Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine is a Tuareg born in Timbuktu in Mali. She holds a medical degree from Mouloud Mammeri Tizi-Ouzou University in Algeria, a master’s degree in Humanitarian Action from the University of Geneva, and a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Ottawa. She is one of the co-principal researchers leading the Ărramăt project, a team of Indigenous organizations, representatives of governance bodies, academic researchers and other resource persons working together to advance research and act for the health and well-being of women, the environment and people in general. Ărramăt is a concept in Tamasheq – the Indigenous language spoken by the Tuareg people – describing a state of well-being shared by the environment, animals and humans. In Tifinagh (the Tuareg alphabet), it is written ⴰⵔⵔⴰⵎⴰⵜ. This concept teaches us that if the land (including water, fish, animals, plants) is not healthy, people cannot be healthy either.
A former Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), Mariam Aboubakrine has held several related roles in advocating for the global health of Indigenous peoples, both in UNESCO's Global Working Group on Indigenous Languages and as head of the International Group of Aboriginal work on HIV/AIDS.
“This is an exceptional researcher of international renown,” says Marie-Eve Sylvestre, Full Professor and Dean of the Civil Law Section. “Her work is part of a perspective of protection and defence of the environment and Indigenous peoples. We are very pleased to welcome her to the Civil Law Section; there is no doubt that her expertise will contribute to the influence and reputation for excellence in research and teaching that our faculty already enjoys!”
Related article(s): La doctorante Zoé Boirin-Fargues participe à un projet d’envergure mondiale contribuant à la réconciliation au sein de la recherche académique(in French)
