![]() ![]() Thirteen observatories have been built on the mountain since the 1960s. Its elevation and atmospheric conditions also present an ideal location for stargazing. Peaking at 4,200 metres above sea level, the dormant volcano is sacred to Kanaka Maoli. Maile has been advocating for Canadian divestment from the project and working to educate people about Kanaka Maoli perspectives about astronomy and Mauna Kea. Uahikea Maile is an assistant professor of Indigenous Politics at the University of Toronto's Department of Political Science. And if we're not, we won't go," said Ellison. "It is for the Native Hawaiians and the State of Hawaii to decide whether we're welcome. A fact-pack on the TMT website says the telescope will "help answer fundamental questions about the universe" will likely lead to discoveries that can't be anticipated today.Īstrophysicist Sara Ellison, president of the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA), said "it's not our decision to make" when asked what role Canadian astronomers have to play in answering questions about Kanaka Maoli consent and TMT's future on Mauna Kea.ĬASCA is a professional body that represents astronomers in Canada and publishes a long range plan every 10 years. They successfully lobbied the federal government to commit $254.5 million in funding toward the project in 2015. If built, TMT would be among the largest telescopes in the world. The telescope, proposed for construction on Hawaii's tallest mountain, Mauna Kea, has sparked opposition and widespread protest from Kanaka Maoli, the Indigenous People of Hawaii.Ĭanadian astronomers' commitment to the telescope has forced the community to contend with the tension between its scientific ambitions and how it navigates questions about Kanaka Maoli consent. The Canadian astronomy community has named the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope its top facilities priority for the decade ahead while also recommending the creation of a policy focused on Indigenous consent in a section of its new long range planning document. ![]()
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