The National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference 2024 took place from September 9th to September 11th in Alaska, USA. This event brought together our Indigenous relatives, partners, and delegates from around the world to share their insights on addressing climate impacts on their environments. It was a space for sharing and honoring Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge while respecting that these teachings rightfully belong to the Indigenous communities and individuals from which they originate.
The National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC) took place from September 9th to September 11th, 2024. This event brought together knowledge holders on climate change and resilience efforts with an emphasis on the intersection, inclusion, and honoring of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge.
Cultural Survival attended the conference, and we interviewed some of the attendees.
Produced by Tia-Alexi Roberts (Narragansett)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoi/San)
Interviewee: Elder Faye Ewan ( Caribou)
"Whispers" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
In Episode 1 we traveled to Arniston, South Africa, the location of ancient fish traps that were used by Khoi and San people, where we interviewed Rowina Europa , a small-scale fisherwoman. Come with us as we journey to Gordons Bay, South Africa, where we hear from local fisherfolk, about it impact of climate change on small scale fishers.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewees: Nico Fredericks, Ellen Mandelozi and 'Lulu'
Saxophone Music by Tyso
Natasha by 'The Hot Shots', used with permission.
On the South Coast of South Africa, is a small town called Arniston, where local people, who are descendants of Khoi and San people, make a living as small-scale fishers.
Arniston also has ancient fish traps, dating back thousands of years.
Arniston is a charming coastal town located in the Overberg region of South Africa. It is situated near Cape Agulhas, which is widely known as the southernmost tip of Africa.
The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) is celebrated every year on May 22nd.
In this podcast, we hear from Lynn Jacobs (Kanien'kehá:ka).
Lynn Jacobs is passionate about being on the land, protecting biodiversity and territories of life, fighting climate change, and addressing the plastic pollution crisis.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris(Khoisan) and Polina Shulbaeva (Selkup)
Interviewee: Lynn Jacobs (Kanien'kehá:ka)
Libres y Vivas by Mare Advertencia, used with permission.
The Diplomatic Conference to Conclude an International Legal Instrument Relating to Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge Associated with Genetic Resources is taking place from Monday, May 13 to Friday, May 24, 2024.
Ulukoa Duhaylonsod from Hawaii is one of the delegates who is attending the conference.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris(Khoisan) and Polina Shulbaeva (Selkup)
Interviewee: Dietrix Jon Ulukoa Duhaylonsod (Ka'uikokapo/Adahi I Manaotao-ta Mo'na)
Libres y Vivas by Mare Advertencia, used with permission.
The International Day of Forests 2024 is commemorated on March 21st , and its theme - "Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World" - is a call to action for all of us to work together to protect our precious forests. Innovative solutions are crucial to ensuring that forests continue to thrive and provide us with a host of benefits, from clean air to biodiversity. It is important that we join the movement to make a positive impact on our planet and create a better world for ourselves and future generations.
Cultural Survival attended the international negotiations of the 12th session of the Intersessional Working Group on Article 8(j) relating traditional knowledge, innovation and practices of Indigenous Peoples under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on November 12-16, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Johanna Von Braun from the International Land Coalition has been sharing some fascinating data on Indigenous Peoples' land tenure during the negotiations in Geneva. We asked Johanna to share some of that data with our audience.
Produced by Bryan Bixcul (Maya Tz'utujil)
Cultural Survivals Bryan Bixcul attended the international negotiations of the 12th session of the Intersessional Working Group on Article 8(j) relating traditional knowledge, innovation and practices of Indigenous Peoples under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on November 12-16, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland. There he met with Joji Carino.
Interviewee: Joji Carino (Ibaloi-Igorot)
Produced by Bryan Bixcul (Maya Tz'utujil)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
The Convention on Biological Diversity, at it’s 15th conference of the Parties last year in Montreal, adopted a decision on digital sequence information on genetic resources, by which it established, as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a multilateral mechanism for benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, including a global fund. To do this, the decision also established a working group tasked to further develop the multilateral mechanism and provide recommendations that will be considered at the upcoming COP16.
For the last 36 years, the Galley restaurant has been a beloved part of the local community of Fish Hoek, with Mathea Eichel (Khoikoi) and her family at the helm.
The Eichel family also takes pride in the small museum located within their restaurant. They are known for hosting a variety of community events, including a recent Khoisan wedding. Their dedication to preserving local history and fostering community engagement is truly remarkable.
Representatives from the Global Environmental Facility -GEF- presented their plans for the implementation of the new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) established at COP15 last year. During the International Dialogue with Indigenous Peoples on the Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in Geneva, they revealed that there is no new mechanism to directly fund Indigenous-led or Indigenous-governed funds. Many Indigenous leaders have shared about the inefficiencies of the GEF system when it comes to access to funds for Indigenous Peoples.
Nature-based and net-zero solutions are again at the forefront of solutions offered by governments and businesses to deal with the climate crisis. These solutions include the creation of carbon market schemes and green energy production projects. We all know that nature-based solutions and net-zero solutions are false solutions, because they fail to address emissions reductions at source; instead they permit the destruction of ecosystems in one place for the promise of restoring ecosystems in another place.
Helen Biangalen-Magata, a member of the Kadaclan Indigenous Peoples from the Mountain Province in the Philippines, emphasized the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in contributing to climate solutions. She called for the recognition of their rights and the need to treat them as partners.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Helen Biangalen-Magata (Kadaclan)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Sara Olsvig(Inuit), the International Chair of Inuit Circumpolar Council, calls on States and the UN to recognize Indigenous Peoples' distinct identity. She urges them to uphold the UN Declaration on their Rights and incorporate its principles in all UN documents.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Sara Olsvig (Inuit)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Graeme Reed (Anishinaabe), notes that while Indigenous Peoples' participation in climate discussions is increasing, further development of their diplomatic and advocacy skills is required to ensure their voices are heard and their knowledge is valued in global climate decision-making.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Graeme Reed (Anishinaabe)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Tunga Rai emphasizes the importance of Indigenous voices being included in discussions that concern their communities. The call for inclusion is echoed through the phrase "Nothing about us without us". True progress can only be made when Indigenous voices are present at the table.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Tunga Rai (Rai)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Eileen Mairena Cunningham of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change urges that the final document of COP28 should explicitly mention Indigenous Peoples. This is because they have made invaluable contributions towards climate solutions and are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Acknowledging their contributions and vulnerabilities is crucial for ensuring that they can participate meaningfully in the global response to climate change. It will also help in fostering a just and inclusive approach towards tackling climate change.
