Elevating Indigenous Peoples’ Guardianship as a Critical Climate Solution at Climate Week NYC 2024

With more than 600 Climate Week events held throughout New York City in September, Indigenous representation was critical to continue to amplify Indigenous Peoples’ guardianship as a time-tested climate solution.

Nia Tero leadership and partners participated in key events aimed at raising awareness about Indigenous Peoples’ guardianship, the challenges they face in managing the lands and waters they have cared for since time immemorial as well as to celebrate the successes of thriving Indigenous Peoples caring for their homelands. A number of events were also held for Indigenous Peoples to engage with each other to share knowledge, exchange experiences and strengthen their collective impact in global climate forums, which is especially important ahead of United Nations conferences like COP16, in Cali, in October 2024, and COP29, in Baku, in November 2024.

Goals House Event Calls on Participants to Explore Connectedness Between People and Nature

In one corner of Central Park, participants gathered at an outdoors event hosted by Goals House, an organization that gathers a diverse community of leaders across many sectors with a shared mission of driving progress to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The event was co-hosted by Nia Tero in partnership with Olo, a company centered on immersive sound technology.

Attendees started their day with an immersive sound journey. This calming moment of reflection began with a song delivered by a member of the Udege Indigenous People in Mongolia. Next, wearing light-blocking masks, nearly 40 people sat in an outdoor area while the comforting echoes of the natural world filled the space.

Following this experience, Nia Tero leaders led a panel that explored Indigenous Peoples’ inextricable link to the natural world around them.

Nia Tero’s CEO Peter Seligmann shared his background as a forester turned conservation leader to an ally of Indigenous guardians around the globe. He also touched on how his experiences with Indigenous communities led to the creation of Nia Tero.

“The most important thing and the most significant way we will be able to change the tide is going to be a transformation of our value systems. And a real understanding that if we do not begin to look at that plant and tree and listen to those beautiful birds and the sound of the rain as relatives, as relationships, they will be objects. And if they’re objects, we will use them rather than relate to them,” Seligmann said.

He added, “And that’s why we created Nia Tero. It was created for the purpose of deep respect and elevation of [Indigenous] wisdom.”

Pasifik Strategy Lead Paul Roughan (‘Are’Are, Solomon Islands) shared how the diversity of Indigeneity is vast across the world but that Pasifik countries are unique amongst them in that they remain almost entirely Indigenous.

“The largest country in the Pasifik, Papua New Guinea, the preamble of its constitution refers – before it says ‘the people’ – says ‘we the ancient, free and independent peoples’ as the grounding,” Roughan said. “Constitutions in our part of the world, in the Pasifik, lay the basis for everything that these countries we are a part of do, being grounded on Indigeneity.”

Still, he added, the allure of extractive industry – even in a majority Indigenous country government – has resulted in environmental devastation from logging to mining. He underscored the importance of prioritizing Indigenous knowledge and values as a means of addressing the urgent climate crisis we face.

“We all know humanity is in a world of hurt right now – all of the impacts of climate change, the loss of nature, widespread social injustice,” said Nia Tero’s Chief Strategy & External Relations Officer, ‘Aulani Wilhelm (Kanaka ‘Ōiwi, Hawai’i). “That's why we're here at Climate Week.”

She added that she is encouraged that each year more and more conversations around Indigenous rights and guardianship are entering the larger global dialogue about climate change. And that it’s important for Indigenous knowledge to be recognized as a critical climate solution.

 “More than a quarter of the earth's surface, land surface, are occupied by Indigenous Peoples who are caring for - really the statistics are clear - the best of what left in nature,” she said. “The best of what’s left, that all of humanity is relying upon, is currently today being cared for by Indigenous People. [Indigenous Peoples’ guardianship] isn't something we have to return back to, but it's something we have to protect.”

The event was hosted by Goals House, which offers a space for thought leaders and the community to attend panels, meetings and more to share knowledge, and drive action toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Other Events Offer Indigenous Guardianship Insights on Global Scale

Wayfinders Circle Film Premiere 

Our partners and staff around Climate Week NYC joined us for the premiere of three Wayfinders Circle films. The Wayfinders Circle is a network of Indigenous Peoples from around the world who protect their lands, waters, and territories. This group of distinct Indigenous Peoples exchanges experiences related to ways of life, spirituality and traditional knowledge. It is convened by Nia Tero, the Pawanka Fund and the World Union of Indigenous Spiritual Practitioners.

The film premiere was held at a theater in the American Museum of Natural History before a standing room only crowd. A Q&A panel followed with filmmakers and some of the Indigenous Peoples featured.

Emerson Collective Science Fair 

Over the span of three days on the High Line park near Chelsea Market, Nia Tero staff engaged with hundreds of passersby of all ages to share information about our mission and work with partners. Standing before a large display with a map of our partners and  information about the critical importance of Indigenous guardianship, visitors also had the opportunity to discuss with Nia Tero staff the issues faced by Indigenous Peoples in the three key regions of the world in which the organization works: the Amazon, North America and the Pasifik Islands.

As part of our display, there was a weaving activity that guests could contribute to – a nod to the practice of weaving by many Indigenous Peoples around the globe. The Science Fair was hosted by our partners at the Emerson Collective, a company that invests in entrepreneurs and innovators driven by purpose and a sense of possibility, working to create a world of abundance for future generations.

An Overview of Additional Key Events at Climate Week

Here are just a few of the other events we were pleased to speak at or attend alongside our partners:

• “Indigenous Rights in the Global Biodiversity Framework:” This panel featured guests including Nia Tero Policy Director Jennifer Tauli Corpuz (Kankana-ey Igorot) alongside Joan Carling of Indigenous Peoples Rights International, other Indigenous rights leaders and supporters. It was moderated and hosted by Human Rights Watch. This gathering focused on the Global Biodiversity Framework and the opportunities and challenges it offers for Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity conservation.
• Pawanka Fund’s 10-year Anniversary: During Climate Week NYC, the Pawanka Fund held a celebration to mark its 10 years of work to support and empower Indigenous peoples around the globe. The Indigenous-led organization is a convener of the Wayfinders Circle alongside Nia Tero and the World Union of Indigenous Spiritual Practitioners. The organization provides direct support to community led organizations for the recovery and revitalization of Indigenous knowledge and learning systems in seven sociocultural regions of the world. The evening was marked by music, remarks from staff, guiding committee, partners and others who touched on the importance of Pawanka’s work and uplifting Indigenous Peoples.
• "River of Spirits" Film Premiere with Kara Solar: Nia Tero staff also attended the premiere of the Kara Solar film “River of Spirits” at a theater at the Museum of Modern Art. The evening included conversations with Alex Honnold, author and climate activist Bill McKibben and Indigenous leader Nina Gualinga (Kichwa community of Sarayaku) exploring how stories can spark global change, and our shared responsibility towards a just energy transition. Kara Solar, a Nia Tero grantee, is a nonprofit that works in the Amazon to make solar powered canoes accessible on the rivers that Indigenous Peoples rely on.

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