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The lasting impact of peer research with Indigenous communities of Guyana, South America

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Abstract

Indigenous communities retain considerable knowledge and skills for environmental governance, but continue to be largely excluded from political, economic, social and cultural life, with limited rights to land and the mechanisms for determining their own development. Working in a team of academics and Indigenous peer researchers, the authors used participatory video and photography to explore the importance of community owned solutions for addressing environmental challenges in the Guiana Shield region of South America, as a means to further Indigenous empowerment and self-determination. Drawing on follow up video interviews conducted with Guyanese peer researchers, community members and wider government and non-governmental stakeholders, this chapter documents the lasting impacts of peer research, for individuals and communities, as well as policy and practice, beyond project implementation.
The lasting impact of peer research with Indigenous communities
of Guyana, South America


!"
#$%&%'()
%)*)++%&%'"
('&%&%'()
&'',*)))#'#()
&*)))#'#()
-%&%'()
.*)))#'#()
Abstract








 !

 

"

Introduction
#$%&&'$%&()*
+,-./"01
2,3#
4
),3#4*.",3#4
5555565 7

3


"8

"
7) *
894
0:



8.",3#4

 
":7
7;

"
Background

<%=
)$%&>*
7
8
7

8

-
?@/%
6
&(=
:)#$%&A*,




8

7
.1B/&!&
/'))0'
!''))!1/&
&&.'0&/'0'
1/&''
''&''!+)!
)!!&!)''
/-!)
)1$%%/,$%&A$>%*8

5555565
87  
  
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).F*)..*G 
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C.F..

.",3#4.F..
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;
"
)'$%&(*-


6"7



0:3
J

K
.",3#47+,
#

"

7

BIL

)- .1
$%%@C'-$%%H*
7).'$%%$C
$%%/C4$%&<*
"
73

.",3#4
"
Methods
.",3#4

 '$%&>
"7

" 
,3I),3* 
J'
.:K
"7
#0-
.,:


"
"K
@%
8
8
7
2EEEE
+6
M
"
;

 
)K*
Findings

2&, $
@,
 <
8&2, 
8 
8
"


6N

.",3#42
B"-')'!10
-!)&)&)
0!))!!L)
*
B/))''&1/
-&''
&1/
')2L)*
 .",3#4

2
B'-!')&1
%3.'L)*
B%.'))&').'
!&)-!!
')0)1.'
'.'-')L)
*
;
.",3#42
B"!)O.",3#4P
!1%1/''!
$)0)))
L)*
8$2
87

,
2
B&--
!'0'')1
&&*##4*)))
#'#5&')'0'
"!%.'L)*
B"'061%.'!'
!1"!!
!17'%.'0"!!
').'--!"
!3.'%').'L)
*
8
2
B)!!.'!1
8)!-!!!'!
!!-!!
'L) *
B")'')!1"9!
&))'')17'%.'"
!&)')
:!)L)*
"
2
B%.'''&)!
1"'''
'!'!;<=<>L)*
B7'%.'"!'
*()!%&-'%
3!!)&)1"
&!!3?'))&)
!!L)*
;
2
B"9)O,3#4P&-!&!&)")'1
!))L)*
B&-!)1)-)!
!)3?)''1
!)&'!!18)
'L)*

..",3#4

  
 
K.",3#4



.F..
2
B%'@')-)1*-
')'01/
)%!
')13-')L)
*
B.'&)!0))!'
1%)&'&!
'')1!
&L)*
B?!%.''!!0&)
&&)&')!
!&)!&)!'!L
)*
B?)'&)1"-%-
&)!1")))))
'%))')L
) *
B-!)')!$
)&!&01"&)
')&)')O
P'&-L)*
8@2, 
, 
7 
2
B"-'-'!)&')
')'))L)
*
BA'-"&')'
&!)')$
.'0'!!L)
*

 
2
B3!%7!
!))!!'))'1"-
%!.&!')!!
!L) *
B&0!%7)-!&)
')-!''1"&
)'')&')
!'1%71#)!)
&')B9&2L) 
,3*
B"!))1%'&)!1 ')!
)C))1"'
)')')1
'))L)
 *
'.",3#4:

"2
B)'))//A1
%.'//A1/')'%)
)*3-1/)%')
)'')1'
)'&)
-'!
-L) ,3*
8<2
.",3#48
7
62
B'&'&)))
')-!)'
')&)!!L)*
,.",3#4



2
B%0'1"-))-1
)&-!)))&1
)0')')L) *


2
B'!*))))!1/&
-')1%'!'!
!1))'$L
)*
8."
,3#4

"?
2
B.'!!!
1/'.'0&)'!!
!1!)!')L
)*
, 

2
B")'D)'!&')
')'''')
!1')!$1"&')
'L)*
Discussion
37
;6

8


8

8


2
B'-!')&1
%3.'L)*
.",3#4

C

7
6
7
7

Q:
"
"

 


7
:7

B%)&'&!
'')1!
&L.F..
"

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-
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)*
.
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L8
:"C"

87
K
.",3#4 3

K


3
J)e.g. 
'$%&(*
7
 +
,

.



87
?

8
 N

8.FE..
 
8
 
7
"
.7G
.",3#4J

E)*
78K
"


K8
"9

.",3#4
.FE.."
6

3:
'.:K
94K..E.F

"-
"


.",3#4,3#4

0,3#4:R
Conclusions
B"&$''+!!!'
'G"!)!'
C)&')"!)'))
-!')')H':)!
''!')'''
'-!"!)-!!
)'))'!!'
-!&0"!)L),$%&A$A%*
!

)'#$%&HC#I18
$%&H* 
 -
.",3#4
 2

)*
...F
+8
...F:
8

C)*
7
"

8
6
"

"
.",3#4
,,,,


)*8,,

"
Acknowledgements
94
.",3#4
.",3#4+.'
94!4+,
/-
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#'S,8+#3!1N4
#"4T!SK!F)$%&(*
 
 
'!7'$%)@*2<$
#1)$%%@*, 
#3''&@)&*2&&H &$%
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7''@($)H$A&*2&$/$ &$/@
,F)$%&A*#
+24
I3!
)(!<@)$*2$/H $A<
-?4+TS??)$%&$*
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 
!(%)<*2H%/ H$&
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Linking and analyzing governance of natural resources at different scales requires the development of a conceptual framework for analyzing social-ecological systems that can be easily applied by a range of stakeholders whose interests lie at different scales, but where the results of the analysis can be compared in a straightforward way. We outline the system viability framework, which allows participants to characterize a range of strategies in response to environment challenges for maintaining the long-term survival of their particular system of interest. Working in the Guiana Shield, South America, and with a range of local, regional, and international stakeholders, our aim was to use system viability to (1) investigate synergies and conflicts between distinct scales of governance, (2) identify scale-related challenges, and (3) test the framework as a conceptual tool for supporting cross-scalar analysis for environmental governance. At the international and national levels, a number of civil society organizations explored system viability indicators that would measure the successful implementation of governance mechanisms relevant to sustainable development and natural resource management. At the local level, we used participatory video and photography within two indigenous territories to enable local participants to identify indicators of viability within community governance systems. A grounded theory approach was then used to identify common themes across the different scales of analysis. Five key themes emerged: land rights, leadership, partnerships, lifestyle, and identity. We found that although most categories of interest were theoretically aligned across scales, all perceived systems of interest were struggling to face up to various cross-scalar challenges undermining different system viability responses. In conclusion, we highlight how the system viability framework can be used with a disparate variety of stakeholders as a practical, participative and "big-picture" approach for facilitating the integrated governance of nested local and regional social-ecological systems.