By Dr. Alexis Bunten, IPinCH Project Ethnographer
Between July 25 and August 9, I traveled to South Africa and Botswana to shadow IPinCH Researcher, Sven Ouzman, and Associate, Rachel F. Giraudo, as they made plans to collaborate with members of several San communities on heritage and IP issues through their IPinCH projects.
I made the most of my time with Sven, Rachel, and their Southern African friends and colleagues. I met with San activists, including youth, community leaders, NGO employees, and academics. I also learned about San heritage management issues first hand by visiting the Iziko South African Museum, the Tsodilo World Heritage Site, as well as San villages, NGOs, and several tourism projects throughout Northern Botswana.
This was a very opportune time to connect with individuals representing San communities, organizations, and educational institutions before Sven and Rachel begin their IPinCH-supported projects. Some of the issues facing San heritage and IP are representative of overarching Indigenous concerns: the ongoing theft of lands and appropriation of traditional knowledge and heritage through policy and rampant discrimination. Despite these challenges, many dedicated San are collaborating with experts from around the world to gain the skills that will aid in forwarding self-determination over tangible and intangible resources. There is a lot of work yet to be done. Over the next few weeks, I will systematize what I learned in Southern Africa into strategic recommendations for these and other IPinCH initiatives.
Read more on Alexis and her work >
Photo: In Botswana, Alexis attended a San heritage festival where community members from Dobe celebrated and shared their traditions with visitors (A. Bunten photo, used with permission of Dobe dance troupe).
