OPEN LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR Mr. RODION SULYANDZIGA

OPEN LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR Mr. RODION SULYANDZIGA

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Our Brother Mr. RODION SULYANDZIGA, a well-known Indigenous Peoples Activist had been arrested in the early hours on Sunday December 11, 2016. Police conducted a search in the apartment and Sulyandziga was brought in for questioning at the Konkovo district police department.

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Rodion Sulyandziga speaking at the UN conference on indigenous peoples in New York. Photo from the Facebook page of Indigenous Russia

He was released later on Sunday, but his computer has since been seized by the police.

Mr. Rodion runs the Moscow-based Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North, an NGO known for providing training and development in capacity building and institution strengthening.

His work continues to benefit international movements for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, climate change, and environmental protection. IIPFCC believes that he must be allowed to continue this important work

More and more IIPFCC Members continue to co-sign the open letter.

LETTER AVAILABLE HERE

Agreed Parties:

1. Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad

2. Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)

3. Indigenous Peoples National Steering Committee on Climate Change (IPNSCCC)

4. Mainyoito Pastoralists Integrated Development Organization (MPIDO)

5. Te Kopu, Pacific Indigenous & Local Knowledge Centre of Distinction

6. POINT Myanmar

7. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)

8. Center for Indigenous Peoples' Research and Development (CIPRED)

9. Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education)

10. Asia Indigenous Women's Network (AIWN)

11. Chirapaq, Centre of Indigenous Cultures of Peru

12. National Congress of American Indians

13. Pratima Gurung

14. Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network (IPWDGN)

15. Nepal Indigenous Disabled Association (NIDA)

16. Porgera Alliance, Papua New Guinea

17. Congrès mondial Amazigh 18. Association de femmes de Kabylie

19. Independent Consultant & External Lecturer, University of Vienna, Austria

20. SONIA for a Just and New World as cosignatory

21. FORO INDIGENA DEL ABYA YALA.

22. International Indian Treaty Council

23. Indigenous Peoples of African Coordinating Committee IPACC

24. Unissons nous pour la Promotion des Batwa ( UNIPROBA)

25. Native American Rights Fund

26. Indigenous Environmental Network

27. Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN)

28. Le centre d'Accompagnement des Autochtones Pygmées et Minoritaires Vulnérables (CAMV/DR-Congo)

29. Saami Council 30. Sámi Parliament of Norway

31. Le mouvement culturel amazigh du Maroc

32. Union pour l'Emancipation de la Femme Autochtone (UEFA/RDC)

33. Unissons nous pour la Promotion des Batwa (UNIPROBA), Burindi

34. United Confederation of Taíno People

35. Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization, Barbados

36. Pastoralists Indigenous NGOs Forum (PINGO's Forum), TANZANIA

37. First Nations Summit (Canada)

38. Polina Shulbaeva, CBD Indigenous coordinator for Russia and Eastern Europe

39. The Batwa Foundation

40. Asociación Savia Andina Pukara (ASAP)

41. Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas

42. Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname (VIDS)

43. Network for Indigenous Peoples of the Solomons (NIPS)

44. Te Kopu Network

45. Uganda Civil Society Coalition on Indigenous Peoples (UCSCIP) 

46. Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners (ILEPA)

47. Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Indonesia

48. Lelewal, Cameroon

49. Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Network on Climate Change and Biodiversity (BIPNet), Bangladesh

50. Maleya Foundation, Bangladesh

51. Chief Gary Harrison, Artick Athabascan Council

52. Youth Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (YFIN Nepal)

 

A message from Jesse Young, Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change, U.S. Department of State

A message from Jesse Young, Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change, U.S. Department of State: Please join U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing for an after-action conference call with civil society organizations on the outcomes of COP-22 in Marrakesh, Morocco. For both those that joined us in Morocco and those that did not, this call will be a useful opportunity to discuss the lay of the land now that the meeting has wrapped.

Tuesday, Nov. 22, 11:00 AM [EST]

Dial-in (U.S.): (800) 230-1093              Confirmation Number: 407249

COP22 comes to a close

 Prayer circle in solidarity with the Standing Rock Tribe in front of the UNFCCC Conference site on November 15th, 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo credit: Kayla Faith

  By India Logan-Riley, Aotearoa, Pacific Indigenous Peoples Delegation

The first Conference of the Parties since the creation and entering into force of the Paris Agreement has come to a close. Although there are many aspects of the negotiations that concern the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, this particular CoP has seen large step forward for our engagement with the UNFCCC process.

