Historic Gathering of Indigenous Leaders Champion «No Go» Areas For Sacred Sites at IUCN World Conservation Congress

http://bit.ly/1e3iCuh

 

WHAT: A delegation of 25 powerful indigenous leaders from around the world will attend the quadrennial IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Honolulu, Hawai’i, from September 1-10. The WCC is the world’s largest recurring conservation event attended by government, corporate, nonprofit and academic leaders, among its many influencers. The indigenous delegation will amplify the connection between indigenous peoples and biodiversity in sacred cultural landscapes, including the world’s lands, seas and skies, which are vulnerable to climate change and other threats. They will both challenge and contribute to the international conservation movement at a critical moment in history, in part by promoting the concept of «No Go» policies that prohibit mineral and other resource extraction in World Heritage Sites, sacred natural sites, territories and primary forests as well as other indigenous solutions to climate change. The delegation will be working to pass Motion 026 on «Protected areas and environmentally damaging industrial-scale activities» viewable at portals.iucn.org/congress/motion/026.

 

KEY EVENTS:

 

Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Conservation Activities and the Fulfilment of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

WHEN: Saturday, September 3, 1:00-2:30pm, 314, UNDP Kauhale

WHO: The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz; Aura Tegria, U’WA; Gonzalo Oviedo, IUCN.

URL:portals.iucn.org/congress/session/12620

 

Workshop: From Rhetoric to Reality: Exploring laws, customary governance and No-Go area policies for future protection of sacred natural sites.

WHEN: Sunday, September 4, 11am-1pm, Room 315, Hawai’i Convention Center

WHO: Indigenous leaders from Hawai’i, Kenya, Ecuador, Ethiopia and Altai, Russia

URL: portals.iucn.org/congress/session/10217

 

Cultural Event with Film Screening: «40 Years of Aloha ‘Aina»

WHEN: Sunday September 4, 7:30-9pm, Room 312, Hawai’i Convention Center

WHO: Craig Neff, Luana Busby-Neff and the Protect Kaho’olawe ‘Ohana

URL: portals.iucn.org/congress/session/15490

 

Workshop: A Deep Dive on Gender and Climate Change: Exploring Policy Progress, Implementation Challenges, and Women’s Frontlines Solutions

WHEN: Monday, September 5, 8:30-10:30am, Room 317B, Hawai’i Convention Center

WHO: Patricia Gualinga (Ecuador), Osprey-Orielle Lake (WECAN International)

URL: portals.iucn.org/congress/session/10233

 

INDIGENOUS LEADERS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS:

 

Altai Republic, Russia

Danil Mamyev, Founder of Uch Enmek Nature Park, Altai, Russia

Vyacheslav «Slava» Cheltuev, snow leopard shaman

 

Benin

Oussoi Lio Appolinaire, son of local chief, Director of GRABE

 

Colombia

Aura Tegría Cristancho, indigenous lawyer from the U’wa Nation

 

Ecuador

Nina Gualinga, Youth Indigenous Leader from Sarayaku, Ecuador

Patricia Gualinga, International Relations Director Sarayaku

Hawai’i

Emmett Aluli, Physician, Kaho’olawe activist

Davianna McGregor, History professor, Univ. of Hawai’i

Craig Neff, artist, activist, owner of The Hawaiian Force

Luana Busby-Neff, cultural practitioner

 

Kenya

Molu Kulu Galgallo, Gabbra ritual elder

Simon Mitambo, Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders, African Biodiversity Network coordinator

 

Kyrgyzstan

Kamil Mamadaliev, Manaschi (reciter of Manas epics)

 

Malaysia: Borneo

Komeok Joe, Penan Leader

Peter Kallang, Kenyah Leader, Chairman of Save Sarawak Rivers

 

Mongolia

Altantsetseg Tsedendamba, Association for Protection of Altai Cultural Heritage

Oyunbaatar Tseren, shaman, Tengriin Sylder Shamans Association

 

Papua New Guinea

Melchior Ware, biologist, Bosmun village elder

Banak Gamui, biologist, Executive Director of the Karawari Caves Arts Project

 

United States

Caleen Sisk, Winnemem Wintu Chief

Dorothy FireCloud, Rosebud Sioux, National Park Service superintendent

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