Re-indigenising humanity: A pan-global project of great importance and massive difficulty

Abstract

For many observers, the current financial crisis is merely an extension of broader social and ecological crises. Indigenous communities, having suffered so throughout the lead up to these crises, look set to suffer further. However, alternative models of governance and resource management exist, and some of the most resilient models are manifested in the most marginalised communities, namely Indigenous communities.

Despite Indigenous insights into sustainable development, we have struggled to assert Indigenous methodologies in the face of dismissive 'mainstreams' and often severe oppression. Related to this oppression, we have struggled to accrue and disseminate supporting research.

As Indigenous researchers we seek nothing less than to re-indigenise humanity, a long-term strategy in which seemingly intransient, unsustainable paradigms are critiqued while new, radical and even revolutionary paradigms are built, tested and revisited. It is our intent to contribute to a critical mass of researchers who support ongoing collaboration in drawing together their separate disciplines and our separate lands. While disseminating our publications to different audiences we also undertake to replicate our academic obligations with the responsibility to meet with communities and their representatives in a manner determined by the communities themselves.