Past ISE Congresses
The 12th ISE Congress was held in May 2010 in Tofino, BC, Canada
The overarching theme of this Congress was Hishuk-ish tsa’walk, a Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations phrase that embodies the concept of “everything is one,” the understanding that everything is connected and nothing is isolated from other aspects of life surrounding it and within it.
The sub-themes – Conserved and protected areas and people, Cultural transmission of knowledge in protecting and restoring biocultural diversity, and Traditional foods and food sovereignty – were selected for their global significance as well as their importance for local community members and the Indigenous Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations.
Reports and photos coming soon! In the meantime, please refer to the Tofino Congress website.
The 11th ISE Congress was held in June 2008 in Cusco, Peru
The overarching theme of this Congress was “Local Livelihoods and Collective Bio-cultural Heritage”. Taken as a whole, the theme formed an overall conceptual framework for the interactions between nature and culture as well as allowed focus on the role of Ethnobiology in maintaining biocultural diversity and ensuring rights and equity through participatory research approaches.
The Congress symbol was “Ayni” or Sacred Reciprocity. This is the Mother of all Andean thoughts and the one law of the Andean Mystical Tradition still often witnessed today. It roughly means: If you give you will receive and if you receive you must give back. This is a way of life founded by the Incas which applies to all expression of creation and upon which one’s very survival depends.
Abstracts and videos of the Cusco Congress are available on the Cusco Congress website.
Past Congresses and Chairpersons
| 12th Congress 2010 | Tofino, BC, Canada | Chair: Josie Osborne |
| 11th Congress 2008 | Cusco, Peru | Chair: Alejandro Argumedo |
| 10th Congress 2006 | Chiang Rai, Thailand | Chair: Chayan Picheansoonthon |
| 9th Congress 2004 | Canterbury, Kent, UK | Chair: Roy Ellen |
| 8th Congress 2002 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Chair: Fassil Kebebew |
| 7th Congress 2000 | Athens, USA | Chair: Elois Ann Berlin |
| 6th Congress 1998 | Whakatane, Aotearoa/New Zealand | Chair: Aroha Mead |
| 5th Congress 1996 | Nairobi, Kenya | Chair: Christine Kabuye |
| 4th Congress 1994 | Lucknow, India | Chair: Sudhanshu Kumar Jain |
| 3rd Congress 1992 | Mexico City, Mexico | Chair: Javier Caballero |
| 2nd Congress 1990 | Kunming, China | Chair: Pei Shengji |
| 1st Congress 1988 | Belem, Brazil | Chair: Darrell Posey |
