About
Indigenous Studies offers vital insights into diverse aspects of the human experience across cultures, disciplines, time periods, and geographic contexts. The field is largely composed of context-specific case studies, each developing theories within distinct geographical, cultural, or disciplinary frameworks. As a result, it can be challenging to remain informed about the breadth of research and perspectives across Indigenous Studies as a whole.
The Indigenous Studies Discussion Group (ISDG) is a monthly forum that brings together scholars, students, and practitioners to engage with Indigenous Studies from around the world. Through presentations, panel discussions, and shared readings, the group fosters critical dialogue and interdisciplinary exchange. This format aims to connect individuals at the University of Cambridge who work with, engage in, or have an interest in Indigenous Studies, encouraging collaboration and mutual learning across fields.
The ISDG is supported by the Cambridge Heritage Research Centre and the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH).
Mission
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To promote scholarship by and about Indigenous Peoples across disciplines and geographies as a regular and visible part of the intellectual life of the University of Cambridge.
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To foster the sharing and discussion of ideas and insights related to Indigenous Studies across peoples, disciplines, time periods, and geographic contexts.
Terminology
While the term Indigenous is used in the group’s title for brevity, the Discussion Group seeks to engage with topics relating to communities who identify in diverse ways, including but not limited to First Nations, Adivasi, Aboriginal, Native Nations, Scheduled Tribes, Autochthonous peoples, and others.
Meet the Team
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Co-convenor
Benny Qihao Shen
Cambridge PhD student researching African archaeology, apiculture, and Indigenous beekeeping, with an award-winning academic background and global fieldwork experience.
Co-convenor
Emma Dussouchaud-Esclamadon
PhD scholar in Film Studies at the University of Edinburgh, researching Indigenous languages in fiction films and cinema for linguistic revitalisation.
Events and Social Media Co-ordinator
Mrinalini Raj
UGC Senior Research Fellow at IIT Roorkee, researching representations of Adivasi women in literature through spatiality and storytelling frameworks.
Media and Website Officer
Julia Mints
Master’s graduate in Archaeology from UCL with journalism background, focusing on public archaeology, outreach, storytelling, and Indigenous studies initiatives.
Affiliated Remote Member
Ximena Oñate
Postgraduate student from Mexico studying Film, Exhibition, and Curation at Edinburgh, researching cinema distribution, subaltern exclusion, and grassroots film archives.
Events Coordinator
Esme Barrell
PhD student in History at the University of Bristol researching Taiwanese Indigenous environmental activism, transnational history, diaspora, storytelling, NGOs, and advocacy.
Co-convenor,
Legal mapping project co-manager
Zǐ JIAO
LLM student at the University of Edinburgh and holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge's Department of Geography. Their research focuses on Indigenous rights and just transitions from legal and governance perspectives.
Co-secretary,
Legal mapping project co-manager
Mathilda Lorkin
PhD researcher at Queen, Mary, University of London. Her research focuses on the land-grabbing of Indigenous territories through international law. Trained in law, she also works on the problems raised by the interaction between Indigenous, environmental rights and the use of international forums by Indigenous representatives.
Co-convenor,
Legal mapping project co-manager
Vaïtéa Baillif
PhD researcher at Université Libre de Bruxelles. Her current research focuses on legal clinics for Indigenous rights. Trained in law with a specialization in public international law, she is particularly interested in the decolonization of the law and socio-legal studies.
