Policy Lab: Indigenous Peoples and multilateral environment agreements

Indigenous Peoples have long played a critical role in global environmental negotiations, and their current and traditional knowledge of environmental changes in their respective territories holds the key to sustainable development. Only by being recognized as decision-makers can Indigenous Peoples help address critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, but critical barriers to participation in multilateral negotiations remain.

Three leading Indigenous experts joined IISD’s Nicole Schabus for a conversation about the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to multilateral environmental negotiations, the impacts of environmental change on their territories and lives, and the important role Indigenous Peoples play in identifying paths to sustainability and implementing transformative action.

• Mam Mayan elder Lix López worked for the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, which was the first international indigenous organization to participate in multilateral environmental negotiations.
• Neskonlith te Secwépemc Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, a member of the Executive of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, has been addressing environmental disasters such as fires and floods, and participated in the most recent negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• Debra Harry, Paiute, is a leading expert on the appropriation of Indigenous Knowledge, how Western laws and policies have violated Indigenous rights, and remedies for both.

This podcast is a collaboration between Global Affairs Canada and IISD. It was originally organized as a policy lab attended by guests representing both organizations.