Governments and States must prioritize the needs of Indigenous peoples. It's crucial to recognize their existence and rights and put Indigenous youth at the center of all efforts. Investing in Indigenous youth is an effective way to build a more equitable and just future for everyone.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Chandra Tripura (Tripura)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Tishiko King (Kulkalaig), a member of the First Nations group, has emphasized the urgent need for Australia to invest in measures aimed at adapting to climate change. It is also important to ensure that all communities have access to renewable energy. This is essential to safeguard our country and its people, and to prioritize the role of Indigenous peoples in finding solutions to the climate crisis.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Tishiko King (Kulkalaig)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
Mary Harm, a young Chinese Fijian woman, believes that young people's voices need to be heard loud and clear. She thinks that we should focus on amplifying the stories and experiences of Indigenous youth, especially when it comes to the impact of climate change on their lives and communities. By sharing their narratives in new and innovative ways, we can raise awareness and inspire action. Ultimately, this will lead to a more sustainable future for everyone.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Mary Harm(Fijian)
Pratima Gurung, is the Secretary General of the Indigenous Person with Disabilities Global Network (IPWDGN) and National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (NIDWAN). She believes that indigenous people with disabilities are affected disproportionately by climate change, but their voices are not being heard in the important negotiations that will shape our future. She thinks that there should be a formal recognition of their issues and dedicated constituencies within these discussions.
According to Francisco Cali Tzay, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, it is imperative that the government recognizes and upholds the rights of Indigenous Peoples. This includes their right to self-determination, which allows them to decide whether or not mining extraction should take place on their land. Therefore, the government must engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Indigenous Peoples to ensure their voices are heard and their rights are protected.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Francisco Cali Tzay (Maya Kaqchikel)
Rodion Sulyandziga (Odege) from Russia believes that Indigenous Peoples should combine optimism with strategic action to advance their agendas despite facing challenges. To achieve this, he suggests mobilizing all available partners and resources and pushing for meaningful change collaboratively.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Rodion Sulyandziga (Odege)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Tarcila Rivera Zea is an Indigenous Peoples rights activist from Peru who believes that the promise made by the COP 28 presidency to prioritize Indigenous Peoples lacks concrete substance until it is formally documented. She states that they have heard promises of respecting their rights before but haven't seen any meaningful action follow. According to her, words alone are not enough, and they need tangible commitments embedded in the official text to hold the presidency accountable.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Tarcila Rivera Zea(Quechua)
Jessica Vega Ortega, a young Indigenous woman from the Mixtec Indigenous Peoples of Mexico, is attending COP28 with the hope of observing the government's efforts towards implementing changes that directly impact Indigenous communities at the grassroots level. She believes that prioritizing Indigenous youth within these programs is crucial, as it ensures their voices and perspectives are heard and taken into account, ultimately shaping sustainable solutions for their future.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Jessica Vega Ortega (Mixtec)
Minnie Degawan is an Indigenous Kankanaey-Igorot from the Cordillera region in the Philippines. She believes that Indigenous women play a crucial role in the fight to preserve our planet. They act as protectors of biodiversity and are responsible for safeguarding endangered species and ecosystems. Furthermore, they are the driving force behind climate solutions, using their innovative approaches to reduce emissions and build resilience. Due to their leadership and dedication, they are instrumental in shaping a sustainable future for generations to come.
During every COP gathering, individuals and organisations who defend the land and environment, as well as Indigenous communities, voice their need for increased safeguards for their territories against industries that harm the environment, including mining, logging, and industrial agriculture. Climate organizations like Global Witness frequently send delegates to advocate for quick and ambitious measures to address the climate emergency.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Dr. Mirna Cunningham, an Indigenous Miskita from Nicaragua says, despite progress, Indigenous Peoples face ongoing challenges from climate change and extractive industries. They demand recognition of their rights, knowledge, and role in safeguarding water, forests, and resources. COP28 must amplify their voices and address critical concerns.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Mirna Cunningham (Miskita)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Mirian Masaquiza Jerez a senior Social Affairs Officer for the Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations says that Indigenous Peoples are actively participating in COP28 and engaging with delegates and member states. Their efforts are crucial to achieving meaningful climate action that safeguards the planet and respects Indigenous rights.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Mirian Masaquiza Jerez (Quichua)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
Joan Carling (Kankanaey) from the Philippines says that Indigenous Peoples' collective rights, territorial and land rights, and Free, prior, and informed consent must be respected while developing renewable energy solutions. Our knowledge and experiences are crucial for addressing climate change and sustainable development. We demand to be seen as partners and valued contributors to sustainable solutions.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Joan Carling (Kankanaey)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
Climate change is having a devastating impact on Indigenous communities, leading to droughts, floods, resource conflicts, displacement, and food insecurity. We urgently require access to water, support for our livelihoods, and a green economy that is based on Indigenous knowledge and respect. At COP28, it is crucial to establish a code of conduct that prioritizes Indigenous rights, protocols, and free, prior, informed consent. We must prioritize sustainable development over profit.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Despite the mechanisms in place to address climate change, including loss and damage, Indigenous peoples are still being left behind. The funding does not reach them directly, their rights are not respected, and even the new loss and damage fund excludes them. Gideon believes that we must continue to fight until the fund reaches those who need it the most.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Gideon Sanago (Maasai)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
The UAE has set forth three extra priorities for COP28, which include accelerating the energy transition to reduce emissions before 2030, revamping climate finance by fulfilling past commitments and establishing a new finance agreement, and prioritizing the well-being of nature, individuals, and livelihoods in climate action.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Inka Saara Arttijeff (Sami)
The UAE’s presidential priorities include a significant language change from previous years, referring to “the inevitable and responsible phase-down of all fossil fuels.”
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Laissa Mali (Maasai)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Land and environmental defenders are at the forefront of the climate crisis, protecting the world's forests and biodiversity. Without their representation at the table, we cannot solve the climate crisis.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee Jeff Ferguson (Spokane)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is of utmost importance and should be respected, rather than being overshadowed by the interests of local communities, says Naw Ei Ei Min. The adverse effects of climate change affect Indigenous Peoples more severely than others, and thus, it is imperative to take action rather than engage in negotiations. We cannot afford to wait for more suffering before taking action.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee : Naw Ei Ei Min (Karen)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
David Alberto Hernández Palmar, who is a Wayuu Indigenous filmmaker, highlights the importance of Indigenous-led media platforms in showcasing the voices of Indigenous Peoples who are leading the fight against environmental challenges, such as climate change. These media channels employ various forms of communication, including audio-visual, podcasting, and radio programs, to share Indigenous stories and perspectives with a broader audience.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international climate summit, which is held annually unless the Parties (the countries involved) decide otherwise. At COPs, world leaders gather to work together on solutions to tackle climate change. There are now 198 Parties (197 countries plus the European Union) to the Convention, constituting near universal membership.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Each year a different country becomes the COP president, in charge of organising and running that year’s meeting. Usually this means that the host city moves each year, too. Any new agreements which are made at COP tend to be named after the host city, e.g. the 2015 Paris Agreement or the 2021 Glasgow Climate Pact. The 28th meeting will be held in Dubai.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Carol Monture (Mohawk Wolf Clan)
One of the top priorities at COP28 is to finalize the inaugural Global Stocktake (GST), which serves as the primary means of evaluating advancements towards the objectives established in the Paris Agreement. The GST presents nations with a chance to evaluate their current climate initiatives and determine areas where additional action is necessary.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee Job Morris (San)
In the three decades since the Rio Summit and the launch of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP) has convened member countries every year to determine ambition and responsibilities, and identify and assess climate measures. The 21st session of the COP (COP21) led to the Paris Agreement, which mobilized global collective action to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by 2100, and to act to adapt to the already existing effects of climate change.
