To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources, noting the ways in which indigenous groups ally themselves with others and adapt to change.
• Identify a threat to cultural and biological diversity and/or environmental justice and sustainability in an indigenous group.
• Investigate whether or not the indigenous group is partnering with an external activist to maintain cultural and biological diversity and/or promote environmental justice and sustainability.
• Detail the joint actions undertaken, or the opportunity for joint actions that could be undertaken, to work toward diversity, justice, or sustainability for indigenous peoples.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3

Post two paragraphs that describe the joint actions undertaken—or that could be initiated—toward maintaining cultural and biological diversity or promoting environmental justice and/or sustainability for the indigenous group you identified. Analyze to what extent diversity, justice, and sustainability are important for the future of indigenous peoples.

Be sure to support your ideas by connecting them to the week’s Learning Resources, or something you have read, heard, seen, or experienced.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ postings that contain a perspective other than yours.

• Explain how your colleagues’ perspectives do either of the following:
  • Align with or complement your perspective.
  • Contrast with or are in opposition to your perspective.

  To prepare for this Discussion:

  • Review this week’s Learning Resources, noting the ways in which indigenous groups ally themselves with others and adapt to change.
  • Identify a threat to cultural and biological diversity and/or environmental justice and sustainability in an indigenous group.
  • Investigate whether or not the indigenous group is partnering with an external activist to maintain cultural and biological diversity and/or promote environmental justice and sustainability.
  • Detail the joint actions undertaken, or the opportunity for joint actions that could be undertaken, to work toward diversity, justice, or sustainability for indigenous peoples.
  • • • • • • • • • • Learning Resources

                      Required Readings

                      Welsch, R.L. & Vivanco, L.A. (2017). Anthropology: Asking questions about humanity (2nd ed.). Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press.

                      • Chapter 7, “ Environmental Anthropology: Relating to the Natural World” (pp.165-181)
                      • “Social and Economic Inequality: Why Poor Neighborhoods and Marginalized People Face the Greatest Environmental Risks” (pp.185-186)
                      • “Anthropology Confronts Climate Change (pp. 186-187)

                      The chapters from this course text provide details on biodiversity and environmental change.

                      Aikau, H. K., & Spencer, J. H. (2007). Introduction: Local reaction to global integration—The political economy of development in indigenous communities. Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, 32(1), 1–8.

                      This article focuses on indigenous groups from North America, South America, and Asia. The authors compare these groups as a case study of the effects of globalization, politics, development, and planning.

                      Partlow, J. (2008, October 14). Doubt, anger over Brazil dams; As work begins along Amazon tributary, many question human, environmental costs. The Washington Post, A11.

                      In this article, the author describes the construction of two hydroelectric dams on the Madeira River, a main tributary of the Amazon. Partlow shares the impact these dams have on the local indigenous groups and the environment.

                      Valdivia, G. (2007). The “Amazonian trial of the century”: Indigenous identities, transnational networks, and petroleum in Ecuador. Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, 32(1), 41–72.

                      This article details the participatory relationship of indigenous groups and organizations like FEINCE, OISE, and FOISE in the Ecuadoran Amazon. This relationship has been forced by a lawsuit against Chevron Texaco.

                      Required Media

                      TEDx Talks. (Producer). (2013). Taking indigenous world-views seriously: Juan Barletti at TEDx University of St Andrews 2013 [Video]. Retrieved from

                      Note: The approximate length of this piece is 10 minutes.