Reimagining Justice: Final Decolonizing Futures Seminar Unites Art, Activism, and Indigenous Knowledge in Okinawa!

Kamrul Hossain

In July 2025, the Ryukyu Islands served as the setting for the Final Okinawa International and Interdisciplinary Seminar on Decolonizing Futures, a powerful convergence of minds and movements. Hosted by the Center for Environmental and Minority Policy Studies (CEMiPoS), the three-day event brought together approximately 60 participants, including scholars, artists, activists, and local residents, for dialogue, performances, and collaborations rooted in Indigenous perspectives and decolonial scholarship. Held at Okinawa International University, which is located near the controversial U.S. Futenma military base, the seminar addressed the lived experiences of Okinawan communities. The location itself underscored urgent conversations around militarization, sovereignty, and environmental justice, making the university a participant in the event's narrative, not just a venue.

On July 11, the opening night at Atelier Mekaru Base in Naha set the tone. Performances by the Okinawan group Higaza and Poland’s Amareya Theatre, alongside guests from Gdańsk and Greenland, created a vibrant and emotionally resonant experience. The performances wove together stories of resistance, survival, and cultural memory, reminding attendees that art is a powerful tool in the decolonial struggle. Over the next two days, a full program of panels, workshops, and exhibitions took place. Presentations covered themes such as language and cultural revitalization, environmental justice, human rights, museum decolonization, and the right of stolen ancestral remains to be returned. The accompanying exhibition, "Resistance and Resilience," showcased visual works that captured the spirit of political defiance and cultural endurance.

My contribution focused on Indigenous rights within the context of human rights law, with a particular emphasis on the Sámi people of Northern Europe. Drawing from national court rulings and United Nations Human Rights Committee jurisprudence, I discussed how the Sámi people's connection to their traditional lands and natural resources is an essential expression of their cultural rights. This legal perspective sparked broader reflections on self-determination, political participation, and the real-world challenges Indigenous communities face when asserting their autonomy within state systems.

The final seminar wasn’t just a conclusion; it was a beginning. It emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, community-based knowledge, and creative expression in envisioning futures beyond colonial structures. By bringing together voices from Okinawa and around the world, the event provided a shared space of hope, solidarity, and determination for future generations. As we move forward, the lessons from this gathering remain clear: Decolonization is a political, legal, and deeply human project grounded in respect, creativity, and a commitment to justice.