> The following memo is somewhat technical, and, at first reading, it may
> not be immediately clear what is the specific relevance to our forum on
> indigenous peoples, since it may appear to deal more broadly with the
> subject of human rights. This memo seems designed for primary distri-
> bution by means of the two other mailing lists (the Archaeology and
> Praticing Anthropology lists) to which it was also submitted, whose
> members might already understand more of the background of this subject.
As you surmise, the primary distribution was indeed through the networks
that anthropologists are likely to subscribe to. However, in view of the
record of professional anthropologists with regard to abusing the rights
of indigenous peoples, we feel that pressure from outside the profession
of anthropology, as well as from within, is essential in order to bring
about a change of policy and behavior. We feel that pressure from the
indigenous peoples, and groups advocating for them, is necessary in order
to provide fair representation of the viewpoints of indigenous peoples,
especially regarding the published results of research by perhaps biased
investigators. As with any entrenched bureaucracy, demand for change, no
matter how appropriate, is taken as critcism of an especially biting kind
and thus resisted. Thus, in order to bring the profession in line with
the trend for humane treatment of all, we need to put pressure on the
profession from all sides.
The argument which many in the profession use to avoid having to deal
with the rights of the peoples they study is that of "objectivism."
In other words, they contend that, since they are scientists and are
in the business of gathering facts, they have neither the right nor the
obligation to become advocates for those people they are studying. We
contend that such a viewpoint is not only outdated, but an expensive
luxury. If we, as anthropologists, do not advocate for the people we
study, we may soon have no one but ourselves to study, the other,
"minority," cultures having been wiped out, through absorption or
genocide, as in Brasil and many other places in the world. Our
position is currently a minority one among anthropologists and seems
to be actively suppressed by those who hold the power within the
profession. We thus need help from all quarters. Make your voices
heard by all anthropologists.
Thank you for your support, Deborah Krall