Diálogos Posibles/Possible Dialogues

Possible Dialogues Journey

Diálogos Posibles/Possible Dialogues is an initiative to connect social and environmental leaders, activists, artists and academics who have common interests relating to climate change and justice, but have not had the opportunity to interact.

It was sparked at the end of 2019 by a conversation between Hector Fabio Yucuna Perea, Youth Coordinator of the Organisation of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC) and members of Más Arte Más Acción. They questioned how indigenous peoples’ struggles could be shared in the climate debate and properly considered in climate negotiations that impact on their territories.  Opening out these questions with artists and institutions in Scotland with an interest in environmental justice, Possible Dialogues emerged and in 2020 the coalition met online to build relationships, share knowledge and test ideas. It is now a multi-layered creative project that brings together partners from Scotland and Colombia in the lead up to COP26, the global leaders’ climate conference in Glasgow.

Possible Dialogues Partners

Organisations: OPIAC, Organisation of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia, Los Andes University, Rosario University, Más Arte Más Acción, DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service, Feminist Exchange Network, ÚNA Festival, Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, If Not Us Then Who, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, the University of Edinburgh, Newcastle University

Artists/Participants: Zoe Walker, Neil Bromwich, Ailie Rutherford, Drew McNaughton, Andrés Vélez, Osneyder Valoy 

FILM Dialogues #1 Colombia

Elders from Araracuara at the OPIAC Farm, La Mesa, Cundinamarca

In 2021 the Colombian partners began working in the territories to initiate dialogues and build an understanding of the struggles facing communities in the Amazon. The covid-19 pandemic made it impossible to meet in large numbers, but a small group of indigenous elders from Araracuara were able to gather at the OPIAC’s farm in April to share ideas about their relationship with the earth and the challenges they face. From this encounter a short video was produced and shared with the Possible Dialogues partners in Scotland with the aim of building knowledge to eventually co-create messages for a wider public. 

FILM Dialogues #2 Colombia

Youth Summit Vaupés, Amazonas with the OPIAC Youth Team

In June 2021 the OPIAC and MAMA travelled to Vaupés in the Amazon to record the second territorial dialogue with young people and members of the Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon River Basin (COICA), an international organisation that defends the self-determination of the region’s indigenous peoples. This second encounter took the video and ideas that emerged from the first dialogue back to the territory and went deeper into the impacts facing younger generations due to the changing climate and disrupted seasons.

FILM DIALOGUES #1 SCOTLAND

Discussions at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Possible Dialogues Scotland #1 documents the first discussion by people in Scotland in response the first Possible Dialogues film made with indigenous leader from Colombia’s Amazon and the Choco forest regions. The conversations were hosted at the Encampment of Eternal Hope, Walker and Bromwich’s project at the Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh in summer 2021 ahead of the COP26 Climate Conference Glasgow.

FILM DIALOGUES #2 SCOTLAND

Discussions in Glasgow during COP26

Possible Dialogues Scotland #2 took place in within the Encampment of Eternal Hope at the Briggait Glasgow a victorian market hall that was for over 100 years the city’s fish market. The film documents talks, discussions and ceremonies led by Indigenous delegates to the climate conference from across Latin America as well as interviews with academics and governmental advisers. Dialogues gave focus to Climate Justice and challenges faced by indigenous people, to awakening ancient knowledge though song and ceremony.

Supported by Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, OPIAC, MaMa, WASPS_ , SEFERI, Newcastle University