The challenges of mapping complex indigenous spatiality: From abstract space to dwelling space

Cultural Geographies

Volumn 16, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 207-227

  Roth, Robin ^a  

^a YORK UNIVERSITY   (Canada)

Author keywords

Community based mapping; Indigenous peoples; Space; Thailand

Indexed keywords

CARTOGRAPHY; COMPLEXITY; CONFERENCE PROCEEDING; CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY; INDIGENOUS POPULATION; LAND RIGHTS; MAPPING; RESOURCE USE;

ASIA; EURASIA; SOUTHEAST ASIA; THAILAND;

EID: 63049085749     PISSN: 14744740     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/1474474008101517     Document Type: Conference Paper

References (46)

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21. The concept of 'dwelling' of course, is not Ingold's alone. It is most often attributed to the writings of Martin Heidegger and has been engaged, expanded upon and theorized by a number of scholars since (see P. Harrison, 'The space between us: Opening remarks on the concept of dwelling', Environment and planning d 25 (2007), pp. 625-47). My primary inspiration for the use of the term here, however, is rooted in Ingold's conceptualization.
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27. Massey, 'Space, place', p. 265.
28. I do not wish to argue that there is some sort of inherent or essential connection between indigenous resource-based communities and dwelling space. Indeed, dwelling space might be useful as a guide to explore and represent other lived spaces and conversely the production of abstract space (perhaps as an urban planner) does not disqualify someone from also claiming an indigenous identity. I am arguing that dwelling space might help renew counter-mapping practices to help the specific struggles around land currently being fought by many indigenous peoples.
29. Indigeneity is contentious in mainland Southeast Asia, in part due to the complex ethnic and political history of the region. In the case of Thailand, for instance, there are peoples who have resided in the general area for thousands of years but have only recently crossed the modern boundary of Thailand. The label of indigenous, in the sense of 'original persons', is thus not easy to denote. I consequently use 'ethnic minority', which has its limitations (see Pinkaew Luangaramsri, 'Ethnicity and the politics of ethnic classification in Thailand', in C. Mackerras, ed., Ethnicity in Asia (London, RoutledgeCurzon, 2003), pp. 157-73), while noting that many scholars and practitioners place the Karen in the category of 'indigenous' due to their traditionally animist beliefs, close relationship to their land and marginalized political and social positions in both Thailand and Burma.
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31. The majority of RFD staff and functions are now located in the new Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. During my fieldwork the RFD was still intact and thus to be historically accurate, I continue to use the term here.
32. For an account of mapping in this village, please see Roth, 'Multi-dimensional worlds'.
33. I have changed the name of the village in alignment with confidentiality agreements.
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46. Pickles, History of spaces, p. 161.