Indigenous leaders are taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, act as guardians of ecosystems, manage pollution, and protect the natural environment.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Amba-Rose (Gumbaynggirr)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission
Indigenous Peoples have knowledge and values oriented towards nature and amassed through generations. Indigenous peoples steward over 80% of the planet’s remaining biodiversity.
In their main decision adopted at the end of COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021, governments recognized “the important role of civil society, including youth and indigenous peoples, in addressing and responding to climate change, and highlighting the urgent need for action”.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
The establishment of the Loss and Damage fund at COP27 was a significant accomplishment, but the actualization of these funds remains uncertain based on past experiences. In 2009, developed nations promised to generate $100 billion annually by 2020 to support developing countries in transitioning to renewable energy and preparing for future climate-related hazards. But funds have consistently fallen short.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
This radio program introduces you to a group of people who are working to demand and achieve a just energy transition, in which Indigenous Peoples' rights are at the center. We introduce you to the Securing Indigenous Peoples' Rights in the Green Economy Coalition, also known as the SIRGE Coalition.
This series has been produced by The Southern African San Development Organization in Khwedam Language.
Cultural Survival covers Indigenous Issues worldwide. As part of this work, our team joined the international negotiations of the 12th session of the Intersessional Working Group on Article 8(j) relating traditional knowledge, innovation and practices of Indigenous Peoples under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on November 12-16, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland. We spoke to many Indigenous leaders to communicate their priorities to our wider Indigenous audience.
The Bonn Climate Change Conference took place from June 5th to June 15th, 2023. The conference builds on the mandates that have emerged from COP 27 in Egypt in 2022. Cultural Survival's Edson Krenak attended the conference and spoke to Sele Tagivuni (iTaukei) from Fiji.
Produced by Edson Krenak (Krenak)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Sele Tagivuni (iTaukei)
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
The Bonn Climate Change Conference is hosting a large number of mandated events, and continues discussions on issues of critical importance, such as global stocktake, global goal on adaptation, just transition, loss and damage, and the mitigation work program. Cultural Survival's Edson Krenak interviewed Simson Kapembe.
Produced by Edson Krenak (Krenak)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Simson Kapembe (San)
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
The International Day for Biological Diversity has gained global prominence through the efforts of the United Nations, governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, non-governmental organizations, and concerned individuals. Each party has brought its innovative solutions to the biodiversity crisis to the forefront of global conversations on sustainable development. In this radio program, we hear from Aslak Holmberg(Sami) and Giovanni Reyes(Kankaney Igorot).
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Image: Canva (free use)
The UN Biodiversity Conference is taking place from December 7 - 22, 2022, in Montreal, Canada. Cultural Survival’s delegation is in Montreal to follow the negotiations and report on the most important issues concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the future of biological diversity.
In this radio program, we spoke to Preston Hardison who gave us an update on Digitial Sequence Information.
Produced by Bryan Bicxul (Maya Tz'utujil)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Ramson Karmushu (Maasai)
The UN Biodiversity Conference is taking place from December 7 - 22, 2022, in Montreal, Canada. Cultural Survival’s delegation is in Montreal to follow the negotiations and report on the most important issues concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the future of biological diversity.
In this radio program, we spoke to Thomas Joseph (Hupa).
Produced by Bryan Bicxul (Maya Tz'utujil)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Thomas Joseph (Hupa)
"Lights in the forest by Ziibiwan, Used with Permission
The UN Biodiversity Conference is taking place from December 7 - 22, 2022, in Montreal, Canada. Cultural Survival’s delegation is in Montreal to follow the negotiations and report on the most important issues concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the future of biological diversity.
In this radio program, we spoke to Preston Hardison who gave us an update on Digitial Sequence Information.
Produced by Bryan Bicxul (Maya Tz'utujil)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Preston Hardison
COP15 negotiations are underway in Montreal, and there will be many decisions made, each of these decisions made by member states will have a profound impact on Indigenous communities, and it's absolutely critical that these decisions center on a human rights-based approach and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples; especially when it comes to area-based conservation, biodiversity conservation, fair and equitable benefit sharing from the use of genetic resources and the risk assessment of living modified organisms.
The evidence is indisputable, the areas occupied and managed by Indigenous Peoples span 24% of the global terrestrial surface, and they are home to 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity.
Cultural Survival attended COP15 in Montreal, Canada, and spoke to some of the delegates.
Produced by Bryan Bicxul (Maya Tz'utujil)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Giovanni Reyes (Kankaney Igorot)
Image from ICCA Consortium
"Lights in the forest by Ziibiwan, Used with Permission
Indigenous Peoples have known how to live on and take care of the land since times immemorial. We know that wherever you find cultural diversity, you will be sure to find biological diversity, in fact, globally there are overlaps of areas rich in biodiversity with areas of cultural and linguistic diversity. These are the areas managed by Indigenous Peoples.
Cultural Survival attended COP15 in Montreal, Canada, and spoke to some of the delegates
Produced by Bryan Bicxul (Maya Tz'utujil)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
At the Opening of the 5th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework, parties reviewed the proposed organization of work and agreed to use the Outcomes of the Work of the Informal Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework coming out of the Nairobi meetings held in June 2022, in Nairobi, Kenya.
One of the major items at COP15 is the expected adoption of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework as an important step toward the 2050 Vision of “Living in harmony with nature”. From December 3 - 5, meetings were held as part of the 5th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The Open-Ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework is tasked with advancing preparations for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
The UN Biodiversity Conference is taking place from December 7 - 22, 2022, in Montreal, Canada. Cultural Survival’s delegation is in Montreal to follow the negotiations and report on the most important issues concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the future of biological diversity.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Kera Sherwood - O'Regan, who tells us about the highlights of COP27.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Kera Sherwood - O'Regan (Kāi Tahu)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Hindou Omarou Ibrahim, who tells us about the highlights of COP27.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Hindou Omarou Ibrahim (Mbororo)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Salote Nasalo from Fiji who says that the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities must be recognized.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Salote Nasalo from Fiji
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Lorraine Netro who reminds us that our Elders taught us how to respect our environment.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Lorraine Netro (Vuntut Gwitchin)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Yolene Patricia Koteureu. Yolene is from New Caledonia, and she tells us about the solutions that Indigenous Peoples have for climate change.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Yolene Patricia Koteureu (Kanak)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Shaq Koyok from the Temuan Tribe in Selangor, Malaysia who is an artist who uses his paintings to raise awareness about climate change.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Shaq Koyok
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival spoke to Tarcila Riviera Zea from FIMI, who told us how Indigenous Women are getting involved in the fight against climate change.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Tarcila Riviera Zea (Quechua)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Mrinalini Rai. Mrinalini Rai tells us how policies and climate processes should take Indigenous Peoples' rights into account.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Mrinalina Rai (Rai)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Eileen Mairena Cunningham. The discussion is about the highlights of COP27 for Indigenous Peoples.
