special Edition, “Indigenous Women, Indigenous Peoples’ Food & Knowledge Systems, and Climate Action”
In honor of International Women’s Day 2024, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will host the culminating event of the first collaborative Knowledge Makers Journal with an international Indigenous Women’s research cohort.
On March 11th and 12th, TRU will host the collaborative Indigenous research conference, “Coyote Brings the Food: Healing the Land, While Healing from the Land” on their campus in Kamloops, British Columbia. The conference will kick off the first two days of TRU IDays 2024, an annual, weeklong celebration of international students.
The campuses of Thompson Rivers University are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc Nation within Secwépemc’ulucw. The Opening Ceremony of the conference will open with a welcome to the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc territory, extended by Kukpi7 Roseanne Casimir, followed by an invocation of tradition through a welcome song led by a Tk’emlups elder.
Esteemed speakers from TRU Research, TRU World, FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit, FAO Liaison Office for North America, FAO Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, and the founders of Knowledge Makers will discuss the significance of IDays 2024, the publication of Knowledge Makers Volume 8, and insights into cultural exploration that underpin the upcoming events.
The conference will celebrate the collaborative publication of Special Edition Knowledge Makers Journal Volume 8, “Indigenous Women, Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems, and Climate Action”, featuring presentations by the Indigenous Women authors of the cohort. The second day of the conference will celebrate Indigenous research with panels and discussions with FAO, Knowledge Makers alumni, elders, and fellow Indigenous Scholars from TRU and neighboring universities.
This event serves as a culmination for a partnership that started in 2022. TRU All My Relations Indigenous research centre and FAO joined forces to implement a special edition of the TRU Knowledge Makers Program to strengthen research and knowledge generation opportunities for and by Indigenous Women.
They launched a global call for papers, inviting Indigenous Women from the seven socio-cultural regions of the world to apply for this Special Edition of the Knowledge Makers Journal. It was an opportunity for Indigenous Women globally to advance their research for Indigenous Women, Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems, and climate change. From a pool of 101 applicants from 30 countries, the selection committee chose 21 Indigenous Women to participate in the cohort – from 21 different Indigenous Peoples and 16 countries.
The program was led by Indigenous faculty including, Knowledge Makers co-founder, Dr. Sereana Naepi, and TRU All My Relations directors, Dr. Rod McCormick, and Jeneen Herns-Jensen, along side TRU faculty, staff, and Indigenous Elders and co-founders of the program.
Through a year-long process, Dr. Sereana Naepi with fellow Indigenous facilitators and elders, led the Indigenous Women’s research cohort through on an online course, group discussions, mentorship and writing process to produce peer-reviewed research articles covering topics important to their communities.
Through this program FAO and TRU – Knowledge Makers sought to accompany Indigenous Women researchers on their paths to promote the recognition of Indigenous Women’s knowledge, and to amplify the influence of their voices in decision-making processes that affect them.
This conference marks the completion of this special program and forthcoming publication of their journal articles. Furthermore, it will build opportunities and expand networks for the dedicated work of TRU and FAO to advance the research and influence of Indigenous Women in decision-making spaces.
Aligned with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), this Special Edition emphasizes the rights of Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge systems, giving special attention to the rights of Indigenous Women. It serves as a milestone, showcasing the collective achievements of 21 Indigenous Women from the seven socio-cultural regions who have not only invested time and energy into their own research skills and pressing topics for their communities, but they have also contributed to the global discourse on Indigenous-led research.
This Special Edition is a call for justice, equity, and a sustainable future. To quote, Knowledge Maker co-founder, Dr. Airini, “This is Knowledge of Standing in the World, it is not miraculous. It is what has kept us going and helped us survive.”
On International Women’s Day, FAO humbly thanks and honors the Indigenous Women who facilitated and participated in the Knowledge Makers Journal international Indigenous Women’s research cohort, the Knowledge Makers who have come before this 8th Volume and celebrates all the forthcoming Knowledge Makers.
In the coming months, the final publication and online curriculum will be shared. To follow the Indigenous research conference online next week, please see the TRU website link below.
MORE INFO/RELATED LINKS:
https://knowledgemakers.trubox.ca/conference/#theauthors
https://www.fao.org/indigenous-peoples/news-article/en/c/1620749/