From Indigenous sovereignty to ending stolen generations: NAISA 2019
The world’s biggest Indigenous Studies conference is now being held in Hamilton, addressing some of the most crucial and controversial issues facing its peoples today.
The Native American and Indigenous Studies Association 2019 is on at the University of Waikato/Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato Hamilton campus, running until Saturday 29 June 2019. Wednesday saw a massive pōwhiri held at the Claudelands Events Centre to welcome more than a thousand local and international delegates. Registrations have today hit nearly 1800.
The substantial discussions, seminars and workshops started this morning (Thursday). Topics range from Indigenous leadership, the State and change to DNA and ancestry, justice, education, biosecurity and the environment.
A key discussion looking at ending the removal of Indigenous children from families will be held on Saturday. Organisers say Government removal of Indigenous children from their families in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States is intergenerational, deeply traumatic, and on the rise. Factors enabling removal of our children are historic, systemic and entrenched. The discussion will look at strategies to end child removal and building Indigenous self-determining communities. It will take place at 12:15pm, at SG.01.
