Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals PDF  

The final deadline for proposal submissions has passed and the 2024 Call for Proposals has officially closed.

The Global Indigenous Studies Network (GISN) within the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies (HLSGIS) at Indiana University Bloomington invites proposals for panels, individual papers, round table discussions, interactive workshops, performances, and poster sessions to be presented at the First Conference on Global Indigenous Studies (CGIS) on November 15-17, 2024, at Indiana University Bloomington, USA.

The First Conference on Global Indigenous Studies (CGIS 2024) is a transdisciplinary event that will bring together national and international scholars, educators, practitioners, students, policy makers, activists, academic institutions, Indigenous organizations, grassroots organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations. The participants in this conference will be involved in a local and global dialogue and exchange of ideas, research, and experiences on the themes of the event.

Across the globe, ethnic minorities and Indigenous communities have consistently strived to protect their rich cultural heritages and linguistic nuances from the influences of colonial powers, expanding nation-states, and the homogenizing impact of globalization. This collective effort is increasingly recognized, highlighted by the initiation of UNESCO’s “Indigenous Languages Decade” (2022-2032) (https://en.unesco.org/idil2022-2032). The imperative acknowledgment is that Indigenous languages, along with the intricate knowledge systems interwoven within them, stand as crucial pillars for preserving both biological and cultural diversities.

The protection and advocacy of linguistic diversity emerge as fundamental endeavors, playing a pivotal role in not only upholding cultural heritage but also in augmenting the overall potential, agency, and local governance of native speakers contending with endangered languages. This significance is accentuated, particularly in the context of the climate crisis and environmental degradation, where linguistic diversity becomes a linchpin for sustainable responses. The multifaceted role of preserving linguistic variety extends beyond cultural dimensions, serving as a key factor in addressing broader ecological, political, and social challenges. In this intricate global tapestry, the commitment to linguistic diversity becomes an essential thread weaving resilience and vitality into the fabric of diverse communities worldwide, which includes connecting with communities of non-native speakers, displaced by colonialism.

Conference Themes

Click on the themes below to explore possible presentation topics for CGIS 2024:

  • Decolonizing education from Indigenous perspectives
  • Documentaries, films, and videos by Indigenous producers
  • Explorations of Indigenous methodologies, knowledge, and worldviews
  • Gender and reproductive rights for Indigenous peoples
  • Global Indigenous diaspora: mobility, borders, immigration, and detention
  • Global Indigenous Studies and ethical considerations: collaborations, research, and representations
  • Global Indigenous Studies: colonialism, gender, identity, critical perspectives, socioeconomic perspectives, future directions, power dynamics, and rethinking of the field.
  • Indigeneity and criminal justice, policing, and prisons
  • Indigeneity and environmental crisis, issues of green colonialism and extractive industries
  • Indigenous critiques to globalization, colonization, capitalism, citizenship, academic disciplines, and the university
  • Indigenous epistemologies, ritual practices, and religions globally
  • Indigenous Peoples and the politics of land and water
  • Indigenous Sovereignty across the globe
  • Indigenous women and the building communities
  • Local and global Indigenous health and well-being
  • Local and global Indigenous musical performances
  • Local and global Indigenous youth
  • Mass media and social media from Indigenous perspectives worldwide
  • Performance, visual arts, and global Indigeneity
  • Politics and Ideologies of global Indigeneity
  • Rethinking globalization in Global Indigenous Studies
  • Social protests, activism, and the politics of grass-roots Indigenous organizations
  • Sociohistorical and contemporary perspectives of global Indigeneity
  • Theoretical approaches and methodologies to Global Indigenous Studies
  • What does it mean to be Indigenous in the 21st Century?

  • Bilingualism, multilingualism and translingualism in Global Indigenous Studies
  • Decolonizing Indigenous languages and cultures, and issues of data sovereignty
  • Diverse perspectives in Indigenous language documentation and revitalization
  • Ecoliteracies and Indigenous communities
  • Ecological perspectives in Indigenous language teaching and learning
  • Ecology of time and space in Indigenous languages
  • Indigenous language rights and human rights
  • Indigenous languages and biological and biocultural diversity
  • Indigenous languages and cultures in contact and conflict in a globalized world
  • Indigenous languages as global languages
  • Language ideologies in relation to Indigenous languages
  • Linguistic landscapes and Indigenous languages
  • Policies and politics of Indigenous and endangered languages
  • Technologies of Indigenous language documentation across the globe
  • Transnational and translocal Indigenous literacies

General Proposal Guidelines

Proposals and presentations on original scholarship are welcome in named languages such as: English, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish and any Indigenous languages. However, all presentations and written work must also provide a translation to English.

