What are the best practices for engaging indigenous communities in grassroots peace and justice campaigns?

1 Understand the context

Before approaching an indigenous community, it is important to do your homework and learn about their history, culture, and current situation. This will help you avoid stereotypes, assumptions, and misunderstandings that could harm your relationship. It will also help you identify their needs, interests, and aspirations, and how they align with your campaign objectives. You can do this by reading relevant literature, consulting experts, and listening to indigenous voices and perspectives.

2 Establish rapport and trust

Building rapport and trust with an indigenous community takes time and effort. You cannot expect to walk in and be welcomed as a partner right away. You need to show genuine interest, humility, and openness, and be willing to listen and learn from them. You also need to be transparent and honest about your intentions, goals, and limitations, and avoid making promises you cannot keep. You should also respect their protocols, customs, and decision-making processes, and seek their consent and approval before taking any action.

3 Recognize their rights and autonomy

Indigenous communities have inherent rights and autonomy over their lands, resources, and cultures, and these should be respected and upheld by grassroots peace and justice campaigners. You should not impose your agenda or solutions on them, but rather support their self-determination and empowerment. You should also acknowledge their contributions and expertise, and value their knowledge and wisdom. You should also avoid appropriating or exploiting their culture, symbols, or stories, and give them proper credit and recognition.

4 Foster mutual learning and exchange

Engaging indigenous communities in grassroots peace and justice campaigns is not a one-way street. It is an opportunity for mutual learning and exchange, where both sides can benefit from each other's experiences, insights, and skills. You should be open to learning from their perspectives and practices, and to adapting your strategies and methods accordingly. You should also share your knowledge and resources with them, and offer them opportunities for capacity-building and networking. You should also celebrate your achievements and challenges together, and appreciate your diversity and commonality.

6 Support their sustainability and resilience

Engaging indigenous communities in grassroots peace and justice campaigns is not a short-term or one-off endeavor. It is a long-term and ongoing commitment, that requires supporting their sustainability and resilience. You should not create dependency or expectations that you cannot sustain, but rather support their self-reliance and autonomy. You should also respect their pace and priorities, and avoid imposing your timelines or deadlines on them. You should also support their efforts to protect their lands, resources, and cultures, and to cope with the impacts of violence, oppression, or environmental degradation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?