Lydia Lois van de Fliert is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Archaeology.

More information about Lydia van de Fliert

Office days

Monday and Tuesday

Research

The continuum of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge across the past, present, and future: cultural heritage in an oral society in transition. 

This research investigates the multifaceted continuum of Traditional Knowledge (TK) with the Ñäñho people of Querétaro, encompassing historical, present-day, and prospective dimensions. The central aim is documentation of TK, the role it plays in community wellbeing, self-determination and in modern technologies. It will deepen longitudinal research, consolidate collaboration with Mexican universities and with the inhabitants of two indigenous communities who inspired this research. It will trace the arc of cultural continuity of TK systems in archaeological heritage, livelihood strategies, craftwork, oral traditions, toponymy and astronomy, extending from early 16/17th century pictorial documents to contemporary practices and its position in the face of rapid transition and emerging ICT/AI. In summation, through exploring historical records, current TK and technological prospects for its integration, the research seeks to foster a framework for preservation and activation of Indigenous knowledge systems. 

Curriculum vitae

After graduating from Leiden university, Lydia worked three years for the University of Queretaro (Mexico) in two indigenous communities as a researcher documenting cultural heritage in support of multicultural/multilingual education.

Subsequently, she launched her European career by assuming the role of policy assistant to the president of the Sub-Committee Human Rights at the European Parliament. After a decade, she returned to the field as an international technical advisor to the European Commission in Chiapas and South America, an LTO in electoral missions in Mexico and an evaluator of EU-funded projects. She extended her service as a consultant also to NGOs and the UN: UNICEF Chad, UNDP Geneva and UNESCO Paris (assessing the IYIL2019 and drafting recommendations for the Decade of Indigenous Languages). Today she acts as an academic and ethics reviewer for the EU, EACEA and the Green Climate Fund (conducting compliance reviews and gaps assessments to ensure alignment with Indigenous peoples’ policies).