Interviewee: Eileen Mairena Cunningham (Miskito)
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Graeme Reed.
Graeme gives us an update on the development at COP27, pertaining to Indigenous Peoples.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee Graeme Reed (Anishinabe)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Ketakandriana Rafitoson. Ketakandriana Rafitoson is an advocate for the rights of the Malagasy people from Madagascar, who are the traditional custodians of the land.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Ketakandriana Rafitoson (Malagasy)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Lars Anders Baer. The discussion is about the price that Indigenous Peoples have to pay for the Green Economy.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Lars Anders Baer (Sami)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Yon Fernández DeLarrinoas, Head of Indigenous Peoples Unit at UNFAO, who explains how Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems are affected by climate change.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Yon Fernández DeLarrinoas
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Sara Elvira Kuhmunen from Sapmi. Sara says the youth needs to join hands in fighting climate change, or else we will have no culture and no future.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Sara Elvira Kuhmunen (Sami)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Peter Irniq. Peter says that Inuit Peoples still hunt, but it is not as safe to do so as it used to be, because of changing weather patterns.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Peter Irniq (Inuit)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Raymond Minniecon from Australia who tells us that more action is needed to resolve the climate crisis.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Raymond Minniecon (Goreng Goreng)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Rodion Sulyandziga from Siberia. The discussion is about the evaluation of the COP processes from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Rodion Sulyandziga (Udege)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Kenneth Deer. He talks about the importance of Traditional Knowledge.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Kenneth Deer (Mohawk)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Joan Carling (Kankaney) from the Philippines, and she details how Indigenous Peoples are not getting the recognition they deserve for being stewards of nature.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Joan Carling (Kankanaey)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
Cultural Survival attended COP 27 In Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022.
In this radio program, we interviewed Ian Fry, the Special Rapporteur On Climate Change.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Ian Fry
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Edna Kaptoyo from Kenya. Edna talks about how important it is to call for action now.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Edna Kaptoyo (Pokot)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, former Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples James Anaya discusses the importance of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, as a process to combat climate change.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: James Anaya (Apache and Purépecha)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Johnson Cerda discusses the Glasgow Climate Pact and how some elements of the pact such as adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage are really important to Indigenous Peoples.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris(Khoisan)
Interviewee: Johnson Cerda (Kichwa)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival speaks to Aeshoutou Manu from Cameroon, and she details how Climate Change affects the Mbororo Indigenous Peoples.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Aeshoutou Manu (Mbororo)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio interview, Cultural Survival talks to the former co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change. They discuss the history of COP.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Pasang Dolma-Sherpa (Sherpa)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival's Dev Kumar Sunuwar interviews Sele Tagivuni from Fiji and they discuss how Indigenous Peoples must be heard on matters pertaining to climate change.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar
Interviewee: Sele Tagivuni
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Cultural Survival's Dev Kumar Sunuwar interviews Jennifer Lasimbang and she tells us about the importance of Indigenous Knowledge and how it can contribute to the battle against climate change.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee:Jennifer Lasimbang (Kadazan)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Human beings have rights, but what about the rights of nature? Great Grand Mother Mary talks to us about the rights of nature. Cultural Survival attended COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee:Great GrandMother Mary (Anishinaabe)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio interview, we spoke to Angel Levac Brant who explains that there are few voices from Indigenous youth when it comes to fighting climate change.
Producer: Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Angel Levac Brant (Tyendinaga Mohawk)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change co-chair Graeme Reed talks to us about the achievements of Indigenous Peoples at previous COP meetings, and what he expects from COP27.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Graeme Reed (Anishinaabe)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this interview, Cultural Survival's Dev Kumar Sunuwar speaks to Grace Balawang and she explains how direct access to funding for Indigenous Peoples will assist in resolving the problems that come about as a result of loss and damage created by climate change.
Producer: Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee: Grace Balawang (Kankaney Igorot)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
At the United Nations climate change conference in Paris, COP 21, governments agreed that mobilizing stronger and more ambitious climate action is urgently required to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Action must come from governments, cities, regions, businesses and investors. Everyone has a role to play in effectively implementing the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement formally acknowledges the urgent need to scale up our global response to climate change, which supports even greater ambition from governments.
The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, the official caucus for Indigenous Peoples participating in the UNFCCC processes, which held its preparatory meeting on 5th and 6th November prior to UNFCCC COP27 and had a discussion on a range of issues relating to climate change to come into agreement specifically on what Indigenous Peoples will be negotiating for, in specific UNFCCC processes.
A Just Transition for Indigenous Peoples is one that centers a human rights approach and the protection of biodiversity and advances Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination in all endeavors relating to the building of green economies. Doing this will require that all stakeholders observe and fully implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the right to self-determination and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent in all decision-making.
Indigenous Peoples are not just stakeholders; Indigenous Peoples are rights holders. Cultural Survival reiterates the importance of Indigenous Peoples’ access to direct participation at the same negotiation tables as nation states at the UNFCCC COP27, with the right to have a voice and vote, and the inclusion of references to human and Indigenous Peoples’ rights in all documents.
Cultural Survival also attended COP 27, and we spoke to Indigenous delegates at the Conference.
In this interview, we spoke to Lisa Qiluqqi Koperqualuk.
Indigenous Peoples are not just stakeholders; Indigenous Peoples are rights holders. Cultural Survival reiterates the importance of Indigenous Peoples’ access to direct participation at the same negotiation tables as nation states at the UNFCCC COP27, with the right to have a voice and vote, and the inclusion of references to human and Indigenous Peoples’ rights in all documents.
Cultural Survival spoke to Andrea Carmen of the International Indian Treaty Council about Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
In the transition to the so-called green economy, Indigenous Peoples are facing a new wave of extractivism for transition minerals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, and lithium, which are key in battery development. These projects are promoted as “green” because they aim to supply minerals used in renewable energy and electric vehicles. However, these mining projects risk replicating the same harms of the fossil fuel economy: threatening Indigenous Peoples’ rights and territories and destroying biodiverse ecosystems.
