The Newsletter of the Latin American/Caribbean Studies Program
Tropical 
Times
February-March, 2000
In This Issue:
/Courses-Fall 2000/ Mini-Grant Presentation/ Indigenous Political Movements/
/Elian Gonzalez/Jobs, Jobs, Jobs/Conferences & Events/
The Tropical Times is a monthly publication of the Latin American & Caribbean Studies Program at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. It is designed to inform students, Faculty, staff and the community of events which may be of interest at the college and in the surrounding community. For further information about the degree program in Latin American &Caribbean studies or to submit information for upcoming newsletters contact Laurie Greene (coordinator) at 652-4564
Mini-Grant Presentation: Indigenous Political Movements in Latin America
We have been awarded $400 through a Stockton Mini-grant to fund a presentation on indigenous political movements in Latin American. I would like to focus the discussion on Indigenous rights and self-determination in Mexico, highlighting the present struggle of the Zapotistas in the state of Chiapas.
I would like to order the award winning film “The Sixth Sun” The Mayan Uprising in Chiapas, for the event. We can rent the film for about $ 95.00 (w/shipping). We can use the remainder of the funds for a discussant, who will follow the screening, and refreshments.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a speaker? I have contacted a few people and am awaiting their replies.
I would like to schedule the event for some time in April. If you are interested in either presenting or helping out with this event in some other way, please contact me (Laurie) ASAP.
Course Scheduling: Fall 2000!!!
Yes, it is that time again
. You should have already received a form requesting information about courses you would like to offer in LACS for the Fall 2000 semester. Please complete these forms and return them to me ASAP. Thanks again to all of you who offer courses.If you are going to offer a LACS course in the SUMMER 2000, please list these on the form as well.
Nation Building And Indigenous Peoples: Mexico
Mexico has traditionally prided itself on being a “Mestizo” nation. One that has prided itself on its Indian heritage. But Mexico has since colonial times been a “new civilization struggling to be born” (Mexican monument, Tenochtitlan). Since the 19th century, Mexico has been fighting punitive wars against indigenous peoples who attempt to maintain their cultural integrity and rights to land. The Reform Laws of 1856, divided up indigenous land in an attempt to create a rural proletariat, free of Indian ethnicity.
After the Mexican Revolution, the national policy changed, resulting in the ideology of indigenismo. Such policy tried to respect the distinctive cultures of indigenous people and at the same time, enact reforms to improve their lives through education and land reform. It was also hoped, that this would gently move indigenous peoples toward a Mexican national identity.
By the 1970’s it was clear that Mexican Indigenismo was not hastening indigenous integration. Instead, the recognition of indigenous rights to their own culture and own local autonomy implies a rethinking of the political workings of states with large indigenous populations. This is precisely the thinking that “rebel” indigenous groups like the Zapotistas called for at the time of their uprising. They claimed to be patriotic Mexicans trying to participate in the reforming of their state, to reflect the rights and autonomy of indigenous peoples, espoused by the Mexican constitution.
The Zapotista Rebellion opened the door for indigenous Mexicans to demand their rights, and stop the confiscation of their land, and other ongoing acts of discrimination.
On December 22,1997, 45 Tzotzil indigenous women, children and men were massacred while praying for peace in their chapel in Acteal by Mexican paramilitaries. Most were members of an organization called BEES, who worked toward peaceful reconciliation with the government, in opposition to the armed conflict of the Zapotistas. After the massacre, thousands of indigenous peoples fled to the mountains in and around the community of Polho, joining Zapotista Army of national Liberation. 17 government officials were implicated in the massacre. None were ever tried for these crimes.
Events like this have fueled indigenous movements in Mexico and made them increasingly militaristic.
NAGGS
: 27th Annual national Conference of the national Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies. March 22-25. (Portland, Oregon). Information:503-248-5239 (Carmen Rubio).US-Mexican Immigration: February 24th, 4:00-6:00 pm. Woodrow Wilson center, Washington, D.C. Information: 202-691-4075, or email at goldingh@wwic.si.edu
National Association of Hispanic & Latino Studies: Annual Meetings. Feb. 21-26. Houston , Texas. For information contact Dr. Lemuel Berry (606) 783-2650. Or Fax: (606) 783-5046.
