During the 2008-09 academic year, the Center for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University in New York hosted a lecture series on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues: International Perspectives & Global Challenges in co-sponsorship with the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Series co-sponsors include the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and, at Columbia, the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race, the Department of Anthropology, the Institute of Latin American Studies, and, at the school of Law, the Human Rights Institute.

Lectures

“Traditional knowledge as intellectual property: the challenges ahead”

A lecture by Sonia Smallacombe and Dr. Rama Rao

Sonia Smallacombe is member of the Maramanindji people from the north of Australia. She currently works as a Social Affairs Officer with the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and is based in New York. Her main area of work is around indigenous issues and the Environment.

Dr. Rama Rao is the Officer-in-Charge of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Coordination Office in New York. He has been WIPO’s representative to the United Nations since 1998 and undertakes outreach functions. Previously, Dr. Rao worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India for nearly twenty five years and became its Chief Legal Adviser.

Bartolomé Clavero: “Why are only indigenous peoples internationally entitled to a specific right to their own cultures?”

CSHR was honored to host Bartolomé Clavero, Chair of Legal History and Professor of Rights at the University of Seville. Professor Clavero presented on Wednesday, January 21. The lecture will be followed by a conversation with the audience. Download/view the event flyer.

The text of Prof. Clavero’s lecture is available as a pdf.

Other Writings by Prof. Clavero:

• Genocide and Indigenous Peoples in International Law
• Why American Constitutional History is Not Written, 2007
• Minority-Making: Indigenous People and Non-Indigenous Law Between Mexico and the United States (1785-2003), 2003 (view pages 176-291 of the pdf; numbered 175-290 on the page)
• Prof. Clavero’s Blog (primarily written in Spanish)

“We the Peoples: Indigeneity in Globalization”

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and President of the Tebtebba Foundation, Igorot Nation (Philippines) presented the series’ second lecture, “We the Peoples: Indigeneity in Globalization” from 4:00 to 5:15 on October 30, 2008. The event flyer includes more information.

“Indigenous Peoples: A Global Historical Overview”

The series’ first lecture, entitled Indigenous Peoples: A Global Historical Overview, featured Elsa Stamatopoulou, Chief of the Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. View the event flyer.

Indigenous Rights Background Reading

• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity
• James Anaya (listing in CU library catalog)
• Hurst Hannum (listing in CU library catalog)
• Victoria and Jerry Mander, Paradigm Wars (availble via Borrow Direct)
• Human Rights Committee, General Comment on Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• Lansman et al v Finland (1994)…Case no. 511/1992
• Lansman et al v Finland (1996)…Case no. 671/1995
• Lovelace v Canada…(1984)
• Kitok v Sweden…(1988)
• The Carpet Case… “Minding Culture”