Dr. Jessica Hutchings (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Huirapa, Gujarat) is a decolonizing researcher in the areas of Māori food sovereignty, food security, cultural and intellectual property rights, and the restoration of the environment through the restoration of Indigenous rights in Aotearoa (New Zealand.) She is actively involved with Te Waka Kai Ora (the National Māori Organics Authority) as a grower and a lead researcher to develop a tikanga-based Indigenous verification and validation system for food and agriculture called Hua Parakore. Dr.
In this podcast, Tristen Taylor & Nathalie Bertrams discuss the threatened cultures of the Danube Delta. The Danube River passes through Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, and Bratislava. As far as cultures go, much has been lost in the Delta. This podcast explores how culture and language can become entombed in the history books if diversity is not purposefully protected.
Produced by Tristen Taylor & Nathalie Bertrams
Permission to use all music in this podcast has been granted to the producers.
Recently, in the area where Sami people live which includes part of Sweden, construction of huge turbines has been underway.
In this podcast, we speak to Maja Kristine Jåma, who tells us how these new sources of energy have been impacting her people.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Maja Kristine JåmaMusic: "LIBRES Y VIVAS" by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
We're witnessing the acceleration of the transition to a green, low carbon, and clean economy and the increase in demand for transition minerals such as nickel, lithium, cobalt, and copper. This skyrocketing demand is driving a wave of investment into new, expanded mining projects. These projects are promoted as "green" because they aim to supply minerals used for renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles.
The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) defines biodiversity to include the diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Such a holistic framing of the CBD thereby weaves humans and our basic needs into the health and resilience of ecosystems. The CBD is the first time in international law that the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity is referred to as “a common concern of humankind.”
In linking conservation efforts to the economic goal of using biological resources sustainably, the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) sets out three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. How do Indigenous Peoples' rights tie into the Convention on Biodiversity?
The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) acts as an international legal framework to uphold nations’ commitments to biodiversity. Every two years, the governing body, referred to as the Conference of the Parties (COP), meets to assess progress in the implementation of the Convention, provide policy guidance, adopt programs, and review the achievement of the CBD's objectives. In this podcast, we speak to Mrinalini Rai (Rai) about gender and women's rights at the CBD. Mrinalini Rai is Director of Women4Biodiversity.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is relevant to Indigenous Peoples because it recognizes the interdependence of many Indigenous Peoples and local communities on biological resources and acknowledges the contribution of traditional knowledge for both conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. In this podcast, we hear from Joji Carino (Ibaloi), who tells us more about the International Indigenous Peoples' Forum on Biodiversity's involvement in the CBD. Joji Carino is Senior Policy Adviser of Forest Peoples Programme.
António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in a statement on the conclusion of COP26, said the conference outcome reflected the state of political will in the world today and provided building blocks for progress. “We are in the fight of our lives, and this fight must be won,” he said. “Never give up. Never retreat. Keep pushing forward.”
“The outcome of COP26 is a compromise. It reflects the interests, the contradictions, and the state of political will in the world today. It is an important step, but it is not enough,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the conclusion of the conference. Indigenous Peoples from all over the world attended COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. This year, Indigenous Peoples represented the second-largest civil society delegation in attendance at COP26, second only to oil and gas lobbyists.
The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) was established in 2008, as the Caucus for Indigenous Peoples participating in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes. The IIPFCC represents the Indigenous Caucus members who are present/attending the official UNFCCC COPs and intersessional meetings of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA/SBI) bodies in between COPs. Its mandate is to come into agreement specifically on what Indigenous Peoples will be negotiating for in specific UNFCCC processes.
The emissions that cause climate change come from every part of the world and affect everyone, but some countries produce much more than others. The 100 least-emitting countries generate 3 percent of total emissions. The 10 countries with the largest emissions contribute 68 percent. Everyone must take climate action, but people and countries creating more of the problem have a greater responsibility to act first.
Climate change can affect our health, ability to grow food, housing, safety, and work. Some of us are already more vulnerable to climate impacts, such as people living in small island nations and other developing countries. Conditions like sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion have advanced to the point where whole communities have had to relocate, and protracted droughts are putting people at risk of famine. In the future, the number of “climate refugees” is expected to rise.
Many people think climate change mainly means warmer temperatures. But temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, changes in one area can influence changes in all others. The consequences of climate change now include, among others, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms, and declining biodiversity.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.
For nearly three decades the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conferences of the Parties (COP). In that time, climate change has gone from being a fringe issue to a global priority. Cultural Survival's Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications Daisee Francour (Oneida) spoke to youth activist Victor Lopez-Carmen (Crow Creek Sioux and Yaqui) at COP 26.
For nearly three decades the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits – called COPs – which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’. In that time climate change has gone from being a fringe issue to a global priority. Cultural Survival's Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications Daisee Francour (Oneida) spoke to Gertrude Kenyangi (Batwa), Executive Director at Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN) from Uganda, at COP26 which is taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021.
Cultural Survival's Avexnim Cojti attended the COP26 summit, and spoke to Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough (Iñupiat), International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, who has served as an expert member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for 2016 and 2017 and as a member of the International Law Association Committee on Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In November 2021, the 26th Conference of the parties is being held in Glasgow.
Cultural Survival’s Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications Daisee Francour (Oneida) attended the summit and spoke to Carson Kiburo, Executive Director of the Jamii Asilia Centre, who is a youth leader and a community organizer from the Endorois Peoples of Kenya. He works on Indigenous Peoples' rights, youth empowerment, and global governance.
Indigenous Peoples have always been at the forefront of climate change issues, whether that is in protecting forested areas, being disproportionately affected by sea-level rise, or leading protests and movements to shift consciousness and paradigms. However, their access to having a seat at the table when it comes to international climate change negotiations and treaties has been little to none. The UN has made some progress in including Indigenous voices in these processes, and Indigenous leaders continue to leave their mark on important agreements.
Thought leaders and environmental activists from all over the world have come together at the 26th UNFCCC Conference of Parties, in Glasgow, Scotland, in an effort to unite in the battle against climate change, and to share ideas of how Western science and Indigenous Knowledge can come together for the common good of mankind. Indigenous Peoples from Ecuadorian Amazon, Chad, Alaska, Sweden, Indonesia and Australia, Russia, the USA, and many other places are making sure that Indigenous voices are heard at COP26.
Indigenous Peoples in Brazil have suffered greatly under the leadership of President Jair Bolsonaro. In the Amazon, fires, deforestation, and illegal mining are some of the issues that affect the Indigenous Peoples of that region.
Joênia Wapichana (Wapixana) is a woman of firsts. She was the first in her family to go to university, to study law, and in 1997, she became Brazil’s first Indigenous lawyer. In 2018, she became Brazil’s first Indigenous congresswoman. Cultural Survival's Avexnim Cojti spoke to Joenia at COP 26, in Glasgow, Scotland.
