Seminar discusses indigenous peoples struggling for land

24.5.2011

The seminar “People belonging to the land – Forced relocation of indigenous peoples” is held on 25th May at the University of Lapland. The seminar is organized by Uusi Tuuli ry together with The Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre.

The seminar will introduce challenges with the use of land and natural resources faced by indigenous peoples, as well as discuss indigenous movements struggling for the preservation of traditional livelihoods and the cultural survival of peoples in Mexico, India and Finland.

In the seminar Elvia Contreras Espinosa talks about Mexico’s indigenous peoples’ relation to land and problems brought on by the mining industry. Bibiana Martinez de Jesus from Triqui community tells about women’s resistance in San Juan Copala. Indu Netam describes mining in Adivasi lands and resistance in communities. Pekka Aikio speaks about Saami extensive use of the land and recent development in Lapland.

The Mexican presenters represent the Triqui and Mixtec people, whose members were killed last year in San Juan Copala. It is the same region where Uusi Tuuli activist Jyri Jaakkola was killed a year ago.

Time and venue: Wednesday 25th May 2011 at 1–4pm, University of Lapland, Castrén Hall (Castrén-sali)

The programme of the seminar

More information:
Coordinator of the event Senni Luosujärvi, Uusi Tuuli ry, tel. +358 400 911 891, senni(at)estelle.fi