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David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement A new integration of the Office of Engagement Initiatives and the Public Service Center

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Engaged Opportunity Grants

Indigenous Rights and Relations: From Ecuador to Central New York

A Central New York speaking tour featuring leaders of the Sarayaku people of Ecuador

Indigenous peoples are asserting themselves as human rights subjects across Latin America. In a precedent-setting 2012 case, the Sarayaku people of Ecuador won an international court case that protects their territory from state-sponsored oil drilling. The case adds to global debates on indigenous rights related to land, natural resources, civic participation and climate change.

This multidisciplinary team supported Cornell students and partners around New York state in bringing six Sarayaku leaders to Cornell and four local community colleges on a “virtual speaking tour” in February 2021. The indigenous leaders focused their presentations on indigenous cosmologies and human rights frameworks. Over 200 students, faculty and community partners engaged in three online forums. Student organizers oriented via CUSLAR, the primary community partner, developing experience in multicultural dialogue, interpretation and documentation. Articles summarizing the presentation are forthcoming in the Summer/Fall 2021 edition of the CUSLAR Newsletter.

Topics: Access, Equity and Justice; Education; Law, Government and Policy

The Team

  • Tim Shenk, Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations and Center for Transformative Action

    Student and Campus Life

  • Kenneth Roberts, Latin American Studies Program, Department of Government

    College of Arts and Sciences

  • Kurt Jordan, American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program, Department of Anthropology

    College of Arts and Sciences

  • Simon Velasquez, Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives
  • Troy Richardson, American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program

    College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

  • Bill Phelan, Latin American Studies Program
  • Community partner:  Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations (CUSLAR)
  • Community partner:  Onondaga Community College
  • Community partner:  Tompkins Cortland Community College
  • Community partner:  Cayuga Community College
  • Community partner:  Monroe Community College
  • Community partner:  Sarayaku Consejo de Gobierno Tayjasaruta

Engaged Opportunity Grants

Supporting a wide range of community-engaged learning projects, from student leadership programs and partnership building to events and conference travel. Open to all faculty and staff.

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David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement

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