Local and indigenous knowledge refers to the understandings, skills and philosophies developed by societies with long histories of interaction with their natural surroundings. For rural and Indigenous Peoples, local knowledge informs decision-making about fundamental aspects of day-to-day life. Traditional knowledge plays a critical role in protecting the planet’s biodiversity and for maintaining the overall health of ecosystems. For Indigenous Peoples, their knowledge of plants, animals, microorganisms, ecosystem management, among others, is essential in conserving and using biodiversity, food, their health needs and practicing their sacred rituals and ceremonies. 

While Indigenous Peoples and local communities' traditional knowledge provides a key for successful local level adaptation and advice on sustainable mitigation activities, traditional knowledge is threatened as younger generations of Indigenous Peoples and local communities are seeking alternative ways of life, moving to urban areas for higher education and job opportunities. The maintenance and transmission of traditional knowledge depends on the sophisticated sets of understandings, interpretations and meanings that are communicated through indigenous languages.

The global pandemic adds another threat dimension, as many Elders have passed away in the last 18 months and with them a generation of knowledge has been lost.  As we will hear during this webinar however, COVID-19 has also created an opportunity for young indigenous men and women to go back to their communities. They have thus found themselves in safer and more nurturing environments than in the urban habitats, which opens up a portal for the transfer of knowledge to youth. 

We can not solve a problem using the same mindset and framework which created it. We need to expand our horizons,decolonize knowledge and be open to new ways of learning in order to tackle the biggest problem of our century, climate crisis.  This webinar discussed many of these issues and more! 

September 9, 2021 (9AM-10:30AM EST)

Moderator

Panelists

 

Mina Susana
Setra
   

GiGi
Buddie
   

 

 

  

Fiore
Longo
   

Vanessa
Andreotti
   

• Jonathan Watts -Moderator- Global Environment Editor, The Guardian
• Mina Susana Setra -Panelist- Deputy to Secretary General, AMAN
• GiGi Buddie -Panelist-  Artists and Climate Change 
• Fiore Longo -Panelist- Research and Advocacy Officer, Survival International
• Vanessa Andreotti -Panelist- Professor; Canada Research Chair in Race, Inequalities and Global Change- University of British Columbia