Systemi n olonia arrier ull, ffectiv n eaningfu articipatio it h NFCCC

structur n ecisio akin rocesse ontinue halleng ha ndigenous Peoples meet. ecisio , ar 3 a mportan ste orwar ncludin ndigenou eople h NFCC tructur n ecisio akin rocesses. Th IPFCC wer nthusiasti bou h reation, tructur n mplementatio hi latform.

As of the closing plenary, the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples platform was made official. The CoP President announced the following decision regarding the platform:

•        To adopt an incremental approach to developing the local communities and indigenous peoples platform, referred to in decision 1/CP.21 paragraph 135, with a view to ensuring its effective operationalization;

•        To request the Chair of the SBSTA to initiate the process to develop the local communities and indigenous peoples platform, which will include convening an open multi-stakeholder dialogue at SBSTA 46 on the operationalization of the platform to be co-moderated by the Chair of the SBSTA and a representative of indigenous peoples organizations;

•        To invite Parties and other stakeholders to submit, by 31 March 2017, their views on the purpose, content and structure of the platform in order to inform the multi-stakeholder dialogue;

•        To request the secretariat to prepare a report on the multi-stakeholder dialogue, which should also draw on the submissions;

•        To also request the SBSTA to consider the report at SBSTA 47 under a new agenda item "local communities and indigenous peoples platform" and conclude its consideration at SBSTA 47 by forwarding recommendations  for  operationalization of the platform  to COP23.

Th latfor as been stablishe ecognitio h ee trengthe h nvolvemen f knowledge, echnologies, ractice n ffort ndigenou eople l limat hange action, n o h xchang xperience n harin es ractice itigatio nd adaptatio olisti n ntegrate anner.

This process over the last two weeks has not been smooth. There were times when we had to remind those involved that Indigenous Peoples in a way that is consistent with UNDRIP and other international legal expectations. However, we applaud the commitment to actioning this platform and look forward to the full, effective and meaningful partnership with the UNFCCC moving forward.

Last session of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus at COP 22 held in the city of Marrakech, Morocco

Last session of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus at COP 22 held in Marrakech, Morocco, November 18, 2016

A message from Adelfo Regino, Latin American Caucus: During the last session of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus at COP 22, held in Marrakech, Morocco, we had a dialogue with government representatives from Ecuador, Guatemala and Australia.

In this meeting we have be made aware of the proposal being made by the President of COP 22 regarding the establishment of a “Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform” in this Climate Change process. I have attached the text, which is only available in English. We are looking for a way to translate into Spanish.

We will be attentive to the evolution of the negotiations in this last day of session. Let's hope there's good news for the Indigenous Peoples of the world.

Indigenous Womens’ Day at COP22

By Genevieve Northey

On Wednesday, 16th November, the Women and Gender Caucus held the second Indigenous Womens’ Day at COP22. All seven regions of the world was represented in the room, with a panel discussion taking place with women from the Arctic, Pacific, Latin America Africa and Asia speaking on their own experiences from the home region.

Although from different and diverse regions of the world, the themes had the common thread of protecting their environment and culture to preserve their way life. The speakers also reiterated the importance of Indigenous women having a space in which to participate in a meaningful way with their governments and in high-level discussions, like those taking place at COP22, on the issue of climate change.

Indigenous women are proud to be part of the solution for Climate Change, through their traditional knowledge and infinity with the environment, which has been passed down through the generations.

The group called on more capacity building funds for indigenous women, so they may participate fully in the high-level meetings and negotiations with the required technical skills. They also called on the need to involve more young indigenous women to come forward and join the constituency to be present to carry the torch forward into the future.

Join the biggest family photo in UNFCCC history for unity and action!

Spread the word!!!! Share this message with everybody!!

Join the biggest family photo in UNFCCC history for unity and action!

We hope you will join us around the message that #WeWillMoveAhead with climate action and climate justice here and beyond COP22. 

 What: Gathering for what will be the biggest ever UNFCCC family photo, around unbranded giant banners that read "We Will Move Ahead"

When: Friday at 12.45 pm

 Where: In front of conference center entrance - outside, next to the flags

(don't worry, security promised us they will have extra staff to ensure we can out and back into the venue very fast).

 Why: To send an image to the world that we, the global community, are determined to move on and win the fight against climate change. (And we won't let anyone sabotage the transition to a climate resilient future).

 Message: #WeWillMoveAhead

 Organisers: The photo opportunity is organised by Greenpeace but it will be an unbranded activity open for all COP22 delegates.

