For Immediate Release: October 26, 2022
Rapid City, SD – At this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, NDN Collective is partnering with the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus to host the Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion – a critical space for Indigenous communities from across the world to advance climate justice and showcase Indigenous-led solutions and strategies for addressing the many impacts of climate change.
This year, the pavilion will feature spaces for groups to gather and strategize, an open theatre area for panels and presentations, and a designated space for media interviews. The pavilion will be located in the blue zone — the UN managed space for hosting the negotiations.
“We are honored to provide a critical space for our Indigenous relatives from across the world to continue building power together,” said Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective. “Despite progress that has been made – thanks to Indigenous and frontline communities refusing to back down – COP still largely revolves around corporate leaders peddling false climate solutions. The Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion is a necessary way to get real solutions championed by the people most impacted by climate change in front of influential decision makers who can and must take a different course of action for our collective future.”
“Attending the COP27 and advocating in this space is both a challenge and a burden for many Indigneous Peoples,” said Jade Begay, Climate Justice Director, NDN Collective. “Beyond the costs of travel, attendance and time, we often leave this conference with lackluster commitments from world leaders. But it is vital that we show up and continue pushing nation states and key negotiators to center Indigenous and human rights in climate agreements. We will continue to push world leaders to prioritize solutions rooted in justice and equity rather than market mechanisms or technological solutions that only act as band aids to the ever-growing climate crisis.
“NDN Collective is working to shift power dynamics that exist within the COP which have historically silenced the voices of Indigenous Peoples. Our efforts at COP are part of our overall effort to decolonize spaces and transform systems to center the needs and rights of Indigenous and frontline communities.”
“The negotiations that take place at COP each year have a very real impact on how our communities get resources and political support to address the effects of climate change,” said Janene Yazzie, Southwest Regional Director at NDN Collective. “However, these resources can potentially be tied to mechanisms supporting false solutions – such as carbon markets – or renewable energy development and conservation projects that further endanger Indigenous Peoples’ lands, territories and resources. We are showing up to shift power dynamics and push for meaningful actions that uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples. We look forward to working closely with the Indigenous delegates and continue to push for Indigenous-led solutions to the climate crisis.”
The NDN Collective COP27 delegation will be focused specifically on ending new fossil fuel leases, mitigating loss & damage, climate finance, the false solutions in Article 6, and mining.
Press interested in connecting with any of the below NDN Collective COP27 delegation members should reach out to Cabot at [email protected].
- Jade Begay, Climate Justice Director and member of White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council
- Kailea Frederick, Climate Justice Organizer
- Janene Yazzie, Southwest Regional Director
- Cy Wagoner, Creative Resistance Coordinator
- Willi White, Head of Content and Production
- Nicole Yanes, NDN Foundation Program Officer
- Angie Solla, NDN Digital Organizer
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.