A World Where Indigenous Peoples' Guardianship of Thriving Homelands and Waters is Enabled Everywhere Possible on Earth

Written By: 'Aulani Wilhelm, Chief Strategy & External Relations Officer, Nia Tero

Friday, August 9th, marked the 29th anniversary of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. For most people, this day passed unnoticed. I hope that will change.

For me, the day provides an annual opportunity to reflect on what it means to be Indigenous and why Indigeneity matters, particularly in the face of the overwhelming confluence of crises facing the planet and humanity today.

Indigeneity comes in many forms, as diverse as the mountains, rivers, islands, winds, rains, deserts, grasslands and marshlands from which Indigenous Peoples and our cultures were birthed across the globe. What is common, however, is the inextricable link between our cultures, identities, and homelands from which we descend, and the understanding we share that humans are part of nature, our origin stories detailing the kinship we share with all life on Earth.

For my community, we descend from the ocean. Our oldest non-human ancestor to emerge from Pō, our primordial source, is the coral polyp from which all other life forms, including ourselves, evolved. With this understanding, caring for the ocean takes on a deeper responsibility. It becomes an imperative because we are kin. It is why we fight to remain in our homelands and retain our knowledge systems, cultures, and practices that have enabled both people and places to thrive.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked at the intersection of science, policy, and Indigenous knowledge systems, bridging culture with environmental protection. For years, I’ve been translating Indigenous frameworks and knowledge systems into actionable dialogue with policy makers, politicians, and conservationists, to convey the simple message that Indigenous Peoples are the ones the world should turn to when it comes to protecting the Earth.

Indigenous Peoples manage or have tenure rights over at least ~38 million km2 or 24% of land on the planet. And these lands contain 40% of the healthiest ecosystems left on Earth. These places are rich in biodiversity and are essential to the security of global food production, freshwater, and, ultimately, Earth’s climate.

This is not by chance. These remarkable places persist as the result of longstanding guardianship of collective territory by Indigenous Peoples. And the truth is: Indigenous guardianship is the only time-tested solution to sustaining healthy and thriving places on Earth.

There is much that Western science and conservation offers the world and should also be employed. However, even the best models donʻt yet come close to protecting core ecosystem function. These solutions are too new, without nearly the proven durability. And, they are often put into place after significant decline has already taken place.

To address the magnitude of crises that exist today, it would simply make sense that the world supports Indigenous Peoples to continue employing the knowledge systems and management practices that have worked for millennia. These efforts benefit all of humanity. This is why International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples should not go by unnoticed.

Nia Tero: Following Indigenous Leadership and Wisdom for the Health of Our Planet

At Nia Tero, we work alongside Indigenous Peoples like the Marubo People in the Brazilian Amazon, the Lokono Nation in Suriname, and the Peoples of Malaita in the Solomon Islands who need resources so that they can continue protecting their collective territories. We provide direct funding via grants and contracts to Indigenous Peoples' organizations and their trusted allies, with an initial focus on three key regions: Amazonia, North America, and the Pacific Islands, and now expanding to explore partnerships in other regions. In our experience, it is vital to ally with and support Indigenous Peoples’ ability to self-determine what they need for their well-being and the well-being of their homelands. This means being as flexible as possible in providing resources in a way that is guided by the Indigenous Peoples receiving them.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: A Call for Reflection and Action

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was adopted in December 1994 by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of the needs and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples. This year’s theme is focused on “Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact” – the roughly 200 Indigenous groups who choose isolation, often as a form of self-preservation in the face of exploitation and violence yet are constantly under threat from development projects for agriculture, mining, and other extractive industries.

The Day provides an important annual opportunity to celebrate Indigenous Peoples and honor the centuries of enduring resistance and resilience in the face of colonization. The Day also offers an opportunity to reflect and be inspired by the many stories of persistence especially by those who are on the frontlines, risking their lives daily to defend their territories.

On World Indigenous Peoples Day, we should all take a moment to recognize the critical role Indigenous Peoples play in protecting our common home and tackling the forces that continue to drive the decline and degradation of the planet that impacts us all. The world needs Indigenous Peoples to continue protecting the best of what’s left on the planet, and Indigenous Peoples need the world to listen, learn, and understand the value of living in reciprocity with lands and waters so that we can all protect Earth now and for generations to come.