 Come over and call on everyone - Let's close COP22 with a message of hope, unity and action to the world! 

Message from: Emily Hickson <ehickson@climatenetwork.org>

Oxford University calling on UNFCCC to halt the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples

Oxford University Researchers have released a new report calling on UNFCCC to halt the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples at its annual COP negotiations.

The report identifies three tiers of marginalisation for Indigenous Peoples at the international climate negotiations. 

Full report is available here: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2870412 
Policy brief here: bit.ly/2fI1jR9

In a new working paper released today, researchers at the University of Oxford are calling on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples. They warn that if the leading international climate body continues to marginalise Indigenous knowledge and adaptations, attempts to solve the climate crisis will be in vain.

Oxford University researchers have identified three tiers of marginalisation that exist at UNFCCC COP events, including COP22 taking place in Marrakesh this week:
·      Politically, Indigenous Peoples are not allowed to self-represent; they are simply ‘observers’ to the negotiations. The nation states speaking on their behalf are responsible for their historical and current political marginalisation.
·      Geographically, the space offered to Indigenous Peoples is outside the main negotiating space of the conference.
·      Economically, Indigenous Peoples attendance is restricted by lack of finances. Developed nations and wealthy lobbyists thus dominate the space; Indigenous Peoples often cannot afford translators.

The new paper argues that solving the climate crisis will be unfeasible without the direct input of Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge. Yet, as the paper points out, the marginalisation faced at annual UNFCCC COP events inhibits this. Further, it goes against International human rights, including the right to self-determination.

Lead author Claudia Comberti says: “Rather than acknowledging the key role Indigenous Peoples should play in creating climate solutions, they are segregated at the climate negotiations and not allowed to self-represent. The UNFCCC needs to change this if it is to create fair and adequate solutions to climate change.”

The paper notes that Indigenous Peoples represent the majority of the world’s cultural diversity. Collectively they hold a wealth of environmental knowledge and adaptation strategies that are crucial to addressing climate change. Indigenous Peoples are also experiencing climate change first, and most strongly than other populations.

The paper proposes four actions to radically improve the situation:
1)   Grant Indigenous Peoples full member status at the UNFCCC, so they can self-represent.
2)   Appoint Indigenous Peoples as experts in negotiations around Adaptation and Loss & Damage
3)   Direct and restructure financial streams to increasing autonomy and voice of Indigenous Peoples – including the Green Climate Fund, and finance for translators and travel
4)   Commit to respecting Indigenous Rights and International human rights – an international agreement that the current situation undermines.

The full paper, released today, is based on several months of research, including interviews and observations at previous UNFCCC COP events.

For full article see: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2870412
Policy brief: http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/publications/policy-brief-pdf/20161116_IP-marginalisation_CComberti.pdf

Agenda for the last day of the COP22 meeting in Marrakesh: Friday, November 18, 2016.

Selection of events

08.00 – 10.00 Arabian Room (Blue zone) 
Indigenous Peoples' Global Caucus Meeting

10.30 – 11.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Briefing for the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus

11.15 – 12.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Affordable Green Energy for Poor Communities 
Organizers: Varhad Capital Pvt Ltd (Green Banking Initiative)/Gravity Power

12.30 – 14.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Lessons from the Canadian Arctic on Adapting to Climate Change 
Organizers: McGill University/Inuit Circumpolar Council, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, University of Sunshine Coast

14.15 – 15.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Organic Value Chains with Moroccan Communities 
Organizers: High Atlas Foundation

15.30 – 18.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Ancestral techniques of the oases for the management of natural resources 
Organizers: Association Oasis Ferkla pour Environnement et Patrimoine/RADDO,RARBOSM

Agenda prepared by DOCIP

Indigenous Peoples Caucus Reiterates Position on Proposed Platform

The Indigenous Peoples Caucus reiterated their consensus position to the President of COP22, Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar at the meeting of the Indigenous Caucus this morning. Hamza Tber, Chief of Staff, Multilateral Negotiations, Kingdom of Morocco accompanied the COP President at the Caucus. 

“IIPFCC proposed elements for an outcome of the informal consultation on the indigenous peoples platform:

- An incremental approach led by the SBTA chair and a representative of Indigenous Peoples appointed by the Indigenous Peoples themselves who will serve as co-facilitators.

- Invite submissions by parties, Indigenous Peoples and observers by 31 March 2017 on the purpose, content and structure of the indigenous peoples´ platform to inform the dialogue and the process.