Joan Carling (Kankanaey), Co-convenor of the Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group for Sustainable Development (IPMG), is an Indigenous activist from the Cordillera in the Philippines with more than 20 years of experience in working on Indigenous issues from the grassroots to the international level. Her expertise includes areas like human rights, sustainable development, the environment, climate change, and also the implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent.
Joan Carling attended the 26th convening of the Conference of the Parties or COP 26 in Glasgow in November 2021.
Cultural Survival’s Lead on Brazil, Edson Krenak of the Krenak Peoples was at COP26, joining Indigenous delegations in making sure Indigenous voices are heard and listened to in the fight to combat climate change.
Produced by Avexnim Cojti (Maya Ki'che) and Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Soundclip: Edson Krenak at COP26
Image: Edson Krenak
Music: "Anania2" by The Baba Project, used with permission
At this year's United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP 26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Cultural Survival spoke with Frank Ettawageshik (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians), Executive Director of the United Tribes of Michigan and President of Association on American Indian Affairs, who has been involved in international Indigenous rights advocacy for decades, about Indigenous leadership in climate action.
The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
How is climate change affecting Indigenous Peoples?
Cultural Survival's Avexnim Cojti spoke to Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
Produced by Avexnim Cojti (Maya Ki'che) and Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Fawn Sharp (Quinault Indian Nation)
Music: 'Whispers' by Ziibiwan, used with permission
There are over 476 million Indigenous Peoples living in 90 countries across the world, accounting for 6.2 percent of the global population. Indigenous Peoples are the holders of a vast diversity of unique cultures, traditions, languages, and knowledge systems. They have a special relationship with their lands and hold diverse concepts of development based on their own worldviews and priorities.
In this radio program, we hear from Nailejileji Tipap, who works as the Gender and Public Relations Coordinator at Pastoralists Indigenous NGOs Forum in Tanzania.
Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes and violence; a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights and opportunities for all. To get us there, women need to be at every table where decisions are made. In this podcast, we speak to Jannie Staffansson (Saami), a renowned Indigenous climate change expert and aCultural Survival board member. Staffansson tells us about balancing traditional lifeways today.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Jannie Staffansson (Saami)
UNESCO calls on radio stations to celebrate World Radio Day's 10th anniversary and the more than 110 years of radio. Cultural Survival's Indigenous Rights Radio supported the Khwe people from the Okavango region in starting Khwedam Radio – a radio station that will assist the Khwe and !Xun speaking San Peoples to be able to communicate better with each other in remote regions of Namibia.
Humanity NPC travelled to the home of Rooibos Tea in Wuperthal, South Africa, to talk to the Indigenous people there about the origins of the tea, and how it had been in their families for generations. This podcast also discusses the benefit sharing agreement, which promises that a benefit of the sales of the tea will go to the Indigenous Khoi and San people of the region and what it means to the people of Wuperthal.
Produced by Humanity NPC
Music by Collin Fredericks
Funded by OXFAM South Africa
Image by Tristen Taylor
World Tourism Day is commemorated each year on 27 September in order to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value. This year, tourism has been among the hardest hit of all sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the theme of the 2020 edition of international day is "Tourism and Rural Development." Undoubtedly, the tourism is one of the largest industries in the world. One out of every 10 jobs in the whole world is in the tourism industry and 30 percent of the world revenue comes from tourism.
For Indigenous Peoples, food security is necessary for health, and also to maintain a relationship with the earth and its resources.
What is also valuable for Indigenous Peoples is to consume culturally appropriate food. In this radio program, we speak to Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough and Carolina Behe, as we find out more about food sovereignty and food security amongst Inuit and Peoples in the Arctic.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan)
Interviewees: Carolina Behe and Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough(Iñupiat)
Image: Berry picking. Photo by Chris Arend.
Music:
Governments or states make use of geographical boundaries to demarcate territories. Political entities come to agreements on which area belongs to whom. In some cases, borders are agreed upon by two countries, and in other cases it may have been suggested by a third party like an international conference. In many cases, borders are imposed on places, without taking into consideration the people who live in that area. In this program, we speak to Aslak Holmberg from the Saami Council in Finland, who tells us how borders have affected his life, as well as his environment.
Shannon Foster is a Sydney D'harawal Knowledge Keeper, educator, and artist. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. with the Center for the Advancement of Indigenous Knowledges at the University of Technology in Sydney. Drawing on traditional knowledge, Indigenous leaders have advocated for changes to current land management practices for decades to help limit anticipated future fire damage. Aboriginal people have a deep knowledge of their lands, and traditional burning practices can help prevent massive destruction.
Leaders and activists from all over the planet converged in Madrid, Spain to attend COP25, The United Nations Climate Change Conference.
At the forefront of half a million protesters who marched through the Spanish Capital City, were indigenous voices who led the charge in what has become a monumental demonstration to highlight the global challenges that we’re all facing as a result of climate change.
Ta’kaiya Blaney (Tla A'min Nation) from Indigenous Climate Action was there, and we got a chance to speak to her.
Luiz Henrique Eloy Amado is an Indigenous attorney from the Terena Peoples’ village of Ipegue, Brazil. Eloy Terena, as he is commonly known, has first-hand knowledge on the situation of Indigenous Peoples in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest and an extensive experience on defending criminalized Indigenous grass-root leaders and representing Indigenous communities in land rights cases before Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court.
Hunger and obesity often co-exists in countries where a home cooked meal is far more difficult to attain than fast food, processed food and foods that are high in sugar. In line with the 2030 sustainable development Agenda, the theme for 2019's World Food Day is Healthy Diets for a Zero Hunger world.In this program, we will talk to Indigenous people, to see how they contribute to Sustainable Development goal number two, which talks about ending hunger and achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Cultural Survival's Avexnim Cojti (Maya Ki'che) spoke to Janene Yazzie about the participation of Indigenous Peoples at the UN's Climate Action Summit.
Janene Yazzie (Navajo) is Development Program Coordinator for International Indian Treaty Council and the council’s representative as co-convenor of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group of the U.N. High-level Political Forum on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Production: Shaldon Ferris (San, South Africa)
Image: Janine Yazzie
We are living in a time of crisis. Scientists, farmers, Indigenous Peoples and even the United Nations all agree that humanity’s impact on the world’s ecosystems and natural resources has brought us to a turning point. If there is no intervention, the planet faces the mass extinction of up to 1 million plant and animal species due to pollution, habitat loss, and climate change.
The 18th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on the rights of Indigenous Peoples was held from April 22nd to May 3rd 2019. The theme for this year was Traditional Knowledge: Generation, Transmission and Protection.
We got a chance to speak via Skype to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli Corpuz, on the meaning behind this particular theme and why it was chosen.
MUSIC
Lights in the Forest by Yarina.
Used with permission.
The world will indeed be a poorer place without the languages and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.
So it is necessary to celebrate and promote Indigenous Languages, thereby improving the lives of the peoples who speak the languages.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan, South Africa)
Interview: Kaimana Barcase, Hawaii and Denver Breda, South Africa.
