Abstract / Excerpt:

The globalization of technology and markets has caused powerful and painful changes in the lives of indigenous worldwide. The encroachment of these modernizing forces threatens the survival of indigenous cultures around the world. Yet, recent actions by indigenous peoples shows that in the face of colonization and threats of extinction and decimation, their struggle can bring forward an "indigenous consciousness' and facilitate the reconstruction of just, nourishing and sustainable social and ecological relations.

Esposing a dialectical possibility of transformation in social reality through the interplay of ideas, culture and material conflict, this dissertations looks at indigenous initiatives in negotiating the encroachment of colonizing and modernizing forces. This dissertations investigates the dialectical interaction of colonization of indigenous lands and spaces on one hand and the politics of the indigenous-the politics of the periphery-on the other hand.

A case study of the initiatives of the Subanen-one of the indigenous groups of Mindanao, Southern Philippines-is pursued. Secondary data regrading the initiative of the Chipko movement in Northern India, the Ecuadorian indigenous movement, and the Mi'Kmaq nation's struggle in Canada are exploded to shed further light on indigenous initiatives.

The research indicates the the initiatives to reclaim, rehabilitate and regenerate ancestral domains of the indigenous around the world are crucial in re-establishing the integrity of cultural domains and material life-sources of the indigenous.

The dialectical challenge enunciated in the dissertation informs us that indigenous journeys toward a just, nourishing and sustainable world arduous and problematic. Solidarity among the indigenous alike remains an important platform as each group undertakes the rebuilding process in the face of globalization forces that, ultimately, threaten the social and environmental integrity of all communities.

computer print-out.

A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Affairs and Public Policy.

Info

Source Institution	University of Delaware
Unit	Social Science and Education
Authors	Manuta, Jessie B.
Page Count	-0
Place of Publication	Newark, Delaware
Original Publication Date	March 1, 2001
Tags	Dissertations, Indigenous Peoples, Philippines, mindanao

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