- Convene 3 consultations, to be conducted by the co-facilitators during May sessions on the operationalization of the platform, including purpose, content and structure.

- Request the co-facilitators to present the outcomes of the consultations for the consideration and adoption at the COP23.

- Request the secretariat, under the guidance of the co-facilitators, to operationalize the platform taking into account the submissions and the outcomes of this dialogue.

We remain available if you require any further information. We are committed to several bilaterals with a number of Parties throughout the day to reiterate our position.”

— Ghazali Ohorella to Hamza Tber, Chief of Staff Multilateral Negotiations, Kingdom of Morocco

Action for Standing Rock today

From Alberto Saldamando: Please don’t forget the Indigenous Standing Rock action today,

Ruego no se les olvide la acción Indigena Standing rock ahora.

13:30, RESAURANTS

We would like to have at least one speaker from each region speak

Quisiéramos tener por lo menos un orador por cada región.

Speak to Alberto after the Caucus meeting to line up speakers.

Hablen con Alberto después de la reunión del caucus para establecer los oradores.

Agenda for the COP22 meeting in Marrakesh: Thursday, November 17, 2016

Selection of events

09.00 – 10.00 Arabian Room (Blue zone) 
Indigenous Peoples' Global Caucus Meeting

10.30 – 11.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Briefing for the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus

11.15 – 13.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Launch of the book “Climate Solutions from Community Forests” in French 
Organizers: UNDP

13.30 – 14.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Strengthening Traditional Knowledge for Climate Resilience through Community-Based Monitoring and Information Systems (CBMIS) 
Organizers: Tebtebba/Center for Indigenous Peoples Research and Development (CIPRED)

14.45 – 16.45 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Together for Climate Justice in Palestine 
Organizers: Union of Agricultural Work Committees/Land and Research center (NGO)

15.00 – 16.30 Arabian Room (Blue zone) 
Rights and Equity in Climate Policy: Translating words into action 
Organizers: Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)/Human Rights Watch, Inc. * (HRW)

17.00 – 18.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Leadership through Advocacy and Adaptation: an Inuit-specific Approach to Climate Change 
Organizers: Inuit Circumpolar Council/Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Government of Nunavut

18.15 – 18.45 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
"Où sont passées les hirondelles?" Film screening 
Organizers: Instituto Catitu 

Agenda prepared by DOCIP

 

Maatalii Okalik Statement at COP22 High Level Plenary

Maatalii Aneraq Okalik, president of the National Inuit Youth Council with the honorable Catherine Mary McKenna PC MP, Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"Qujannamiik ammalu unnukkut. Maatalii Aneraq Okaliujunga.

Warm thanks and good evening. My name is Maatalii Aneraq Okalik, and I am the president of the National Inuit Youth Council within Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and I am honored to participate at COP, on the Canadian delegation.

Your Excellencies, I commend the work of the parties on the collective effort towards climate action through the Paris Agreement.

Inuit youth in Canada are committed to continuing to exercise our Indigenous right to our culture, language, and way of life as entrenched in the Constitution and international declarations like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

With your continued leadership that will define our future on climate action, I am hopeful that it is done in cooperation with Indigenous peoples, in platforms, and with respect to our rights, which ultimately support Indigenous self-determination.

Let’s do this together: our collective future depends on it.

Qujannamiik ammalu aakuluuvusi. Thank you."

#InuitYouth #CelebrateLife #ProudToBeInuk #Inuujugut #IndigenousYouth#IndigenousRights #IndigenousCOP22 #UNDRIP

Proposal from the COP 22 Presidency on Indigenous Peoples Platform

COP 22 Selection of Events, Wednesday, November 16, 2016.

09.00 – 10.00 Arabian Room (Blue zone) 
Indigenous Peoples' Global Caucus Meeting

10.30 – 11.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Briefing for the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus

11.00 – 12.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Working Together: The Contributions of Indigenous Communities in Canada’s Climate Action 
Organizers: Environnement et Changement Climatique Canada

11.30 – 13.00 Mediterranean Room (Blue zone) 
Keep It In the Ground: The Global Civil Society & Political Movement to End Fossil Fuel Extraction 
Organizers: Center for Biological Diversity (CBD)/Food and Water Watch * (FWW)/PUSH Sweden/Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries (SCMM)/Sustainable Markets Foundation - 350.org

12.45 – 13.45 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Building Partnerships for a Sustainable Planet 
Organizers: Conservation International

