IK Monitor Calls (7-2)

Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, July 1999

Contents IK Monitor (7-2) | IKDM Homepage | Suggestions to: ikdm@nuffic.nl | © copyright Nuffic-CIRAN and contributors 1999.

Calls

- Calls for research co-operation
- Calls for information

Calls for research co-operation

Indigenous aged care -some international comparisons
This is a call to expand the available knowledge on the provision of aged care among the indigenous people of the South Pacific region. Dialogue is sought with people who could make available existing papers or establish a new research project in this field. This research direction, which comes from a non-indigenous perpective, rests on the assumption that there is an interface between indigenous and non-indigenous people.
Contributors would be encouraged to join a network through which to share information on this topic, with a view to gaining a better understanding of such aspects as:
- the effect of non-indigenous colonization on the current degree of power experienced by indigenous people
- the perception of non-indigenous services by indigenous people
- the level of exclusion experienced by linguistic minorities as a result of a lack of resources
- the effect of economic development on the provision of aged care to indigenous people
- the health care issues most relevant to local communities of indigenous people.

This information-sharing is designed to identify the needs of indigenous peoples in the area of policy making, service provision and education.
As part of this research programme, the Aboriginal Research Institute (ARI) at the University of South Australia recently took part in a project aimed at extending the possibilities for research cooperation in this field. The ARI website is at http://www.indigenet.unisa.edu.au/ar1 The web page for this program is currently under development.
Please contact: Peter Nixon, MSW, MAASW, Adjunct Lecturer, School of Social Administration and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042.
Tel: +61-8-8222 8164.
Fax: +61-8-8222 8198.
E-mail: peter.nixon@flinders.edu.au

Calls for information

African indigenous knowledge
The Eniaka project of the Compas programme is a new initiative on the subject of African worldviews and agricultural development. The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), together with the Compas coordinators in the Netherlands and the Compas partner organizations CECIK in Ghana and AZTREC in Zimbabwe, have decided to carry out a joint study in 1999. It is aimed at enhancing the dynamics of indigenous knowledge in Africa. The partners acknowledge the fact that a major portion of African agricultural practices are based on traditional knowledge and concepts. The Eniaka project will gather information on indigenous knowledge related to soil and water conservation, crop and animal production, pest and disease management, and the management of natural resources throughout Africa. It will focus not only on technological aspects, but also on the underlying worldviews or cosmovisions and on the role of traditional leaders, including chiefs, elders, healers and spirit mediums.
The preliminary study is expected to result in a register of organizations and individuals in Africa who are involved with indigenous knowledge. In September 1999, two national workshops will take place--in Ghana and in Zimbabwe--to analyse the preliminary findings. At the end of this year a larger meeting will be held in Zimbabwe. There the findings will be discussed and recommendations will be drafted which are aimed at enhancing indigenous knowledge pertaining to sustainable land use in Africa.
We are asking indigenous organizations, development agencies, and professionals who are interested in this subject to take part in the project. We would also like to receive information from individuals and organizations that wish to be included in the register on IK in Africa. If you contact us, please specify your areas of expertise and give us a list of your publications on the subject, indicating whether or not you would be willing to make those publications available. Please also suggest the issues and challenges related to indigenous knowledge which you consider to be of major importance, and mention any other individuals or organizations--preferably working at the grassroots level--whom you think we should invite to take part. We need to receive your communications by 1 September 1999 at the latest. Anyone included in the register will be welcome to take part in the next stages of the study.
If you are interested, please contact: Compas International Coordination, ETC, P.O. Box 64, 3830 AB Leusden, the Netherlands.
E-mail: compas@etcnl.nl