Accessibility statement: We are committed to providing a welcoming and accessible conference experience for all. For questions about accessibility, please contact IUCONFS@iu.edu.

The submission of proposals will be handled through the online submission system. See below for specific guidelines on the different types of proposals.

Types of Presentations

Presentations may be made in several formats, as listed below. You must indicate the proposed format in your submission. However, the Conference Committee reserves the right to negotiate the proposed delivery format with the speaker.

Individual paper proposals provide an opportunity to present original contributions to the research, theory, and practice of language, literacy, and culture from interdisciplinary perspectives. Submissions should demonstrate an awareness of relevant literature, and clearly indicate the importance of the proposed topic to conference themes.

Upon acceptance, individual papers will be organized into panels of three or four by subject. Individual presenters will have 20 minutes to deliver the content of their individual papers, allowing 10 minutes at the end of all the presentations for questions and answers. Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words.

  • Name and title of the presenter, institutional affiliation, and contact information.
  • Title of the proposed presentation
  • Abstract (300 words)
  • Indicate any A/V equipment needs for your presentation.

Individuals or institutional sponsors may propose to organize a panel of presentations on a related subject, with each presenter offering a perspective on the topic. Panels may include a chair/moderator, three or four presenters, and a discussant. Each presenter will be allotted 20 minutes to deliver his/her paper, allowing 20 minutes at the end of the panel for commentary by a discussant, and 10 minutes for questions and answers.

For panel presentations, submit an abstract of no more than 1000 words that includes the required information listed below. Panel proposals must include information on all proposed participants and must indicate that they have been contacted and agree to participate. Proposals for panels must include:

  • Name, title, and institutional affiliation for each additional participant.
  • Role or proposed topic to be covered by each additional participant (150 words)
  • Indication that all proposed participants have been contacted and have agreed to participate.
  • Indicate any A/V equipment needs for your presentation.

Individuals or institutional sponsors may propose to organize a roundtable discussion on a topic related to conference themes. Like panels, the discussants in roundtable discussions are coordinated by an organizer/moderator and offer different perspectives on the proposed topic. However, rather than focusing on the presentation of individual papers, presentation time for each discussant is limited to 5-7 minutes. Most of the session is devoted to dialogue between the discussants and the audience.

In the best roundtables, the speakers are aware of each other’s work and views, and they refute or support those views in their own talks. There is substantive interchange, as well as the chance to go in-depth very quickly. They are time-efficient and encourage audience participation in the discussion.

For roundtable discussions, submit an abstract of no more than 1000 words that includes the required information listed below. The individual submitting the proposal will be the sole contact person regarding the roundtable discussion. Proposals for roundtable discussions must also include:

  • Name, title, and institutional affiliation for each additional participant.
  • Role or proposed topic to be covered by each additional participant (150 words)
  • Indication that all proposed participants have been contacted and have agreed to participate.
  • Indicate any A/V equipment needs for your presentation.

Presenters spend a short amount of time (no more than 10-minutes) on the delivery of the pedagogical concept, theory, or model, and most of the session is devoted to direct, hands-on participation by the attendees. Workshops are organized to address a theme, discussion is informal and interactive, and papers are not presented. All materials needed for the successful completion of the workshop must be provided by the presenter. Submit an abstract of 300 words describing topic, expected audience, outline, participant activities, and expected outcomes. Also, in the abstract, please state how much time is required for the workshop (60-120 minutes).

Presenters will be allocated a time slot within the main conference venue to model through a poster exhibition. Conference participants will also be able to view displays at their leisure during session breaks, therefore the content of the poster must be self-explanatory. Materials to hang poster presentations will be provided by the conference. Presenters must deliver posters that both fit within a 4’x 6’ area and that are representative of the research proposed. Posters must also contain the name, institutional affiliation, and contact information of the authors.

The 300-word abstract should briefly describe the overall concept as well as how the visual and verbal narratives will unfold must be provided.

Questions?

Contact the IU Conferences at IUCONFS@iu.edu for questions about abstract submissions, conference registration and payments, acceptance and visa letters.  

Contact the Conference Organizing Committee at HLSGISN@iu.edu for questions about content of abstracts, presentations, conference agenda, etc.

Land Acknowledgement

We wish to acknowledge and honor the Indigenous communities native to this region and recognize that Indiana University Bloomington is built on Indigenous homelands and resources. We recognize the myaamiaki, Lënape, Bodwéwadmik, and saawanwa people as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land. For more information, please visit the IU First Nations Educational & Cultural Center.