14.00 – 15.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Learning from sustainable traditions around the planet - Indigenous Ecovillages 
Organizers: Global Ecovillage Network (GEN)/Better World Cameroon

15.00 – 16.30 Arabian Room (Blue zone) 
Resilient partners: Adaptation, mitigation & energy services in Indigenous & remote communities 
Organizers: University of Waterloo/The Rockies Institute Ltd * (TRI)

16.30 – 17.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Revocation of the Rights of Occupancy of the Indigenous People of Ekuri by the Governor of the Cross River State of Nigeria for a Superhighway 
Organizers: Ekuri Initiative

16.45 – 18.15 Bering Room (Blue zone) 
Women for Climate Justice - Leading Solutions on the Frontlines of Climate Change 
Organizers: Women's Earth and Climate Caucus (WECC)/Earth Island Institute, Inc. (EII)/Ithaca College/Organic Consumers Association * (OCA)

17.45 – 18.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
The Creation of a Community Forest to Adapt to Climate Change 
Organizers: Comité Villageois de Développement d’Ando-Kpomey

18.30 – 19.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Changement climatique et personnes handicapées 
Organizers: ADSM / CNDH/Panafricaine des personnes handicapées

18.30 – 20.00 Arabian Room (Blue zone) 
Joining forces to achieve SDG15: Delivering on Global Agenda for Forests, Climate and Development 
Organizers: United Nations (UN)

Selected events prepared by DOCIP: Visit Docip's technical secretariat in the Indigenous Peoples' Pavilion! 

CoP22 Update: Tuesday, November 15, 2016

By India Logan-Riley

Here, on Tuesday at CoP22, the caucus continued work on our preferred structure and process of an Indigenous Knowledge Platform in the UNFCCC. This work is crucial to influencing the ways that NDCs (nationally determined contributions) will be implemented, and making sure implementation does not harm indigenous peoples but lifts us up in partnership.

This means continuing to lobby states to support the establishment of the Indigenous Peoples Platform under Paragraph 135 of the Paris Agreement. To show support for this, we had a special guest at the morning’s meeting. The ambassador from Bolivia communicated their country’s backing of the platform and requested further dialogue with IP caucus to ensure consistency in understanding of any proposals put forward to the CoP Presidency and Parties.

In other areas, the caucus continues to work hard to complete statements across all workstreams here including: SBSTA; SBI; APA and Finance. There are also impromptu lobbying meetings occurring with key states as the opportunities arise.

The IP Caucus will present a statement, 1min in length to the High Level Segment on Wednesday 16th Nov. Its important that we present our highest priority level input and ensure that we are heard.

Youth delegate Genevieve Northey photocopying the position document of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus for distribution among the delegations at COP22. 

Thousands Take to the Streets in Marrakech to Demand Climate Justice

Indigenous Peoples led Sunday's March in Marrakech, Morocco during the UNFCCC COP 22 Conference

On Sunday, November 13, 2016 thousands of Climate Justice allies around the world marched in the streets of Marrakech to call attention to their struggles, their innovative solutions, and to demand real action from the governments meeting at the UNFCCC COP 22 conference. The march was led by Amazigh Indigenous Peoples of Morocco and other parts of North Africa as well as by other Indigenous Peoples from around the world. 

Photo by Emily Arasim/ Women's Earth and Climate Action Network

An Address by John F. Kerry, Secretary of State of the United States of America on Global Climate Change

All registered participants at COP22  are cordially invited to: AN ADDRESS BY JOHN F. KERRY SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2016 1:00 P.M. – 1:45 P.M. Climate Action Arena, Area G COP Conference Center Marrakech Doors open at 12:45 p.m; please arrive no later than 12:45 p.m. 

Also, the U.S. Center event to discuss a mid-century strategy (along with Canada’s and Mexico’s) will be at 5:30 PM/17h30 tomorrow (Wednesday) as well. These events stream here, for those not on the ground.
 

Live TODAY from #COP22 in Morocco

Don’t miss Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna, along with Canadian youth delegates Maatalii Okalik, Dominique Souris and Meredith Adler live TODAY from #COP22 in Morocco. They’ll be talking youth and climate change, and why the global cooperation COP matters. 1:30PM EST today, right here!

Canada and the world

CoP22 Monday 14th November: A Summary

By India Logan-Riley

Over the duration of CoP22, the secretariat have been consulting on the structure of an Indigenous Knowledge Platform. The information from the informal consultation and those that we have obtained from various sources at COP22, it is our understanding that the Presidency wanted the platform as one of the outcomes of COP22. Over the first week, the secretariat had been meeting with representatives of the caucus to discuss this and hear our ongoing input.

