Evening Sessions
During the Congress, the International Society of Ethnobiology will host two special evening sessions. Read on for more information about these evening sessions.
Re-Envisioning the International Society of Ethnobiology
Monday May 10, 2010 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm at the Tin Wis Hall
Over twenty years ago, Indigenous and traditional peoples met with scientists and environmentalists to discuss a common strategy to halt the rapid decrease in the planet's biological and cultural diversity. At this first International Congress of Ethnobiology, scientists and environmentalists agreed on responsibilities to address the needs of Indigenous and local communities in preserving their cultural diversity and being involved in global aspects of biodiversity. The International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) was formed at this meeting in 1988 and continues to address relevant issues in safeguarding cultural and biological diversity. The ISE has evolved in organizational structure while maintaining its mission to foster meaningful dialogue and effective action.
In 2008, the ISE initiated a process to revisit the founding vision and to chart a self-sustaining future with a continued commitment to fostering true dialogue and effective action. As part of this exercise, the ISE brought together a small group of international contemporary ‘thinkers at the edge’ to an intensive working session in Tofino (Canada) to identify what is most needed today from ethnobiologists and to consider the role that the ISE can play in the ever-increasing human rights and ecological crises of the twenty-first century. We will be exploring the outcomes of this Retreat with the ISE membership in the months leading up to the Congress.
An institutional ethnography is being created as part of the ISE Re-Envisioning process - a short video that conveys the spirit and vision of the ISE: where we came from, where we've been and where we see ourselves headed. There is an intangible quality to the in-person exchanges of the ISE that we hope to express to a larger audience in this way.
During the Congress we will hold a special evening session on the ISE Re-Envisioning process which will include a showing of the ISE video, presentation of the recommendations from the Re-Envisioning process, and open discussion of different ways that the ISE can continue making its unique contributions into the future as a self-sustaining organization.
Come give us your feedback and find out how you can tangibly contribute to the future of the ISE!
The ISE Code of Ethics Evening Session
Wednesday May 12, 2010 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm at the Tin Wis Hall
The ISE Global Coalition for Biological and Cultural Diversity was established in 1990 by the Kunming Action Plan. The purpose of the Global Coalition is "to encourage the permanent and meaningful dialogue between indigenous peoples, scientists and environmentalists in order to develop a unified strategy to defend the biological and cultural diversity of planet Earth." A key accomplishment of the Global Coalition is the development of a Code of Ethics for the ISE. The Code of Ethics was initiated in 1996, and completed and unanimously adopted by the ISE Membership at the 10th International Congress of Ethnobiology in 2006. It promotes "genuine partnerships and collaboration with indigenous peoples, traditional societies and local communities to avoid past injustices and build towards developing positive, beneficial and harmonious relationships in the field of ethnobiology."
The ISE Global Coalition oversees all work related to the Code of Ethics. This includes developing processes through which the Code is adapted and changed over time; creating outreach and extension materials (e.g., the Code of Ethics Toolkit) to support adoption and implementation of the Code; and holding meetings and training sessions to assist and encourage adoption and implementation of the Code.
This special evening session will be held at the 12th ISE Congress to explore how the Code of Ethics is being used by on-the-ground practitioners and in broader policy contexts, and to actively solicit comments, reactions, and lessons associated with the Code. This feedback will be considered in future revisions of the Code.