This edition of the Flourishing Monthly (our monthly newsletter) is dedicated to the immediate struggles of Indigenous People the world over, and to the messages from 5 incredible Indigenous-led events we co-hosted in June.
The messages below invite deeper, wider reflection, as well as practical actions that can be taken right now—both of which are equally necessary.
We’d like to begin with a stat we find ourselves repeating often; Indigenous communities make up less than 5% of our global population but protect 80% of the Earth’s biodiversity in the forests, deserts, grasslands, and marine environments in which they have lived for centuries.
Yet, in the majority of cases, the Indigenous communities that have lived within and nurtured these ecosystems for millennia are not invited to national and international debates determining the future of their homes. It’s our mission to turn this on its head and ensure a ‘new normal’ — where diverse, intercultural leadership and decision-making becomes standard procedure.
That’s why, in June, we invited Indigenous partners to share their wisdom and knowledge at The World Economic Forum in Davos and the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn. We also held an Indigenous Listening Session in the Meta Offices in London, plus two further public events centering Indigenous knowledge.
Whilst these events were taking place, the need for urgent action was made painstakingly clear:
- Ecuadorian Indigenous communities faced police brutality during two weeks of protests against oppressive economic policies and government plans to sell their land for mining and logging. And, this morning, the news is in that these communities have achieved a historic Indigenous victory—the government has agreed to halt fast-track mining & their plans to double oil production in the Ecuadorian Amazon!
- In Tanzania, Maasai communities in Loliondo have been shot at by military officials, forcing them from their homes. Why? So a private company can lease the land and market ‘trophy hunting’ to wealthy tourists.
- In a bid to push them off their ancestral land, the Guarani Kaiowá group in Brazil, who are among the In Peoples worst hit by land theft, were attacked by Military police in helicopters (TW – article contains imagery of injuries).
These are but a few of the most recent crimes against Indigenous communities, their land and culture which have been inflicted upon them for centuries. This leads us to the question, where do we go from here? And how can we ensure fast action and long-lasting regenerative change?
We invite you to listen to, absorb and reflect upon the potent messages and calls to action shared by three Indigenous speakers. Below you’ll find highlights from each of the events, links to the recordings, and a list of petitions and funds to help the affected communities.
“It is western systems that got us into this problem with the environment that we are now facing. So, to me, it’s totally illogical that we would expect western systems, western ways of accountability, and western ways of doing things to guide us out of it”
—Shawn Wilson
We kick-started this month of events at the World Economic Forum in Davos with Shawn Wilson, the director of Research at Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples at Southern Cross University, and the author of Research is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods. Shawn delivered powerful messages to a group of political, business, cultural, and media influencers.
During this incredible Listening Session, Shawn, whose work has helped to communicate the theories underlying Indigenous research methodologies to diverse audiences, touched on listening to the land, relations as the reality of the world, accountability, and ways forward in the face of the climate crisis, plus so much more.
“Here is something central to our Indigenous world view that often gets misunderstood or only partially understood in the West: the natural environment and within it all the biological diversity, the animals and Indigenous Peoples are not separate, unconnected things; they are one and the same. Indigenous Peoples belong to a biodiverse environment, and we maintain a direct relationship and a deep connection with that environment.”
—Nemonte Nenquimo, via an interview with Synchronicity Earth
It was a privilege to host a series of events with Nemonte Nenquimo during her June 2022 visit to Europe:
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Germany
In collaboration with The Climate Action Network International, Nemonte brought an Indigenous perspective to an event exploring how to centre climate justice and just transition at all future COPs, before partnering with One Resilient Earth to deliver a public talk to a full house. A key takeaway was that Mother Earth does not want us to save her, she wants us to respect her – a message passed down from Nemonte’s ancestors.
The Conduit, London
“We’re singers, historians, scientists. I’m here speaking on behalf of our ancestors.”
In a beautiful conversation between Nemonte and the audience, she invited us into a deeper understanding of the cultural perspectives of the Waorani People, while challenging dominant cultural perspectives that disconnect us from the wider web of life and drive destructive behaviours that directly impact Nemonte’s community and the overall ecological balance of life on earth.
Meta, London
“I call upon you of western societies to make a sacrifice. This system that you’re a part of is destroying the planet and it’s going to take your support to change it.”
In a packed-out meeting room at the Meta offices in London, a profound Listening Session took place, where Western influencers were instructed to pass the mic and listen with intent, and then consider how they might carry Nemonte’s messages to the places and spaces where it’s needed the most.
Thank you to our listeners Deborah Frances White (The Guilty Feminist podcast), Maya Prabhu (head of wealth advisory, JP Morgan), Eoghan Griffin (head of sustainability at Meta), and Cara DeLevigne (model and actress). And thank you to our host Daze Aghaji.
This event took place in collaboration with Earthrise Studio, Ecoresolution, Amazon Frontlines, and Synchronicity Earth.
Watch the recording • Learn more about Nemonte’s work
“People in western cultures […] they tend to see Indigenous relationship with the natural world as being kind of mystic […] or something that’s not available to everybody. When in fact, every human being is born with the capability and the capacity of being able to communicate with the natural world.”
—Dawn Hill Adams
To draw this inspiration-filled month to a close, we were delighted to co-host an event with Tapestry Institue. Dawn Hill Adams offered profound and gentle direction during this live Festival of Nature event with Jerome Lewis. For all of us asking questions about destructive societies, and querying how we shift towards truly sustainable ways of living that are in service to all beings, this talk holds so many answers.
Take action
- Stop the Eviction of the Maasai from their Indigenous lands – Sign the petition
- Donate to the Maasai cause
- Protect Indigenous People’s right to protest in Ecuador — Sign the petition
- Follow Aty Guasu and Kuñangue Aty Guasu for the latest updates from the Kaiowá e Guarani
- Donate to the fundraiser for the Kaiowá e Guarani community that was set up in 2021 to support them in their ongoing struggles to protect their lands.
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