However, on Monday, we learned with very short notice that the secretariat and states were holding an informal consultation about the platform without indigenous peoples present. This concerning information touches on two key issues for indigenous peoples: that of full and effective participation; and recognition of indigenous knowledge. Click here to find out more about what this means for the IIPFCC.

So what happened in the meeting?

Members of the caucus attended the meeting where Ecuador requested that the indigenous peoples speak first and we were able to give our statement on the matter.

Despite the number of Parties present, we note that all took the floor. Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia, Australia, and Panama made significant and sometimes reinforcing statements. It is our observation that Bolivia and Ecuador are the “champions of our positions” and are on the rights side of the argument yet require further guidance from Indigenous Peoples. We have been informed that Bolivia is keen to seek direction from the IIPFCC on the “Indigenous peoples and local communities”. We have faced this issue before under CBD Article 8(j), where it has been our position to have the knowledge platform focus solely on Indigenous Peoples knowledge.

We know New Zealand (through bilaterals) and Australia are in favor of further discussions regarding the Indigenous platform. We have also reached out to other Pacific States, we will try to meet them bilaterally within the next days. The European Union was cautious about the process, as the platform needs to be agreed to by all Parties and would like to see the process to go step by step. A view which is in line with our view that the COP presidency is rushing into this and the need to establish a timeline that provides sufficient time for full, effective, direct and meaningful participation.

Our concern is the absence of Mexico, as the champion of human rights during COP21 and leader of the group of States friendly to human rights, we have received little to no indication of their support for the human rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is our view that Indigenous Peoples must go into a bilateral meeting as soon as possible. Further, as far as we understand, the Asia, and Africa regional group have not voiced their views yet. We believe that a number of Parties are awaiting further information regarding the platform before engaging into consultations.

Moving forward, we hope that it becomes needless for us to have to keep reclaiming our knowledge, ways of life and spaces back

#indigenousrising #IndigenousCOP22

More updates on an indigenous knowledge platform development to come.

COP 22 Selection of events, Tuesday, November 15, 2016.

09.00 – 10.00 Arabian Room (Blue zone) 
Indigenous Peoples' Global Caucus Meeting

10.30 – 11.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Briefing for the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus

11.15 – 12.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Indigenous Voices on Climate Change 
Organizers: APIB - Articulation of Indigenous People of Brazil

11.30 – 13.00 Arabian Room (Blue zone) 
Jurisdictional Sustainability: A bottom-up, integrated approach to reducing deforestation 
Organizers: Earth Innovation Institute/Amigos de la Tierra Asociación Civil (ATAC)/Consejo Civil Mexicano para la Silvicultura Sostinible, A. C. (CCMSS)/Derecho Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR)

12.30 – 13.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Climate Adaptation and Land Management with Indigenous People and Traditional Communities 
Organizers: IPAM - Amazon Environmental Research Institute

13.45 – 14.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Cultural Landscapes: Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands Indigenous Facing Climate Change in the Brazilian Amazon 
Organizers: Rede de Cooperação Amazônica - RCA (Rede de Cooperación de ongs indígenas y indigenistas)/Hutukara Associação Yanomami/Conselho Indígena de Roraiama (CIR)/Comissão Pró-Índio do Acre (CPI-AC)/Iepé - Instituto de Pesquisa e Formação Indígena

14.30 – 16.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Biocultural Heritage-based Innovations for Climate Resilient Food Systems: Lessons and Best Practices from the SIFOR Project
Organizers: Intl. Institute for Environment & Development/Asociacion ANDES (Peru)

15.00 – 16.30 Draa Room (Green zone) 
Human rights and climate change: what's next after Paris? 
Organizers: Carbon Market Watch

16.45 – 17.15 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Mainstreaming Indigenous People’s Environmental Concerns: the Missing Piece in Ongoing Political and Administrative Decentralization in Africa 
Organizers: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley UTRGV/IUCN

17.30 – 18.30 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Subnational Governments and Indigenous Peoples: Successful Stories of Climate Adaptation 
Organizers: Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development - nrg4SD

18.45 – 20.00 Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion 
Traditional Knowledge: Ecology of Care - Creating a Better Future with Sustainable Yogic Agriculture and Increased Awareness of Health and Nutrition 
Organizers: Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University/Global Ecovillage Network

Note: This agenda was compiled by DOCIP: Visit Docip's technical secretariat in the Indigenous Peoples' Pavilion!