Indigenous Demands — If Not Us Then Who? (2024)

Indigenous Demands — If Not Us Then Who? (1)

Indigenous peoples are the best guardians of the forest; where they have strong rights more forests remain standing and biodiversity is protected. While we are now officially in the Sixth Mass Extinction, World Bank research in 2016 showed that indigenous peoples make up 5% of the world’s population but safeguard 80% of the world’s biodiversity.

As nations struggle to meet the Paris Climate Change Agreement to limit average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees celsius, Indigenous peoples and the forests they protect are a ready-made climate change solution.

They have 5 demands:

  1. Recognition to Land, Territories and Resources
  2. Consent
  3. Zero Violence
  4. Direct Funding
  5. Ancestral Knowledge

These shared demands were established during the UN Climate Conference in New York 2014, by indigenous organisations from four tropical forest regions.

…in order for climate action to be successful, indigenous peoples must be seen as powerful agents of change…

Indigenous peoples and climate change – International Labour Office – 2017

The substance of our lives, our culture, the transmission of our culture for generations this heritage, the history and tradition is the forest. For other groups they consider the forest as a resource that is next door. This generates and evolves and it turns to conflict. This is the experience in all corners of the Democratic Republic of Congo for indigenous Pygmy people. We must remember the most biodiverse ecosystems are found in areas inhabited by indigenous Pygmy populations. We are proud because we build and we keep what is important to humanity: the forest.

Joseph Intogwa, Republic of Congo

5 Demands Explained

Recognition to Land, Territories and Resources

Communities need ownership over their ancestral land to protect forests. With no formal land security traditional communities often face serious conflict when trying to evict illegal loggers, poachers and land grabbers.

There is now clear and undeniable evidence that where indigenous people have strong rights, there are standing forests.

Only 0.6% of forest was lost inside Indigenous lands in the Brazilian Amazon between 2000 and 2012, compared with 7.0% of forest outside such lands.[1]

Indigenous Demands — If Not Us Then Who? (2)

Consent

When decisions are made about their forests and ancestral lands communities have the right to free, prior, and informed consent. They should also be allowed to say no when governments and corporations threaten their livelihoods.

Indigenous peoples are the best guardians of the forest, but they are under siege from a great and growing hunger for new sources of food, fuel, mineral wealth and water.

Indigenous Demands — If Not Us Then Who? (3)

Zero Violence

The battle to keep forests often leads to serious and sometimes fatal conflicts. Communities should be supported in their work and community leaders should not be criminalized for defending their land and our forests.

There were 46 indigenous people known to be killed in 2014 for taking a stand against environmental destruction. It is likely that the death toll is higher as murders often occur in remote villages or deep in jungles, where they are unreported.[2]

Indigenous Demands — If Not Us Then Who? (4)

Funding

Investment and direct access to finance for communities is vital to ensure good education, healthcare and rural development. If communities are to look after our forests then we should compensate them.

Investing in indigenous peoples not only conserves forests, it encourages sustainable development.

Indigenous Demands — If Not Us Then Who? (5)

Ancestral Knowledge

Appealing for the valuation and incorporation of ancestral knowledge on the policies to prevent and face climate change.

Indigenous Demands — If Not Us Then Who? (6)

…given the scale and scope of the threats that they face with regard to climate change – including specific threats to their livelihoods, cultures and ways of life – their situation is different from that of other groups and from that of the poor. On the other hand, indigenous peoples, with their traditional knowledge and occupations, have a unique role to play in climate action, cutting across both climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, and also just transition policies.

Indigenous peoples and climate change – International Labour Office – 2017

Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures, as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous decision making institutions.

Article 18, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Further Resources

Indigenous Demands — If Not Us Then Who? (2024)

FAQs

What do the indigenous want? ›

Indigenous groups are also pursuing greater self-determination, recognition of their rights and renewed relationships with other governments outside of self-government negotiations. This includes: exploring new ways of working together at Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination discussion tables.

