The Three Bark Canoes Project: Practical dilemmas in postcolonial-critical fieldwork methodology

Seminar by Dr. Peter Phipps - RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.

Dr Peter Phipps is a senior lecturer in Global Studies at RMIT's School of Global, Urban and Social Studies. He is also Director of the Honours program and a founding member and on the executive of the Centre for Global Research. Peter undertook postgraduate training in cultural anthropology at the University of California Berkeley, and completed a PhD on the cultural politics of postcolonial theory in the School of Anthropology, Philosophy and Social Enquiry at the University of Melbourne. Peter has published a number of book chapters, industry reports, policy recommendations and articles on Indigenous festivals, tourism and the politics of cultural globalisation. He has consulted to a number of organisations and government bodies including the PNG Department for Community Development, ATSIC, ATSIAB (Australia Council), UNDP (Sarajevo) and the Yothu Yindi Foundation. Most recently he wrote on ethnic cultural precincts for the City of Melbourne and Victorian Multicultural Commission, and a project at Warlayirti Art centre in the West Australian desert.

There were around 40 lecturers and students join with the seminar given by Dr. Peter Phipps on 28 August 2018. According to Dr. Peter, methodologically, it is very important to build a relationship based on trust and respect between the local people and the researchers to contribute to the quality of the research results. research. At the same time, the scientist must adhere to the rules of ethics in the study. After the presentation, there was a lively discussion between the speaker and participants. In particular, the seminar was a great exchange between Dr. Peter and sociology students in the experience of conducting a social survey in the field.