Attend the rally

By accepting the invitation and participating in the events, I show respect for the autonomy and self-determination of my indigenous informants. I also support my own personal autonomy in choosing to participate in an event that aligns with my beliefs.

However, there is a degree of disrespect I show for my research subjects and friends that fall on the other side of the debate. Non-indigenous friends who privately own land have their land threatened by this ruling and may see my public revelry at their loss as disrespectful.

Beneficence:
Accepting the invitation is beneficial to my primary informants in the village because they have a public display of my convictions to their cause. This may help them achieve credibility for their struggle. It also may be beneficial to my position as a researcher in the village because my informants will trust me more now that I have stood up for them in a very public way.

This decision could, however, cause harm to the overall project goals if government officials associate me with the larger project and feel that the research has an activist or somehow subversive agenda. Without permits from the government, our research cannot continue and we cannot help advance the land use/rights issues at all. It also may cause long-term harm if I am now unable to show the wide applicable of the traditional knowledge curriculum because I have been labeled an activist.

Justice:
Justice in a very literal sense, and as defined by my own moral gauge, is well-supported by this choice. If the courts ruled in the favor of the communities, which they did, I would simply be celebrating a ruling of the justice system. I also very much believe that justice was served when the indigenous communities were given these land rights.

It may be seen as unjust, however, for me to befriend other local people and then, essentially, celebrate the taking away of their private family lands.

My Decision:
Well, although I wanted to very much at times, I did not choose this option. I felt that my work integrating the traditional knowledge curriculum into the school system nationally might be compromised if I fully aligned myself with indigenous activists. I felt that I could express my support and congratulations to the community without providing such a high-profile public presence.