What are the needs of the indigenous people? ›

Recognition to Land, Territories and Resources

Communities need ownership over their ancestral land to protect forests. With no formal land security traditional communities often face serious conflict when trying to evict illegal loggers, poachers and land grabbers.

What rights do indigenous people have America? ›

It affirms the right of self-determination, rights to education, health, self-government, culture, lands, territories and natural resources, and it includes provisions that address the particular situation of indigenous peoples in the Americas, including protections for those living in voluntary isolation and those ...

Who are non-Indigenous peoples? ›

non-Indigenous. A term used to describe people who have indicated that they are not of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin.

What do indigenous people think of welcome to country? ›

It is also a sign of respect and protocol which dates back to traditional times prior to colonisation. This distinctive difference has important cultural significance for Aboriginal peoples and should be observed carefully.

Are there any Native American tribes left? ›

At present, there are 574 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages.

Who is considered Indigenous people? ›

Who are Indigenous peoples? Indigenous peoples are the descendants of the peoples who inhabited the Americas, the Pacific, and parts of Asia and Africa prior to European colonization. Indigenous peoples continue to thrive throughout the world today.

Are Mexicans considered Indigenous? ›

Most Mexicans who identify as Mestizo have very large amounts of Indigenous ancestry. Despite this they are culturally assimilated into mestizaje and therefore do not identify culturally or politically Indigenous peoples of Mexico.

How to support Indigenous people? ›

Seven ways to support Indigenous Peoples
  1. Donate to Indigenous organizations. ...
  2. Educate yourself about Indigenous cultures. ...
  3. Shop from Indigenous-founded businesses. ...
  4. Attend Indigenous events, seminars, and workshops. ...
  5. Volunteer or intern with Indigenous organizations. ...
  6. Support Indigenous rights public policy.
Dec 23, 2021

How much do Native Americans get paid a month? ›

What Is the Average Native American Salary by State
StateAnnual SalaryMonthly Pay
California$114,920$9,576
New Jersey$114,760$9,563
Pennsylvania$114,431$9,535
Nebraska$114,355$9,529
46 more rows

What are 5 indigenous rights? ›

Although these specific rights may vary between Aboriginal groups, in general they include rights to the land, rights to subsistence resources and activities, the right to self-determination and self-government, and the right to practice one's own culture and customs including language and religion.

Do Native Americans own their land? ›

In general, most Native American lands are trust land . Approximately 56 million acres of land are held in trust by the United States for various Native American tribes and individuals.

What is the largest indigenous group in the world? ›

Of all the countries included in the report, China has the highest number of Indigenous, with an estimated population of 125.3 million. It's worth noting that the Chinese government does not officially acknowledge the existence of Indigenous peoples.

How can you tell if someone is indigenous? ›

Strong link to territories and surrounding natural resources • Distinct social, economic or political systems • Distinct language, culture and beliefs • Form non-dominant groups of society • Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems as distinctive peoples and communities.

What are the three types of indigenous? ›

Sometimes the term "Aboriginal peoples" is also used. The Canadian Constitution recognizes 3 groups of Indigenous peoples: Indians (more commonly referred to as First Nations), Inuit and Métis. These are 3 distinct peoples with unique histories, languages, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.

What were the goals of the indigenous 7? ›

This Group of Seven was a ground-breaking cultural and political entity that self-organized to demand recognition as professional, contemporary artists, to challenge old constructs, and to stimulate a new way of thinking about contemporary First Nations people, their lives and art.

Can Native Americans claim land? ›

Land ownership

Today, there are two major types of Native American land: Trust land , in which the federal government holds legal title, but the beneficial interest remains with the individual or tribe. Trust lands held on behalf of individuals are known as allotments.

What was the role of the indigenous? ›

There are three basic groups of roles; agricultural, pastoral, and hunter-gatherer. Depending on the land and its seasons, many tribes and cultures had a combination of these three basic roles.

Why do we honor indigenous people? ›

Indigenous Peoples Day is meant to recognize the painful history Indigenous people have faced and to celebrate their communities, said Tilsen, who is Oglala Lakota. But it is also “a day of protest and resistance,” he said.

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