The Center for Applied Anthropology at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) organizes an annual ethnographic field school in Belize directed by Dr. Douglas Hume (Professor of Anthropology at the Northern Kentucky University) every June, in collaboration with the NKU Office of Education Abroad and the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad in Orange Walk Town and its surrounding villages.
Throughout the four-week course (one week online and three weeks in Belize from June 10th – July 2nd) international students as well as Belizean university students approved by the Institute for Social and Cultural Research NICH (National Institute of Culture and History) are primarily engaged in guided applied ethnographic fieldwork.
Together, they are learning about the local culture of the area of study through participant-observation and ethnographic interviews in a community-based research project. This mode of learning provides an interactive, hands-on experience that immerses students in Belizean culture and trains them in contemporary anthropological field methods such as cross-cultural field training in ethnographic field methods, qualitative data analysis and ethnographic report writing.
Here are a few pictures from the activities undertaken by the Ethnographic Feild School this summer.
Image courtesy Douglas Hume
Image courtesy Douglas Hume
Image Courtesy Douglas Hume
Image courtesy Douglas Hume
Students conducting ethnographic interviews in San Lazaro – Ethnographic Field School in Belize, Summer 2024
Image Courtesy Douglas Hume
At the end of this ethnographic field school exercise, students would have achieved valuable skills and an understanding of ethical and validity issues in ethnographic research. This training contributes to the education of any student allowing them to gain skills that may be applicable in their future careers, whether in anthropology or other social sciences, as well as provide an appreciation for cultural diversity, and further their personal growth.
Here is a firsthand account of the training experience from the two students of the University of Belize participating in the program:
Manuel Perez
History Major, University of Belize
Honestly when I first got the notification that this field school was taking place, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Finally meeting the others in person, I was pleased to realize that they were kind, friendly, and respectful and you could tell they had great respect for the people they would meet. Going out into the field has been wonderful as well, as I’ve passed through several of these communities before but never had a reason to stop and talk with the people, so learning what’s different and what’s the same between my community and others has been eye opening.
Eric Mendez
History Major, University of Belize
My experience so far in the Ethnographic Feild School Belize has been an exhilarating journey with all the travelling and navigating through the villages I usually pass by without walking through its streets. Doing the interviews under a rainstorm also added to the trilling experience of visiting each house in the villages. Getting to know the residents of the villages from being inviting, humorous and passionate about sharing their background further assed to the positive aspects this project has shown me.
To see and learn more about the Ethnographic Feild School visit http://nku.edu/cfaa or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/share/xA11kZ4XSAVe9zQD/.
To see where an Ethnographic Feild School Belize Alum is today, Julia Arzu and her Graduate Research click this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/dpPspMBfziAMtSrr/
Written by Sigourney Allen
NICH-ISCR: Research and Education Assistant
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