Master's in Indigenous Studies Alumni

Study in Arctic

Master's in Indigenous Studies Alumni

Implementation and realization of Indigenous children’s right to learn their mother tongue – With focus on the Nenets People in Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Russia)

Thesis by Ekaterina Zmyvalova

Abstract:
This thesis is dedicated to the issue of realization and implementation of indigenous children’s right to learn their language at school. My focus is on the Nenets Autonomous Okrug- one of the territories where the Nenets people – one of the indigenous peoples of Russia – is located. The Nenets people is the biggest group of the indigenous peoples in Russia. According the Official statistics there are less and less in the Nenets population who speak the Nenets language. Moreover, mostly they are elderly people. The young do not know the Nenets language even though they learn it at school. I argue that among other reasons there are legal issues. In particular, inappropriate implementation of international commitments into the national legislation and ineffective realization of the national legislation in practice are among the reasons of the decline of the Nenets language in the indigenous population. I researched this issue by using such methods as the legal method and the interview. The method of interview I employed during my fieldwork in two schools in the villages Indiga and Krasnoye of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug where indigenous children learn the Nenets language. I applied the theory of non- discrimination to consider implementation and realization of the right in practice. I regard my thesis to be a contribution to the clarification of the causes of the native language situation in indigenous peoples’ communities in Russia.

Thesis not available

The role of the New Evenkiness in the Evenki Language revitalization: The case of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

Author

“Health Discourse in Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh”

Author

A Peek at Culture: Symbolism and relevance of traditional marriage among the Ashantis of Ghana

Thesis by: Mary Mansa

Abstract:
This study was undertaken with a two-fold ambition; to examine the overall relevance of traditional marriage alongside the symbols paramount and operational within the marriage discourse and to contribute to existing literature on marriage by providing empirical account of Ashantis’ traditional marriage system. Using qualitative approach, twenty interviews were conducted with community leaders, family heads and married couples within the Kumasi metropolis and Bosomtwe/Atwima Kwanhuma District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The data showed that participants clearly understood traditional marriage as a union between two adults of opposite sex according to certain laid down customary procedures. Also among the Ashantis, the marriage process involves two major stages; knocking (kɔkɔɔkɔ) and final consummation of the marriage (Awaregeԑ). The study similarly unearthed clearly defined gender role differences in the performance of traditional marriage among the Ashantis. Marriage is contracted among the Ashantis through the payment of brideprice by presenting items such as two bottles of Schnapps, Akunta Sikan, Awheneԑ (Beads), a white cloth and Ԑtam (A Strip of Cloth). It was also found that the entire marriage arrangement including its ceremony is a manifestation of Ethnic Identity based on unique cultural outlooks and heritages. Lastly, it discovered that traditional marriage has some useful elements that bring two families together, as well as guide against promiscuous behaviors among married women.

 

Thesis not available

The changing livelihood of the Karamojong People of North-Eastern Uganda and its impact on the survival of their traditional gender roles

Abstract
This thesis discuss the changing livelihoods of the Karamojong people of North-Eastern Uganda and how the changes impacts the survival of their traditional gender roles. For various reasons Karimajong people have been historically marginalized and subjugated which treatment is evident since the rule of colonialists and even extended to the post –independence governments of the Republic of Uganda. In their attempt to express their identity as cattle herders, Karamajong people have faced the unfavourable consequences of the government’s development programs since nomadic pastoralism was seen as a back ward mode of cattle husbandry which is not economically viable but rather environmentally destructive. It should be noted that Karamoja sub region is a semi-arid area where people have suffered the worst consequences of drought in Uganda due to global climate change. Additionally the activity of cattle raiding branded the people of karamaja tittle of warrior who were seen as security threat to the nation. This resulted into neglecting of this area, denial of economic benefits and infrastructure that marked the genesis of discrimination and marginalization of the people of karamoja as some parts of Uganda perceived that the people of karamoja are undeveloped since they never embraced western modernity as early as it was in other parts of the country. However regardless of their marginalized position, Karamojong people continued to live a way of live that was inherited from their ancestors given the fact that the place was made a no gone zone for other people of the country. The society was organized and activities were shared according to gender and age. I will show the different roles that were traditionally performed by people of different gender and Age. Here I examine if the Karamojong people fit to be indigenous as invoked by international law or even as perceived by the African understanding of indigeneity. In the year 2006, the government of Uganda embarked on the implementation of affirmative action to the historically marginalized and discriminated societies. Karamoja became one of the targets of this movement. In her attempt to implement development projects in the region, the government of Uganda ensured that the previously closed boundaries of karamoja sub region were to be opened to the rest of the citizens and to the foreign agencies. This called for pacifying and transforming the region through disarming the warriors, encouraging sedentarized agriculture as an alternative to pastoralism, introducing formal education and other undertakings as I will elaborate in this thesis. However studies show that such changes have greatly impacted on the traditional way of life of the people of Karamoja. Therefore this study tries to analyse if these changes in livelihood will make Karamojong people more marginalized and vulnerable society or resilient and progressive community, able to cope up with the life of other dominant communities. The information included herein is informed by current and historical literature, as well as the author’s field research conducted in Moroto district North-eastern Uganda Karamoja sub-region.
Thesis in Munin