Conservation, Racism and Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Symposium
March 21 & 22, 2024
To commemorate the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the International Day of Forests, join us in Cuk-Ṣon (Tucson Arizona) for this two day symposium on Thursday March 21 to Friday March 22 exploring the intersections of racism, colonialism and conservation and calling for an environmental justice movement based on Indigenous Peoples Human Rights. International speakers include Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples José Francisco Calí Tzay and John Knox, the former Independent Expert on human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Both in person and zoom attendance are available for participants.
You must register to attend the symposium either In-Person or Online. If you are attending In-Person, please note the venue details below:
Thursday, March 21
8:00AM-5:00PM (MST)
Pascua Yaqui Tribe - University of Arizona Microcampus (PYT-UA)
7400 S Settler Ave, Tucson, AZ 85746
Friday, March 22
8:00AM-5:00PM (MST)
James E. Rogers College of Law, Ares Auditorium, Room 164
1201 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721
Full Schedule
THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2024
8:00am-9:00am Breakfast Buffet
9:00am-9:10am Traditional blessing
9:10am-9:30am Welcome, Introduction of Sponsors/Acknowledgements of Support
(Mia F. Burcham, Arizona Journal of Environmental Law & Policy Editor in Chief, Robert A. Williams, Jr., Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program Faculty Chair, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, Rebecca Adamson, Bay and Paul Foundations)
9:30am-10:00am Keynote address by Jose´Francisco Cali Tzay
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right of Indigenous Peoples and former Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
10:00am-10:15am Audience transition
Morning Session - Fortress Conservation, Racism, Colonialism in Historical and Contemporary Perspective
10:15am–10:50am Featured Speaker: Robert A. Williams, Jr.,
Regents Professor, E. Thomas Sullivan Professor of Law; Faculty Chair, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program
10:50am–11:20am Featured Speaker: Fiore Longo
Director Survival International France and Spain
11:20am-11:50am Featured Speaker: Edward Ornstein
Special Counsel on Environmental Affairs for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida
11:50am- 12:00am Q & A
12:00pm- 1:00pm LUNCH BREAK
Afternoon Session - Racism, Conservation and Human Rights Violations of Indigenous Peoples in Africa
1:00pm- 2:15pm
Panel I: Africa
Moderator: Elifuraha Isaya Laltaika, Regional Campaign Manager, IPLP Initiative on Indigenous Peoples Affected by Protected Areas and Other Conservation Measures.
Dr. Elifuraha Isaya Laltaika, Senior Law Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Tumaini University Makumira, Arusha-Tanzania and Regional Campaigner Manager, IPLP Initiative on Indigenous Peoples Affected by Protected Areas and Other Conservation Measures
Kiptoo Washington Barasa, Bay and Paul Foundations Fellow, IPLP Initiative on Indigenous Peoples Affected by Protected Areas and Other Conservation Measures, Kenya
Lesle Jensen, Head of Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities Resource Rights at Jamma International
2:15pm-2:30pm Wrap up-Q & A
Afternoon Session - Racism, Conservation and Human Rights Violations of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America
2:30pm-2:45pm Featured Speaker: Juan Leon Alvarado
International Indian Treaty Council Human Rights and Bio-Diversity Consultant
2:45pm-3:00pm Q & A
3:00pm-3:30pm Featured Speaker: Fergus Mackay
Senior Legal Counsel and Policy Advisor Indigenous Peoples Rights International
3:30pm-3:45pm Q & A
3:45pm-4:15pm Featured Speaker:John Knox
First Independent Expert on human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment
4:15pm- 4:45pm Q & A Closing remarks
FRIDAY MARCH 22, 2024
8:00am-9:00am Breakfast Buffet
9:00am-9:20am Welcoming, Yaqui/O’odham blessing
9:20am-9:30am Introduction of Sponsors/Acknowledgements of support (AJELP and IPLP)
Morning Session - Racism, Conservation and Human Rights Violations of Indigenous Peoples in Asia
9:30am-11:15am
Moderator: Suhas Chakma, Regional Campaign Manager, IPLP Initiative on Indigenous Peoples Affected by Protected Areas and Other Conservation Measures.
Suhas Chakma, Director, Rights and Risks Analysis Group, Core Group on Human Rights Defenders and NGOs of the National Human Rights Commission of India, Regional Campaign Manager, IPLP Initiative on Indigenous Peoples Affected by Protected Areas and Other Conservation Measures
Shankar Limbu: Secretary Vice-chair of the Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP)
Pranab Doyle, All Kaziranga Affected Communities’ Rights Committee
Monica Kristiani Ndoen, Project Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara
11:15am-11:30am Wrap up-Q & A
11:30am-12:00pm Workshop by IPLP team on Project Resources
12:00pm–1:00pm LUNCH BREAK
Afternoon Session - Addressing Systemic Racism in Conservation and Protecting Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights: Decolonizing Conservation and Protecting Biodiversity through a Human Rights-Based Approach.
1:00pm-1:30pm Featured Speaker: Helen Tugendhat
Programme Coordinator, Environmental Governance at Forest Peoples Programme
1:30pm-1:40pm Q & A
1:40pm-2:10pm Featured Speaker: Chris Chapman
Indigenous Rights Researcher and Adviser at Amnesty International
2.10pm-2:20pm Q & A
2:20pm-2:50 pm Featured Speaker: Anuradha Mittal
Founder and Executive Director, The Oakland Institute
2:50pm-3:00pm Q & A
3:00pm-3:45pm Featured Speaker: Chrissie Grant
Current Chair of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on World Heritage
3:45pm-4:00pm Q & A
4:00pm-4:30pm Closing summaries and acknowledgements