Music : Whispers by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
Picture: A man plays a Khwe finger piano, West Caprivi Strip. Photo by Julie Taylor 2007, Courtesy of Cultural Survival
Indigenous peoples' day is about honoring indigenous resistance, and celebrating the contributions of indigenous peoples all over the world. In this newsletter we celebrate the activism of Antie Pua Case from Hawaii, and other activists around the world who fight to preserve our mountains, our rivers, our valleys, our Earth. The program ends with a song by Taino artist Brothery Mikey, who produced a song called "Like the Mauna", inspired by the Indigenous People of Hawaii's efforts to protect the sacred Mauna.
Indigenous Rights Radio Program on a case where the Newar indigenous community in Nepal obtained a victory in their legal battle against the government after about 7 years of continuous struggle.
Interviewees: Advocate Shankar Limbu
Music: Remember your children: by Solidummay.
Introductory Music: "Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
This year's theme for conversations at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was "Indigenous Peoples Collective Rights to Lands and Resources". Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Igorot Kankanaey, Philippines), UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Issues, says that the theme connects to many important conversations happening now in the world, including the threat that extractive industries pose to resources located on Indigenous-owned territories.
The reduction in size of the Bears Ears National Monument by the Trump Administration runs contrary to the principles established in Article 26 of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We spoke to Braidan Weeks, the Communications Coordinator for Utah Diné Bikéyah, about the importance of Bears Ears, the unlawfulness of the actions taken by the Trump administration, and the advocacy currently underway to defend the monument led by the Tribes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition.
Though collaboration is crucial to finding solutions for climate change, Indigenous People must be able to maintain, protect, and control their cultural heritage, sciences, and technologies. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides a legal framework for intellectual ownership by Indigenous communities of their traditional knowledge. However, many additional cultural barriers to equal-footed climate change collaboration exist, such as the automatic devaluation of Indigenous science by Western science practitioners.
A close relationship with local environments and ecosystems is more critical than ever in the face of a rapidly changing climate. This program features two perspectives from Indigenous communities that are practicing resiliency to global warming by adapting their traditional knowledge and science to put a changing climate into the context of their communities' history and lifeways.
INTERVIEWEES
Elizabeth Azzuz (Yurok), Cultural Fire Management Council
Jannie Staffansson (Saami), Arctic and Environment Unit of the Saami Council
Indigenous communities in Honduras have stewarded the Muskitia, a rain forest which includes one of the richest concentrations of biodiversity in the world, for centuries. Osvaldo Munguia is a representative of MOPAWI, an organization that partners with Indigenous groups to protect this UNESCO world heritage site from being overtaken by logging, mining, and forestry business interests.
MUSIC
"Remember Your Children," by Salidummay. Used with permission.
Introduction: "Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
What can Western science learn from Indigenous knowledge? We speak with Dr. Daniel Wildcat (Yuchi) and Tui Shortland (Maori) about the value of Indigenous longitudinal place-based knowledge that Indigenous People have gathered over millennia. We unpack what positive collaboration between Western science and Indigenous science can look like and why it is important.
Credits:
Background music:
"Atahualpa" and "Lights in the forest" by Yarina. Used with permission.
Can traditional knowledge from Indigenous communities provide us with answers to fighting climate change? We speak with Andrea Carmen (Yaqui), Executive Director of International Indian Treaty Council. She speaks about how Indigenous women are very strong voices in the work for the protection of the environment, through their role as food producers, knowledge holders, and the first teachers of children.
In Mbororo communities in Chad, Indigenous women are the most affected by climate change because they are the ones collecting food, water, and traditional medicines for their families. Changes to their environment have cause increased hardship on the Mbororo who are pastoralist cattle headers, as they are forced to move more frequently to cope with increasing drought conditions.
What is the role of Indigenous Peoples in the current climate crisis? What responsibility do Indigenous Peoples feel towards Mother Earth today? Listen to three Indigenous women leaders give their perspectives on their feeling of the interconnection between all living things and our planet in the face of climate change, and what they feel should be done with that knowledge.
Lakes and forests in the Mt. Talinis area of the Phillipines are under threat from recent expansions of the energy industry. Apolinario Carino is working with the organization PENAGMANNAK, a federation of 17 Indigenous Peoples’ community groups, to pioneer community management strategies of reforestation designed to empower the Indigenous groups to shape the future of their lands. Apolinario hopes to share the knowledge that they have gained from these experiences in order to better combat climate change on a global scale.
Ivy Gordon, Director of the Jeffrey Town Farmers Association, describes how her organization has worked for the past 25 years to combine sustainable living practices with community infrastructure needs. Jeffrey Town is now a prominent example in Jamaica of a highly resilient community, due to its adaptable and sustainable resources.
MUSIC
"Remember Your Children," by Salidummay. Used with permission.
Introduction: "Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
PRODUCTION
Dev Kumar Sunuwar, Indigenous Rights Radio
Indigenous communities often hold invaluable knowledge about medicinal plants and healing practices rooted in the environment and resources of their traditional homelands. Anoop Pushkaran Krishnamma is working with the Kerala Kani Community Welfare Trust in partnership with Indigenous communities in India to record and preserve this knowledge, allowing for healing practices to be utilized by future generations.
Ezekiel Tye Freeman is the executive director of Green-PRO, which helps Liberian communities develop sustainable livelihoods for self-reliance. Beekeeping training programs, for example, offer a lucrative and environmentally friendly economic alternative to mining or slash-and-burn farming for individuals. Freeman points to high levels of unemployment among Liberia's Indigenous population as a major problem that his organization wants to attempt to alleviate.
George ‘Bic’ Manahira describes how his community established the
world's first community-run octopus, sea grass, and mangrove reserve in partnership with Blue Ventures, a UK-based NGO, in order to strengthen the traditional sea-resource-based livelihood of the coastal Indigenous communities in Madagascar. They hope to expand and improve on the model in collaboration with other Indigenous groups and leaders in the coming years.
The Kalinga Mission for Indigenous Children and Youth, led by Donato Bumacas, promotes values of biodiversity conservation, with the goal of poverty reduction. These values are upheld using Indigenous traditional knowledge systems and technologies to conserve and maintain the local forests. Sustainable Indigenous agricultural technology is implemented, with the goal of passing these systems down to future generations, as this knowledge was passed down to them.
Indigenous Rights Radio producer Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan) investigates the impacts of fishing regulations on Indigenous groups who have fished as a part of their livelihoods for centuries. The Convention on Biological Diversity, an international agreement which has inspired the implementation of many current fishing regulations, specifically discusses the importance of collaborating with Indigenous communities in order to preserve cultural knowledge in the pursuit of ecological preservation.
Indigenous solidarity has coalesced into a powerful movement thanks to the activism and perseverance of Indigenous leaders from communities around the world. Indigenous leaders that are defending land, language, culture, and the environment face acute persecution, both from governments directly and from extrajudicial actors.
