The Last Elephant Catchers: (In)Visible Indigenous Heritage in Thailand

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The main aims of this fellowship are:1. Publish my research2. Knowledge-sharing (social impact)3. Work on funding proposals4. Develop teaching skills1. My PhD thesis, The Last Elephant Catchers: (In)Visible Indigenous Heritage in Thailand, traces the impact of environmental change and legislation on the culture of an Indigenous community - the Kui. Up to the 1960s, they traditionally captured wild elephants. I have four publication plans based on this research, including publishing my thesis as a monograph. I have a proposal in with Amsterdam University Press, this process will take some time, and I will use the beginning of my fellowship to finalise this. I also have plans to prepare a book chapter and two journal articles. These publications will be essential to building my track record and making me a compelling candidate for future academic positions.Publications:Monograph: Compromised Agency: The Kui struggle for identity in Thailand. Monograph. Amsterdam University Press (Asian Heritages Series).Book Chapter:'Social Media and Subversion: Digital platforms as a tool for Indigenous resistance in Thailand' in Capern, A., and Haboucha, H., (eds). Inclusive Heritage: Hidden Pasts, Reconciling Presents, Diversifying Futures. (Invited Chapter). Palgrave-McMillan.Journal Articles:'Pa and Thammachat: How Language Restricts Access to the Environment in Thailand.' To be submitted to: Journal for Environmental Humanities.'"World Heritage, Blood Heritage": The Impact of Global Community Ideology on Indigenous Rights to Nature.' To be submitted to: Archaeologies: Journal of the World Archaeological Congress, Special Collection on 'Indigenous Perspectives on Environmental Heritage'.2. Due to Covid-19, I have not been back to meet with the Kui community since completing my PhD fieldwork in 2020. As part of this fellowship, I would return to Thailand to discuss the outcomes of my project with the Kui who worked with me. This would also involve putting together a summary of my PhD in Thai - to be disseminated to the community. Based on the feedback that arises, I will adapt this to produce a Thai-language article that will be co-authored with members of the Kui community, which I will submit for publication in a Thai academic journal. In working with the Kui to discuss my research, it was clear that one benefit they wanted from it was increased visibility of the community and a greater awareness of their Indigenous identity - in Thailand and abroad. Therefore, while I am in Thailand, I would also take the opportunity to present my research findings at the Siam Society in Bangkok - who provide a platform for discussions on Thai heritage. While at Cambridge, I will also share my research through the various platforms available to me, e.g., at the Cambridge Heritage Research Seminars, the Indigenous Studies Discussion Group, and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative.3. I intend to try and stay in academia. In order to do so, I will develop funding applications, e.g., to the Leverhulme Early Careers Fellowship, the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship, Oxford and Cambridge Junior Research Fellowships, and any other relevant funding opportunities that may arise throughout the year. The publications I will be producing through this fellowship will improve my chances of success with these funding bodies. The project I have in mind for this funding relates to the cultural values of the (il)legal ivory market in Thailand. As such, I will also take advantage of my time in Cambridge to network with members of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, particularly TRAFFIC - an NGO focused on the illegal wildlife trade.4. Teaching is a fundamental skill that is needed to have a successful academic career. I have been given the opportunity to develop and teach the Heritage in the Age of the Anthropocene lecture series (4 classes, 4 seminars) for the Heritage MPhil students in the Archaeology Department in 2024.