Astronomical Heritage and Aboriginal People: Conflicts and Possibilities

LÓPEZ, ALEJANDRO MARTÍN

Honolulu

Congreso; Focus Meeting: Astronomical Heritage: Progressing the UNESCO-IAU Initiative?, en la sesión FM.2.8 ?Dealing with Movable and Intangible Heritage in a World Heritage Framework?, en el marco de la XXIX Asamblea General de la Unión Astronómica Internaciona; 2015

Unión Astronómica Internacional (IAU)

In this presentation we will address the issues relating to the astronomical heritage of contemporary aboriginal groups and othe minorities. We will deal specially with the intangible astronomical heritage and their particularities. We will study (from the ethnographic experience with Aboriginal groups, Creoles and Europeans in the Argentine Chaco) the conflicts referring to the different ways, in which the native´s knowledge and practice are categorized by the natives themselves, by the scientists, the state politicians, the professional artists and NGOs. We will address several cases to illustrate this kind of conflicts. We will analyze the complexities of patrimonial policies when it are applied to practices and representations of contemporary communities involved in power relations with national states and the global system. The essentialization of identities, the folklorization of representations and practices, the fossilization of aboriginal peoples are some of the risks of give the label of "cultural heritage" without a careful consideration of each specific case.In particular we will suggest possible forms by which he international scientific community could collaborate to improve the agenda of national states instead of reproducing colonial prejudices. In this way we will contribute to promote the respect for ethnic and religious minorities.