“For indigenous people, land, forest, and water are life. We depend on the natural environment and we care about our surroundings. Natural resource management is an important part of our way of life. For example, how we use rotation farming, avoid monoculture by growing different crops on our farmland.
In indigenous cultures, we look at the woman’s kitchen. If she has a variety of native seeds, it means she is hardworking and a valued member of the community! For us, this is more an indicator of wealth than money.
United Nations News/Conor Lennon
Naw Ei Ei Min, Executive Board Member of the Indigenous Peoples of Asia Treaty.
A strong international voice
I started my career at the Indigenous Peoples of Asia Treaty, an organization representing 14 Asian countries that advocates for indigenous peoples at the General Assembly. I decided to focus on the role of indigenous peoples in protecting biodiversity.
When it comes to the environment and issues related to biodiversity, our voices are stronger than ever at the international level. in UNFCCC (United Nations agency responsible for UN Climate Conferences), now has a local and indigenous community platform.
This is a huge achievement for Indigenous peoples, providing a space for Indigenous knowledge and means we can participate in the decision-making process.
But those changes also need to extend to the national, regional and community levels. Real change needs to happen on the ground. The complicated negotiating style of international agreements sometimes doesn’t match the way we communicate; there still needs to be more equity, in terms of our participation and giving voice to those of us who care about climate change.
Climate action and climate justice
If the natural environment is destroyed, so will our traditional way of life. Indigenous peoples are dealing with the effects of climate change every day, on the ground, on their land and in their communities.
We are facing threats from climate change, as well as from the continued exploitation of natural resources. That’s why climate justice is so important. We need to take into account the views of the indigenous people, if we are to find a lasting solution to the crisis.”
Naw Ei Ei Min represents Asia at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Affairs. She spoke with UN News during 22rank meeting of the Forum, held at United Nations Headquarters from 17 to 28 April.
- The General Assembly designated April 22 as International Mother Earth Day through a Resolution passed in 2009.
- The United Nations celebrates this anniversary through Initiative in Harmony with Naturea platform for global sustainable development that holds an annual interactive dialogue on International Mother Earth Day.
- Topics include methods to promote a holistic approach to harmonization with nature and exchange of national experiences on criteria and indicators to measure sustainable development in harmony with nature. .
