Universities partner to share Indigenous knowledges in Santiago

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) Professor Barry Judd during a traditional Mapuche ritual held during the event.

The University of Melbourne joined several partners from the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) at the latest meeting of the APRU Indigenous and First Nations Knowledges Network in Santiago earlier this month.

The event, held at Universidad de Chile, brought Indigenous sciences, languages and knowledges to the forefront of academia and research by convening universities from across Latin America, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Asia, as well as Indigenous leaders from across the globe.

Titled ‘Indigenous Sciences/Indigenous Knowledges: Discussions and Contributions for a Common Future”, the workshop allowed attendees to share Indigenous perspectives across cultures throughout the four-day event, concluding with an illuminating lecture on Mapuche Astronomy and Cosmology, delivered by Mapuche Elder, Margarita Canio. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Indigenous) Professor Barry Judd and Pro Vice Chancellor (International) Professor Adrian Little led the University’s delegation, with Professor Judd presenting on the University’s recent activities in truth-telling.

“The network provides exciting opportunities to develop collaborative interdisciplinary partnerships that engage with Indigenous peoples and their knowledge systems in the Pacific Rim,” said Professor Judd.

“Importantly the network brings Indigenous scholars and their allies together at a time of growing isolationism in world politics. Through a range of current and upcoming programs, the University of Melbourne is particularly well placed to utilise the network to expand its commitments to Indigenous Knowledges, as stated in Murmuk Djerring,” Professor Judd added.

The Indigenous Knowledges Network is co-led by the University of Melbourne and is central to the University’s commitment to Indigenous internationalisation as outlined in Advancing Melbourne Globally, which encourages the integration of international, Indigenous and intercultural perspectives into the University’s global learning experience.