Splintered Hinterlands: Public Anthropology, Environmental Advocacy and Indigenous Sovereignty in Resource Frontiers of the Americas

Summary

This paper analyzes the role of public anthropology in socio-ecological justice movements by examining conflicts over natural resources and indigenous sovereignty through policy-oriented research. It considers the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) international projects to protect "special areas" and wildlife in the Western hemisphere, specifically rivers in Chilean Patagonia, and the boreal forest in Canada. Despite geographical, historical and cultural differences, these two priority campaigns involve a shared focus on developing communications strategies, as well as financial and corporate advocacy methods, in order to advance stronger environmental protections in alliance with social movements. Working with Mapuche indigenous leaders, international scientists and local environmental activists in the Aysén region of Chile, the NRDC has raised awareness to persuade public officials and investors to seek more sustainable energy alternatives to proposed hydro-electric dam development projects. In Quebec and Ontario, Canada, the environmental group has collaborated with members of the Waswanipi Cree First Nation and paper product consumers to halt forest degradation, which threatens woodland caribou habitats and exacerbates climate change. Taking an engaged anthropological approach to these projects, this transnational study sheds light on how different public advocacy strategies condition or limit possibilities for environmental justice and indigenous sovereignty across the Americas.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 21623