×

“There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples in the world, living across 90 countries. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.” – United Nations Academic Impact “Building Resilient Communities through Indigenous Consultation”

Increasingly, the Global Community is recognising that Indigenous Peoples around the world have a significant voice and contribution to make when we are talking about the future of the planet and sustainable ecology.

“As Earth’s original stewards, the lives of Indigenous peoples are rooted in sustainable development processes. From the early trade relations between Indigenous peoples in what is now Canada and the Hudson Bay Company, to the Yanomami peoples of the Amazon using forest plants to manufacture their own farming and fishing equipment, Indigenous peoples have always had savvy ways of producing while respecting their resources.” – United Nations Academic Impact “Sustainability Inherent to Indigenous Political Ecology”

Often, when we think of Indigenous Peoples the topics of land ownership, migration, forced displacement, residential schools, autonomous governance structures come to mind; and these are all important discussions which deserve attention and resolution. However, a body of work is emerging into mainstream consideration which looks at the interconnectedness of people with the environments they inhabit.

There are lessons to be learned from ancient cultures which not only survived the harshest of climates but succeeded in thriving while making a significant contribution to a sustainable ecology.

“Political ecology is a practice combining politics, economics and social factors, to create space for an intersectional approach that better serves people’s socio-economic needs while nurturing the natural environment.” – United Nations Academic Impact “Sustainability Inherent to Indigenous Political Ecology”

That sentence has a breadth and depth that requires some thought and reflection and we encourage you to dig deeper for yourself. Go to the original discussion papers housed on the UN webpage but also seek out resources that reflect your local context and issues. https://www.un.org/isotope/59098/10919

We must shift our existing economic debate away from historic arguments to a new paradigm of thinking that includes people and social impact. We must recognize our responsibility to be stewards of the planet and not just consumers of its resources.

God, as creator, preserver, and governor of all things, has called us into relationship and partnership with him to ensure that everyone and everything may flourish.

Ian and Wendy Swan

Colonels
Directors – International Social Justice Commission