The Border: A New Cultural Conception, IV International Conference
: February 23-26. La Paz, Mexico (Baja California Sur). For details, contact Dr. Rubén Sandoval, literature (rubsando@calafía.uabcs.mx) Fax: (112) 2-1514. Or telephone (112) 8-0440.The Baylor University Twelfth Annual Joseph Velez Latin American Studies Conference: “Salvation and Sovereignty: Church and State in the Americas,” march 29-31, 2000. Baylor university, Waco, Texas. For information contact Dr. Janet Adamski, Department of Political Science, BU Box 97276, Baylor University, Waco Texas 76798-7276. Email: janet_adamski@baylor.edu, FAX: (254) 710-3122.
Government of Mexico Scholarships: Available to U.S. citizens, 20-25, with a B.A. degree and Spanish language proficiency, who plan to perform research and do graduate coursework at a Mexican institution of higher education. Contact: Office of Cultural Affairs, Mexican Embassy, 2829 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009.
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Offers several fellowship programs to support research activities at the STRI in Panama. Available at the graduate, pre-doctoral, postdoctoral and senior post-doctoral levels. Contact: Office of Fellowships and Grants, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560. Telex: (202) 287-3271. Email: siorg@sivm.si.edu.
The Bank of Northern Brazil: Offers support to graduate students in Spanish and Portuguese. Contact the Banco do Nordeste do Brasil, S.A., Secretaria Executiva do FUNDECI, Caixa Postal 628, 6000 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Inter-American Foundation Fellowships: Seeks applicants who are dedicated to grassroots development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Information at: http://www.iaf.gov/fellow/20fel.htm.
National Security Educational Program (NSEP) Graduate International Fellowships: funds 90-100 graduate students in pursuit of study of languages and cultures. Open to all students applying for graduate admission in a wide variety of disciplines. For information: http://www.aed.org/nsep. Or Email: nsep@aed.org, Telex: (800) 498-9360.
Washington Office on Latin America:
Selects 7 unpaid interns per session. WOLA website: http://www.wola.org.LASA Employment Bulletin Board: http://www.pitt.edu/~lasa/employment.htm.
International Organization for Migration: Teach English in Latin America. For information: IOM, Latin American Programs, 1750 K Street, NW, Suite 1110, Washington, DC 20006.
Institute for International Cooperation (IICD): Nonprofit, trains and sends volunteers to work in Latin America on sustainable community development projects. Information: http://www.iicd-volunteer.org.
Children International:
humanitarian organization has immediate opening for assistant with the development of grant programs. Bilingual in English-Spanish a plus. Send resume and cover letter to: Children International, 2000E. Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. Email: ericm@cikc.org.SER-Jobs For Progress International: candidate search which effectively matches minority candidates with employers across the nation. For information: Candidate Search System, SER-Jobs For Progress National Inc, 100 Decker Dr. , Ste. 200-HP, Irving, Texas 75062. Telex: (214) 541-0616. Fax: (214) 650-1860.
Department of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, SUNY, Albany: Tenure track Asst./Assoc. Professor, for the Fall of 2000. Fields: international political economy, interdisciplinary expertise in globalization, trade, investment or immigration issues affecting Latin America, the Caribbean, or US Latinos. For information: Dr. edna Acosta-Belén, LACS Search Committee, Chair, The University at Albany, SUNY, Social Science 250,Albany, New York 12222.
The recent custody battle surrounding 6 year old Elian Gonzalez has been all over the news. Elian was found floating on an innertube off the coast of Florida, after the boat carrying him, his mother and other Cuban refugees capsized. The sole survivor, Elian has become a symbol of the struggle for freedom for many Cubans living in Miami. Elian’s great uncle, has claimed custody of the child, against the apparent wishes of his father who lives in Cuba.
For Cuban expatriates, sending the boy back to Cuba is sentencing him to a life of little opportunity or freedom. So fervent are the anti-Castro feelings, that members of the congress have proposed legislation that would make Elian a US citizen, prohibiting his return. Tensions in Miami are high. Many believe that Elian is a religious figure, a new savior, miraculously sent at the millennium to lead the Cuban people to justice. Signs in the windows of Cuban homes read, “Moses, Jesus, Elian!”
What are we to make of these events? What do they say about the nature of Cuban/American relations? What implications might they have on our larger immigration policy? How might these events effect the relationships between Cuban Americans and other Latin American US citizens?
Send in your comments on this topic. I would like to devote the next issue of the newsletter to a discussion of Elian and the implications this has for US policy and Latin Americans living in the US.
