For immediate release: november 2, 2022
Rapid City, SD – Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, NDN Collective announced key events they will be leading during the first week of the conference, as well as issue areas they will be focused on during their time at COP27.
Last week, NDN Collective held a Tribal Listening Session with officials from the State Department, where they spoke extensively about Article 6, loss and damage, the dangers of market-based solutions, mining, and the issues Indigeous delegates face in attending and being heard at COP27. NDN Collective plans to continue uplifting their concerns around these issues and solutions rooted in Indigenous self-determination and climate justice on the global stage, alongside the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change at COP27.
“One of NDN Collective’s main purposes at COP27 is to actively interrogate the barriers preventing Indigenous Peoples from being decision makers within these conferences and negotiations,” said Jade Begay, Climate Justice Director at NDN Collective. “For instance, the U.S. State Department plans to grant a badge to only one Tribal representative – which erases the diversity of Tribes and Indigenous communities in the U.S., and unfairly puts all Indigenous issues on one representative. The U.S. must work to ensure more inclusive and diverse participation for Tribal and Indigenous leaders across the board.
“Further, NDN Collective has proven models on moving funds and resources efficiently and equitably in Indian Country. We will continue to uplift our solutions and recommendations around climate finance at COP27 and beyond – governments and the private sector need to be listening to community-rooted groups like ours.”
“Restoring the integrity of the environment by implementing solutions such as carbon reservoirs is critical to climate change mitigation,” said Nicole Yanes, NDN Foundation Program Officer. “Indigenous Peoples’ ways of life have proven to be models of conservation. As stewards of the majority of the biodiversity left in the world, our rights, knowledge, and voices must be upheld, respected, and heard.
“We must reject false solutions such as carbon trading, and instead respect the solutions put forth by Indigenous Peoples in order to build a more sustainable and just world for all.”
To RSVP/ request interviews around the below events, contact [email protected]
Tuesday, November 8, 5:45-7:00pm (EGY)
Climate Finance through an Indigenous Lens: Investing in Indigenous Self-Determination
Location: Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion in the Blue Zone *will also be livestreamed
Thursday, November 10, 2:00-3:00pm (EGY)
Unpacking LANDBACK: Origin Stories & Opportunities for Indigenous Led Climate Action / Global Models for #LANDBACK and Indigenous Led-Conservation
Location: Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion in the Blue Zone *will also be livestreamed
Speakers: Janene Yazzie and Leila Salazar, moderated by Jade Begay
Tuesday, November 15, 9:00-10:00am (EGY)
Indigenous Knowledge in Global Climate Science, Policy, and Action
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (UN Foundation and NDN Collective)
Location: US CENTER / PAVILION
Speakers: Dr. Kyle Whyte, Jade Begay, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chief Ninawa, Sherilee Harper, moderated by Wahleah Johns
Stay up to date on all COP27 news by visiting NDN Collective’s COP27 webpage.
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NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power. Through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building, and narrative change, we are creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms.
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