My research discusses the international political agency of indigenous peoples, mainly focusing on politics in the United Nations and its Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. After a long history of reluctance that states have had towards special indigenous rights, the recent positive international political and legal developments seem to indicate an empowering process for the peoples and a profound change in the attitudes of states towards indigenous peoples. However, my research attempts to show that increased institutional access is granted and rights recognised because there have been changes in the ways in which power is exercised, not because states have become proponents of indigenous peoples’ causes.

My research interests go beyond the institutional character of the Permanent Forum or the technical issues of, for example, the implementation of indigenous rights. Instead, I am interested in the ways in which power is exercised through, for example, legal expertise, the rights language and the increased political inclusion of indigenous peoples. I have wanted to engage in research that makes visible the effects of power that these benign guises mask.

I was able to attend the Permanent Forum annual sessions at the UN Headquarters for four consecutive years. The experience and insights gained from participating in the sessions has had a significant impact on the development of my research. Travelling is one of the perks of this work: research visits and conference trips have taken me to many interesting places around the world.

In my free time I enjoy activities that counterweight research work: exercise at the gym and outdoors, knitting, hatha yoga and good food.