Canadian university lists CENARIUM as required reading at conference

By Jadson Lima – From Cenarium

MANAUS (AM) – The article “There is no celebration where there is blood: the deadly silence of Indigenous Peoples’ Day”, published in Cenarium Magazine, was included as required reading in the program of the event “Participedia School on Democratic Innovations in Latin America,” scheduled to take place from July 27 to 31, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro. The activities, which will be held both in-person and online, involve collaboration and participation from 18 universities and institutions from other countries, including the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada.

The event, which will feature democratic, interdisciplinary, and international educational spaces, is aimed at students, professionals, educators, government, and global civil society. The article selected to be part of the materials available to participants was authored by Inory Kanamari, a member of Cenarium’s Editorial Council on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues and the first Indigenous lawyer of her ethnic group.

The content was selected by a group of experts involved in organizing the Summer School event. Course participants are undergraduate and graduate students of different nationalities and will receive training based on collaborative methodologies. Academics and professionals from various countries will exchange experiences, discuss real-world problems, and seek joint solutions to the topics addressed.

In an interview, Inory Kanamari highlighted the international reach of the content published by Cenarium regarding Indigenous issues, which will now serve as academic training material for law students at institutions abroad. For her, this is more than individual recognition, “it is a clear sign that our voices are crossing borders.”

“This is an international academic space where Canadian law students will come to Brazil to learn firsthand about the reality of Indigenous peoples. Prior reading of the articles and materials was made mandatory so that these students understand the historical, legal, and social context of Indigenous peoples even before arriving in Brazilian territory. This represents a significant advance in the way our struggle is being incorporated into global academic knowledge,” said Inory Kanamari.

Kanamari explained that she had previous partnerships with the Canadian institution in 2023, which enabled the discussions that led to the article’s selection for the academic event. At the time, the lawyer worked with the General Organization of the Mayurunas (OGM) and developed a report on the absence of the State in the Javari Valley (AM), an Indigenous territory in Amazonas that is home to the largest number of isolated peoples on the planet.

“From that publication, the university began to take interest in my work and the depth of the topics we address in the magazine. The recognition came through the recommendation of law professor Dr. Priscylla Joca, who saw in Indigenous intellectual production an essential tool to build a critical and humanized view of the law,” Kanamari emphasized.

To CENARIUM, Professor Priscylla Joca, from the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University, pointed out that Kanamari’s article will be the foundation for academic discussions involving scholars from North America, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The expert emphasized that the material was chosen because it “narrates the realities, challenges, and contexts related to Indigenous issues in Brazil.”

“There is no way to discuss the climate crisis today without discussing the Amazon, but neither is it possible to discuss Amazonian issues without the presence and leadership of people who are in the Amazon, who come from the Amazon, and who are scientists and guardians of the forest, who are environmental and human rights defenders,” she stated.

Joca also highlighted the work done by Cenarium Magazine regarding the discussion and visibility of topics from the region. For her, the publication stands out for its serious journalism by providing information that allows readers to build a critical understanding of the contexts and realities occurring in the region—and beyond.

“Cenarium is increasingly standing out as one of the magazines that brings the voices of many people who are active in the defense of Indigenous rights, environmental rights, and urban rights in the Amazon,” she said.

Event

The academic event will be held at the Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa, in Rio de Janeiro, and will include the participation of McMaster University, University of Montreal, Toronto Metropolitan University, Concordia University, University of Alberta, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa, and the Brazilian Political Science Association.

Also included are the Brazilian Association of Graduate Studies and Research in Social Sciences, Democracia en Red, Extituto: Demo.Reset, Observatório de Protocolos Comunitários, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, People Powered, International IDEA, Democracy International, Federal University of Viçosa, and the Citizen Initiatives Agency.

Edited by Marcela Leiros
Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves