Professor Kyoung-Mann Cho (Anthropology, Mokpo National University, Korea) gives a talk in the ANSO building this Thursday on:
What Does the River Mean for You? People’s Notions of Nature and Aboriginal Rights in Contemporary Chehalis, BC
This research is on notions of nature in Chehalis, BC. In preliminary fieldwork a simple question has been asked: “what does the river mean to you?” The ‘river’ not only represents the Harrison river itself, which the Chehalis depend on, but also the ecological, spiritual linkages of river, forest, earth, salmon and other livings including human beings. The river also symbolizes the Chehalis territory from the ancestors beyond the present administrative one, i.e. the reservation. This research focusses on Chehalis ways of explaining their notions of the ‘river’ and their ways of claiming aboriginal rights. The notion of ‘oneness’ or harmony between nature and culture, between natural surroundings and human existence will be reconsidered.
The interim report of this fieldwork will suggest some basic reflexive questions. Is there a discrepancy between ideal notions of oneness and practical, objective exploitation? How do Chehalis residents understand these issues?
Thursday, March 8, 2007 in ANSO 205