Erenlai - Practice: The Art of Making Something from Nothing

Practice: The Art of Making Something from Nothing

by Nick Coulson (聶克) on 週一, 21 十一月 2011 5171 點擊評論

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University of British Columbia, Department of Anthropology, Vancouver

A long-serving professor of Anthropology, Dr Bruce Miller, has huge experience in World Aboriginal affairs. He first gave a presentation on the history and development of First Nation struggle in Canada, before extending to examples of Indigenous struggles elsewhere in the world including Brazil, the US and Papua New Guinea. After leading into discussion he gave advice on the repertoire of tools available for advancing Indigenous empowerment. He emphasized the importance of manipulating the laws available to them, but also the adoption of various tactics to advance the cause, such as the 'politics of embarrassment'. For Bruce Miller, most important of all was that regardless of how much resources they had was to begin putting ideas into practice immediately, taking action now to create the future for themselves and their people.

For readers in Mainland China:

"For me, the UBC Department of Anthropology was the most exciting part of the trip. In a very short time, Dr. Bruce Miller gave us an understanding of the history of the First Nations struggle in Canada, and used his experience and observations to evoke discussion of certain focal points with us students. He listened to our questions and his reply was always a message of encouragement. For example, he urged us to use movement tactics such as the ‘politics of embarrassment’ to force the governments into making decisions rather than just suffering injustices and then pleading with the government that they empower the Indigenous people. What he was telling us was that power doesn’t come without a struggle. You must be ready and willing to take action.

In the future, as an Indigenous scholar, I would like to reinterpret Aboriginal cultural research through a new Indigenous lens. It will be a long and difficult road, but here I quote Dr.Bruce Miller “The Indigenous movement needs to be put into practice, even when you have nothing”. Looking at the Indigenous struggle and Indigenous empowerment from a historical perspective, something has always come from nothing - this is called practice."
Piho Yuhaw (Department of Ethnology, National Chengchi University, Atayal Nation)

"Dr. Bruce Miller proposes that “everything starts with the law”. He emphasized the very tangible power of the law, and that it is not just playing strategic games on paper. He applied this concept to the tribal experience, and to how Indigenous people can have a big effect on their own culture, gradually bringing about the vision of the 'tribal development council'."

Takun Tado (School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Seediq Nation)

"As Dr. Bruce Miller said, “Laws are dead, but people are alive. You shall never be the living dead.” As Indigenous intellectuals, it’s our obligation to stand up and fight against the inequalities in our society. When we mentioned funding limitations, Dr. Bruce Miller lambasted us saying “There are lots of teenagers in Canada the same age as you. They have nothing, but it’s to their advantage. If you want to make some changes, start now.” Because of his inspiring words, we all have more confidence to go and do all the things we wish to do, and to defend our peoples’ rights."

Labi (Department of Ethnic Relations and Cultures, National Dong Hwa University, Amis Nation)

Photo:Shuching Hsueh

最後修改於週三, 08 一月 2014 17:33

發佈於 Focus: Bringing Home the Seeds of Indigenous Autonomy

來源

Nick Coulson (聶克)

I was born in sunny Torbay on the south western coast of England's green and pleasant lands. I'm prowling the streets, parks and ruins of Taiwan hunting for absurdities and studying the sociology of the underground. Furthermore with our nomadic arts and action space "The Hole" we attempt to challenge rigid and alienating structures.

出生於英國西南部，海邊的天堂為Torbay。目前在台灣的街上，公園，廢墟尋找世界之荒謬與世界之美，努力盡量在各方面跳脫框框。透過我們的游牧空間「洞」我們不斷地用藝術與行動來挑戰早已僵化的體制。