Activist Rotorua lawyer Annette Sykes to speak at indigenous research conference

GUEST SPEAKER: Activist Annette Sykes is a keynote speaker at an indigenous conference in Hamilton next month. PHOTO/FILE

Rotorua lawyer and activist Annette Sykes is among an impressive line-up of speakers featured at an indigenous research conference next month.

He Manawa Whenua Indigenous Research Conference is being held this year in Hamilton.

The conference runs from March 6 to 8 at Claudelands Event Centre and registrations are now open.

It is the third Te Kotahi Research Institute international indigenous conference after successful events in 2013 and 2015 and aims to highlight an international pool of indigenous knowledge and research.

The conference powhiri will be at the University of Waikato, Te Kohinga Marama Marae, followed by an international film screening and Hawaiian performances at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts on Sunday March 5 from 10.30am-1pm.

In the week leading up to the conference, there will be pre-conference community workshops with keynote speakers.

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Keynote speakers alongside Ms Sykes include Professor Larissa Behrendt, Pua Case, Professor Rawinia Higgins, Moana Jackson, Hoturoa Kerr, Dr Sylvia McAdam, Aroha Mead, Associate Professor Glenn Morris, Veronica Tawhai, Tom Roa, Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith and Associate Professor Leonie Pihama. Dinner speakers include Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai and Heather Skipworth.

"We are honoured to have amazing speakers that work with their communities, challenging colonial and state oppression," said Dr Pihama.

"We have cutting-edge scholars, activists and researchers coming together to strategise how we can work across our indigenous nations for the wellbeing of our people and the earth."

Several hundred people are expected to attend the conference with visitors from Australia, Hawaii Canada and America mixing with academics, researchers, students and community representatives from around New Zealand.

The conference theme, "Mana Motuhake: Indigenous Sovereignty" recognises that around the world indigenous nations are engaged in movements that are focused upon the affirmation of peoples as tangata whenua, the people of the land.

"Taking space as indigenous people to come together and share our work related to Mana Motuhake gives us the opportunity to look at critical concepts such of autonomy, self-determination, independence sovereignty and having authority over our own lives," Dr Pihama said.

For more information, go to www.waikato.ac.nz/rangahau/old/hemanawawhenua.