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Vicky Tauli-Corpuz discusses the challenges faced by Indigenous peoples in protecting their claim to ancestral lands in the face of government-sanctioned landgrabbing in the name of conservation.
Music: Melodies of Nepal, by classical Instrumental band Sur Sudha
IRR Producer Shaldon Ferris reports on the official statement by Vicky Tauli-Copruz, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, concerning the threat of the Dakota Access Pipeline to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.
Indigenous Rights Radio Producer Shaldon Ferris interviews Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, about the Dakota Access Pipeline. Vicky describes the central tensions underlying the current conflict, and details the opportunities for recourse available to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe through both local and international governing bodies.
Credits:
Interview with Vicky Tauli-Corpuz
Production by Shaldon Ferris
We're here in New York City at the People's Climate March, marching alongside Indigenous communities from all over the world who have joined together to demand action towards solutions for climate change. Here are some words from Winona LaDuke, a long time leader of the Native environmental movement in the United States.
Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard (Anishinaabe, Canada) explains how the concerns that have been labeled as “women’s issues” are in fact central to the progress of Indigenous rights. Often, concerns such as domestic abuse, schooling, and healthcare are often sidelined in favor of focusing on issues that are seen as more universal. Dr. Lavell-Harvard places them at the center of her activism efforts, showing that there is no need to compromise or postpone the rights of Indigenous women in Indigenous movements globally.
Dayamani Barla, Indigenous tribal journalist and activist from Jharkland, India, discusses how Indigenous Peoples have been displaced from their traditional farming lands in the name of dams, mining and other development projects.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar and Jagat Dong from Nepal, for Cultural Survival after attending the Indigenous Terra Madre conference held in November, 2015 in Meghalaya, North East India.
Terra Madre means "Mother Earth" in Latin. The theme of the Indigenous Terra Madre conference was to celebrate the bio and cultural diversity that is the asset of Indigenous communities. The aim of this gathering is to share ideas, to come together, and be inspired or be warned, and to make people aware that our local food systems. It also seeks to build awareness that "the way we cooked in the past, and the wild plants around us are more important for our health than all the medicines we take.
The Slow Food movement was founded in Italy in 1986 to promote an alternative to fast food.
Analee Johnson, Sami, of Sweden, says that the Slow Food movement believes that the food we produce should be good, clean, and fair. She gives an example of marketing Sami traditional food of Reindeer meat.
Bibhudutta Sahu, of the North East Slow Food & Agrobiodiversity Society explains that local food is always the best, because mother nature has been kind enough to provide us what we need.
Interviewees discusses the main challenges to food security for a rising global population. Dhrupad Choudhury of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, argues that Indigenous farmers are doing important work to tackle challenges the world is facing today due to climate change. Indigenous farmers have the building blocks of stress tolerant crops, as well as sustainable agricultural practices because they are dependent only on the resources available to them.
Dr. Winona LaDuke describes her practices experimenting with various types of maize.
Participants discuss what food sovereignty means for Indigenous Peoples. Speakers include Native American activist, and author Dr. Winona Laduke, and Dr. Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend, Global Coordinator of the ICCA Consortium, and David Strelneck, Senior Advisor at Ashoka Foundation.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar and Jagat Dong from Nepal, for Cultural Survival after attending the Indigenous Terra Madre conference held in November, 2015 in Meghalaya, North East India.
Researcher Elizabeth Hacker describes research about how Indigenous individuals create their own frameworks to define "well-being" to counter Western ideas of well-being. She found three important concepts for Indigenous well being are, Meeting basic material needs; social harmony and sense of belonging; and cultural identity. Dev and Elizabeth discuss examples from her research in India and Kenya.
Dr. Daphne Miller from the University of California tells us that Indigenous Peoples who eat the diets of their ancestors are immune to many chronic diseases. Indigenous diets are also suited to local environments: farmers farm in a cycle, use different kinds of seeds, conserve water, engaging practices that are not only sustainable and organic but also regenerative.
Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar and Jagat Dong from Nepal, for Cultural Survival after attending the Indigenous Terra Madre conference held in November, 2015 in Meghalaya, North East India.
Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn speaks about her favorite interventions in the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. She believes the interventions regarding climate change have been very important in her community and across the world.
Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn speaks about deep sea bed mining and its impacts on the environment, especially in Oceania and Indigenous communities, including her native New Zealand.
Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn speaks about consumerism in the modern world and our responsibility to care for the earth, and gives advice about how we can enact chance for future generations.
Josh Cooper speaks about climate change and its impact on Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples are being impacted by climate change, specifically in Oceania, and Josh Cooper is working to create World Climate Justice Day to bring further awareness to the issue.
Cristina Coc, a Q'eqchi Maya woman of southern Belize, shares how Mayan groups in Belize have been fighting for their rights for over 30 years. After many meetings with the State, the Belize national court has acknowledged legal Indigenous rights to their land and affirmed that the government may not use, destruct, or occupy Indigenous land.
Statement from Special Rapporteur Vicky Tauli-Corpuz on the sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations and how Indigenous Peoples' rights must be respected in order to solve climate issues such as deforestation.
Julian Kunnie reflects on how our ways are destroying life for future generations and on the need to honor and protect mother nature instead of turning her into a commodity.
Bestang Dekdeken discusses the problems with FPIC as it is currently enforced in the Philippines, for example, how mining coorporations and extractive industries are able to find loopholes in FPIC in order to carry out their projects.
Indigenous leader and Chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples' Alliance of the Philippines gives his perspective on the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. "The bottom line in advancing the recognition of Indigenous Peoples' rights is fighting for these rights right in our own territories and communities."
Indigenous leader and Chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples' Alliance of the Philippines shares expectations of the Climate March and its importance to Indigenous Peoples. "In resolving climate change, Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous Peoples' participation is fundamental."
Alta Outcome Document, produced from the Global Indigenous Preparatory Conference at the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in Alta, Norway on 10–12 June 2013
Native Seneca woman Agnes Williams notices the consequences of climate change and contamination in her community. Changes in temperature have caused the plant-growing season to be shorter, and a nuclear waste plant has leaked into creeks near her reservation. Seneca people and indigenous communities near Williams have been protesting and working to clean up the area.
States should work with indigenous communities to implement climate change initiatives which protect the lands and resources of Indigenous Peoples, through an ecosystem-based approach and enforceable safeguards.
Join us at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2013 in New York, as we interview youth leader Ta'Kaiya Blaney of the Sliammon FIrst Nation in British Colombia, Canada, about the right to Free, Prior, Informed Consent.
Join Cultural Survival as we interview Dayamani Barla, winner of the 2013 Ellen Lutz award for Indigenous Leadership, as we catch up with her at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, May 2013.
States should obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent before approving any development project that will affect the lands and resources of Indigenous Peoples.