4.2019 Seminar: The Arts for Justice, Indigenous Coalition Building and Artistic Activism
Fabianinkatu 33, lecture hall 5 at 9:15 - 17:00
Organized by Indigenous Studies / Environmental Humanities, University of Helsinki and University of Arts Helsinki
This seminar discusses the contemporary engagements with artistic forms of evidencing, communicating, and resisting, such as visual arts, performance, theatre, writing, film, video, eco-media and social media that address environmental and social justice and Indigenous rights. How are various constituencies showcasing Indigenous ways of knowing and being, as well as calling for actions and approaches that challenge dominant practices, such as extractivism, pipelines, land grabbing, and other threats to Indigenous values and homelands? How might artistic activism contribute to building coalitions across nations and differences? What techniques are used to reach audiences and what possible changes can result? What can be evidenced by the arts? The participants are both artists and researchers, sharing their works and ideas, and then we encourage the participants to take part in the conversation in which we will learn from each other.
Schedule:
9:15 Opening words by the organisers
9:30–10:30 Keynote by Marja Helander
10:30–10:45 Coffee
10:45–12:15 Panel discussion 1
12:15–13:30 Lunch
13:30–14:15 Keynote by May-Brit Öhman (University of Uppsala)
14:15–14:30 Coffee
14:30–16:00 Panel discussion 2
16:00–16:45 Student works’ presentation
16:45–17:00 End circle
Panelists include Marja Helander, May-Brit Öhman, Klisala Harrison, Sasha Huber, Lea Kantonen, Pirjo K. Virtanen, and others.. https://www.facebook.com/events/251039829175259/
Conference to celebrate 2019 Year of Indigenous Languages declared by Unesco
‘Árran’ means hearth/fireplace, and we take it as an analogy to how languages allow people to come together and share their different experiences. On the Year of Indigenous Languages declared by the Unesco, the main objective of our Symposium is to bring together both indigenous and non-indigenous scholars, activists, and artists in order to discuss indigenous languages in light of the current socio-political, economic, and environmental changes, which at present affect the world. Our aim is to to exchange knowledge on best practices for the promotion of Indigenous languages, which are often listed as endangered, and to advance knowledge on the relations between Indigenous languages, ontologies, and epistemologies. The Symposium allows us to match the goals risen by the Unesco by celebrating the Year of Indigenous Languages, and to effectively contribute to scholarship in developing the concept of language ecology further. Metaphorically, sharing stories and narratives, verbal art, ways of speaking, and their symbolism fuels the warmth and guarantees the continuation of the Árran.
Website: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/beta/arran-ecology-of-indigenous-languages