University of Idaho Postdoctoral Fellow Chosen as the Only U.S. Representative for the UNESCO World Heritage Young Professionals Forum

When David Smith arrived at the University of Idaho last fall as a postdoctoral fellow in the department of curriculum and instruction, he was eager to expand upon his work in Indigenous education. Little did he know, this excitement would lead to an extraordinary opportunity this summer: being selected as the sole United States representative for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Young Professionals Forum in New Delhi, India.

“It was definitely surreal,” said Smith. “It was really empowering and inspiring to hear from so many passionate people who are doing really interesting things, while also genuinely caring about the work that they are doing.”

During the forum in New Delhi, Smith spent nearly two weeks visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites and engaging with young professionals from around the globe. Together, they focused on a variety of topics surrounding world heritage management such as participatory engagement with communities, sustainable tourism, climate change and its impact, and the integration of innovative technologies. Toward the end of the forum, Smith and his peers drafted a declaration on world heritage preservation, which they presented at the 46th UNESCO Convention.

“I was lucky that I got to play a really prominent role in writing the declaration,” said Smith. “The biggest thing for me and something that I am really happy ended up getting included was an acknowledgement of the sovereignty and rights and land of Indigenous peoples which is something that UNESCO on a fundamental level has never acknowledged.”

Reaching this point was not without its challenges. Each year, the UNESCO World Heritage Young Professionals Forum selects 30 young professionals from around the globe, and out of 40,000 applicants, Smith was among those chosen for this prestigious opportunity. The selection process required Smith to write four extensive essays on several topics, and he credits his focus on Indigenous stewardship as a key factor in his selection.

“My hope is that this really resonated with the deciding body, and they felt that this was an important voice to have at the conference,” said Smith.

Fostering Indigenous Education at U of I

Reflecting on his experience, Smith also acknowledges the support of his colleagues at U of I in the application process. “My colleagues here at U of I really helped me with the application process and understanding how to position myself in a way that resonates with people and is accessible to a variety of audiences,” Smith said.

Before coming to U of I, Smith earned his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh, focusing on Indigenous education as well as Alaska Native intangible cultural heritage and its role in education. Seeking to expand his research and knowledge, Smith found a fitting environment at U of I.

“The University of Idaho has really wonderful people working toward Indigenous education. One that’s very unique in my experience, having interacted with other communities, and it was actually what made me take this position,” said Smith. “I felt like the people who are here are doing really good work in a really responsible way and I wanted to be a part of that community.”

During his postdoctoral fellowship, Smith has been inspired by U of I faculty members, including Vanessa Anthony-Stevens, associate professor of social and cultural studies, Karla Eitel, professor and director of the McCall Outdoor Science School, Philip Stevens, associate professor of anthropology and director of American Indian studies as well as Shanny Spang Gion, visiting tribal scholar for the College of Natural Resources. Their guidance has not only shaped his scholarly path but also deepened his commitment to Indigenous education and stewardship.

“I came in a year ago with a considerably less formed idea of who I wanted to be as a scholar and what sort of impacts I wanted to have in the world, and I think that my colleagues here have had a really big impact on helping me better understand that,” said Smith.

Building on his passion for Indigenous education, Smith has actively contributed to two significant projects at U of I: Institutionalizing the Center for Interdisciplinary Indigenous Research and Education (CIIRE) and ‘Cultivating Relationships,’ which focuses on professional development for teachers in tribal schools.

Looking Forward

Smith recently secured a position as an Assistant Professor of Land-based Education in a joint appointment between the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences (EHHS) and the College of Natural Resources (CNR). He plans to leverage insights gained from the forum to benefit both college communities and the communities back in Alaska.

“I’m excited to take the things I’ve learned from the forum to Indigenous communities here and in Alaska and share everything with them so that they can use this knowledge and the connections I’ve made to help better their communities,” said Smith.

Because of his unique experience with UNESCO, Smith encourages other U of I students and researchers interested in international opportunities to take the leap and apply.

“Just apply. You never know what’s going to catch someone’s eye, and you never know if you don’t put in an application,” said Smith. “Throw your hat in the ring and see what happens.”

Smith’s selection as the only U.S. representative for the UNESCO World Heritage Young Professionals Forum shows his commitment to Indigenous education. His work at the University of Idaho and the insights he gained from the forum will make a lasting impact on both local and global conservation efforts.

“This is something I’ve believed in for years, and it’s not only something that I believe in, but it is something that the communities that I’m a part of believe in,” said Smith. “To be able to be a conduit for this message is something that I find to be really important.”