IndigenousPeoples,LocalCommunitiesandGeoengineering

YolandaTeranMaigua,Ph.D.

IIFB,IWNB,RMIB-LAC

Montreal,December17,2017

COPDecisionXIII/14

• Recallsparagraph11ofdecisionXI/20,inwhichtheConferenceofthePartiesnotedthattheapplicationoftheprecautionaryapproachaswellascustomaryinternationallaw• Recallingparagraph4ofdecisionXI/20,inwhichtheConferenceofthePartiesemphasizedthatclimatechangeshouldprimarilybeaddressedbyreducinganthropogenicemissionsbysourcesandbyincreasingremovalsbysinksofgreenhousegases

COPDecisionXIII/14

• DecisionX/33,paragraph8(w),andfurtherinvitesotherParties,whererelevant,toprovidesuchinformation• 5. Alsonotesthatmoretransdisciplinaryresearchandsharingofknowledgeamongappropriateinstitutionsisneededinordertobetterunderstandtheimpactsofclimate-relatedgeoengineeringonbiodiversityandecosystemfunctionsandservices,socio-economic,culturalandethicalissuesandregulatoryoptions;• 6. Recognizestheimportanceoftakingintoaccountsciencesforlifeandtheknowledge,experienceandperspectivesofIndigenousPeoplesandLocalCommunitieswhenaddressingclimate-relatedgeoengineeringandprotectingbiodiversity.

IndigenousPeoples

• CloserelationshipwithMotherEarthwhichissacredandalive• IndigenousPeoplesarepartofMotherEarth• Interconnectionandinterrelation,ecosystems• LivelihoodsbasedonMotherEarthandherresources• Customaryuseofnaturalresourcesandgovernancesystems• Individualandcollectiverights• MotherEarthrights• Socialrolesofmenandwomen• Womenkeeperofseedsforfuturegenerations• OraltransmissionofTKfromonegenerationtoanother“Theabilitytouselanguagethroughstorytelling,oratoryandsongwashighlyregardedbyalltribesasprimarytoolforteachingandlearning.Thiswasbecausethespokenorsungwordexpressedthespiritandbreathoflifeofthespeakerandthuswasconsidersacred”(Cajete,1994,p.33)

IndigenousPeoples

• Learningbydoing,bypracticinginthefield• DeepobservationofMotherNature• Practicalandvisuallearning• Respectthenaturallaws• RespectIndigenousvalues:care,solidarity,reciprocity,harmony,balance,resilience,accountability• LifebasedonreciprocalrelationshipswithMotherEarth–takingandgiving-• Calendarandthecircularandcyclicaltime• CyclesofLifeandAgriculture(Activitiesandceremonies)• Pawkar Raymi,IntiRaymi (Kichwa culture)• SocialrelationshipsamongIPandIPwithMotherEarth• “Eachgeoculturalspacehasaplant,animal,song…thatisrelatedtospecificIP

Kichwa CeremoniesTumarina Pawkar Raymi

IndigenousEpistemologyPachamama,MotherEarth TheAndeanUniverse

TraditionalKnowledge

• Ancestral,dynamic,creative,collective,holistic• Knowledgerelatedtogeoculturalspace• KnowledgeforthebenefitofhumanityandforcaringMotherEarth• ImmersedinIndigenousEpistemologies• Inourstoriesoforigin• Inallourlife(governance,agriculture,water)• Innaturalindicators• Equalvalueandcomplementwithothersystemsofknowledge• Knowledgeofmenandwomen• Correctionandvalidationinthefieldwithaffection• Validationbythecommunity• Good:iftheactivityisbeneficialforIndigenousPeoplesandforMotherEarth

AKichwa Leyend:TheCondorWhoFellinLove

ThefundamentsoftheKichwa Culture

• Fivekeyinterconnectedelements:• Yachay,(toknowvariousdegreesofknowledgelinkedwiththecapacitytoobserve,epistemology,understandingdiverseworldvisions),

• Munay,(Tolove,toachieve,affection,thepassionthatmovesonetoaction,emotions,theeffortsonemakesforsomething,friendship,fallinginlove,andthecapacitytosupportotherswithoutmanipulationandthecapacitytothinkwiththeheart),

• Ruray,(Todo,toproduce,togenerate,toexperiment,toimplement,tocreate,todevelop,topromote,tomanagetodosomething,tomake,torealize,tobuildandtotrainoneself),

• Ushay,(Tobeable,physicalandspiritualcapacitytodosomething,energy,power,variouslevelsofpower,vitality,decision-makingcapacity,capacitytogovern,capacitytoleadandorient,capacitytoexercisesovereignty)

• Kawsay,(Originoflife,life,livingwellonMotherEarth,exercisingourrighttoself-determination,well-being,simplicity(García,Lozano,Olivera,&Ruiz,2004)

IndigenousResearch

• Activities:before,duringandafterresearch• Thinkthetheme,methodologyandplacecarefully(practicalanduseful)• Indigenousmethodologies:testimonies,mapping,stories…decolonization• Dreams• Guidanceandcounselingofeldersandspiritualpeople• Fasting,ceremonies,offerings(NM,Ecuador)• KnowtheCommunityProtocol(“Observe,donotask,donotwrite”)• Insider?Outsider?• CodeofEthics• Consultation,FPIC,MATandveto• Respect,understanding,inclusion,empowermentinthewholeprocess

IndigenousResearch

• Basedonrealneeds(CBDobjectives)• Forcollectivebenefitincludingmen,women,children,youth,elders• Fullandeffectiveparticipationofthecommunityinthewholeresearchprocess• Collectiveandpermanentfollowupandvalidation• Analyzethefindings• Correctionsontime• Validationwiththecommunity(Panama)• Deliverthefindingstothecommunity(culturallyappropriatemanner)• Behumble,followthelocal,nationalandinternationalprotocols

IndigenousResearch

• Humanrightsframework(UNDRIP,ILOConvention,UniversalHR)• Self-determination

• Practicalandwithwisdom• Moreinteractivethanmainstreamresearch• Collaborativenotcompetitive• Moreequalrelationships(equalparticipationandequalBS)

• Learninginaparticipatoryinterchange• Environmental,holistic,integral,forlife• Forsocialandenvironmentaljustice(Cajete 2011)

ElderThought

Livingintheheartwasfirst.Todaypeoplearetryingtoliveinthemindthroughtheheartanditisnotworking.Thepeopleneedtoliveagainintheirhearts,tolistentotheconnectionsandtomakeofferingsinloveandrespecttotheelementsasextensionsofthemselves.Peopleneedstoloveandforgivethemselvesandothersaswoundedchildren.Thepeoplecanopentolove,totraditionandbecomewhole”(Such,HarrisandMorris,2011,p.378,379)

Yupaychanimi

• CBDSecretariat• CarnegieClimateGeoengineeringGovernanceInitiative(C2G2)• InternationalIndigenousForumonBiodiversity,IIFB• ReddeMujeres Indígenas sobreBiodiversidad paraAméricaLatinayElCaribe,RMIB-LAC• AndesChinchasuyu,Ecuador