News Article

FSW Professor Works to Save an Indigenous Community

Oct 7, 2015

OCTOBER 7, 2015 – FORT MYERS, FLA – Florida SouthWestern State College Political Science Professor Dr. Bruno Baltodano recently traveled to Nicaragua to gather information on the current conditions facing the Rama community of Bangkukuk Taik, an indigenous people that live along the eastern coast of Nicaragua.

Dr. Baltodano and political science professors Martha Cottam, Washington State University, and Martin Garcia, Eastern Washington University, interviewed Rama families and Nicaraguan political leaders regarding the building of a proposed transoceanic canal through Bangkukuk Taik, which would help to alleviate some of the high traffic currently overcrowding the Panama Canal. However, the proposed canal would cut through an area of indigenous land belonging to the Rama.

“There are only 2000 Rama people in all of the country,” Dr. Baltodano said. “The Bangkukuk Taik community is unique because it is the only Rama community left that still speaks their native language. However, the canal would cut through the lands where they hunt and plant their food, displacing 27 Rama families currently living there. It would be apocalyptic to their community and culture.”

According to Dr. Baltodano, the Rama have political autonomy and must be consulted prior to any building on this area of indigenous land.

“The Rama community was never consulted and never gave permission,” Dr. Baltodano said. “The United Nations has called this a humanitarian crisis because if the canal moves forward, the world will lose a culture for the sake of economic development.”

Dr. Baltodano and the team shared the information they gathered with the Center for Legal Assistance of Indigenous Communities (CALPI). They will continue their research on the Rama community and the impact the proposed canal will have on the people. They are also producing a political science journal article on their findings and plan to write a book.

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Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving more than 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW will debut its intercollegiate athletics program in the fall 2015. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

Last Updated: October 7, 2015