Seminars

Late in 2009, Charles Royal was appointed Professor of Indigenous Development in the Faculty of Arts, the University of Auckland. In this seminar, Charles will explain why he chose the terms ‘indigenous development’ and by doing so, he will explain his view and vision of this field. For Charles, indigenous development contains three key themes:

The questions through which Maori and non-Maori seek to understand our world differ as a consequence of differences in world view, language, origins, and experience of our separate and shared histories since arrival in New Zealand. Interactions of Maori and non-Maori with both research and education in science vary as a consequence.

 Drawing on the experience of Native nations in North America, this paper explores the ways that Indigenous peoples are reclaiming the right to govern themselves according to their own designs and putting those designs into practice by developing institutions that respond both to Indigenous cultures and to legal and political constraints.

 One role for research is to be used for social transformation in the interest of furthering social justice and human rights. If this is a role that is valued, then understanding beliefs that guide such research is critical. Professor Mertens will make a presentation about a set of beliefs that constitute the transformative paradigm of research.