Indigenous Peoples Roundtable

This session highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge in crafting sustainable human settlements. Integrating traditional practices with modern planning challenges, the roundtable aims to foster an understanding of sustainability that respects and incorporates indigenous perspectives.

Indigenous peoples, numbering over 476 million individuals across 90 countries, speaking a majority of the world's estimated 7,000 languages and representing approximately 5,000 distinct cultures, are present in cities throughout the Global North and South. Urban indigenous populations confront unique challenges, including marginalization and systemic racism, inadequate access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities, and heightened vulnerability to environmental hazards and gentrification. These challenges underscore the need for policies to ensure that planning is not only environmentally sustainable but also culturally inclusive and attentive to indigenous wisdom.

UN-Habitat has worked extensively with urban Indigenous communities starting with the Indigenous Peoples and the City Declaration adopted during Habitat III, which emphasized Indigenous peoples’ right to the city and their needs. Building on this foundation, this roundtable aims to address the shared systemic challenges faced by indigenous people by integrating indigenous perspectives into development strategies. The roundtable will discuss the path toward inclusive governance and culturally informed planning, exploring strategies for developing policies that are sensitive to the needs and contributions of indigenous populations. This approach highlights the indispensable role of indigenous knowledge in innovating sustainable solutions that are both environmentally responsible and culturally inclusive, positioning it as a vital component of global development dialogues.

Linkage with WUF12 theme

This roundtable aligns closely with the WUF12 theme of "Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities." The session emphasizes that 'home' encompasses not only physical spaces but also the cultural, social and environmental frameworks that define communities.

The roundtable recognizes the essential role of indigenous knowledge in achieving sustainable urban and human settlements. This engagement is deeply rooted in the United Nations' acknowledgment of indigenous peoples' unique cultural, social and environmental contributions worldwide. Indigenous communities, despite facing severe challenges such as healthcare access deficits exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have been pivotal in utilizing traditional knowledge and languages to innovate and adapt to modern crises sustainably. The Roundtable also builds upon the Indigenous Cities Declaration (Habitat III) and the work done by the Youth 2030 Cities and Sister Neighborhoods programme supporting indigenous youth’s engagement in the localization of the SDGs.

The acknowledgment by the United Nations, through initiatives like the "We Are Indigenous" series, underlines the value of indigenous methodologies in global sustainability efforts. These approaches are not only about environmental stewardship but also encompass social cohesion, governance and the resilience of cultural practices. Indigenous peoples' ability to maintain their heritage, while innovatively tackling contemporary global issues, offers valuable lessons in sustainability that are crucial for urban planning and development.

Moreover, the emphasis on the preservation and revitalization of indigenous languages and cultural practices contributes significantly to the diversity and richness of urban life. By incorporating these elements into human settlement planning and governance, communities can benefit from more inclusive and holistic development strategies that respect and integrate the wisdom of indigenous cultures. This approach aligns with WUF12's focus on creating cities that are not only physically sustainable but also socially inclusive and culturally rich, offering a model for global development that respects and leverages local knowledge and traditions.

Objectives

• Explore strategies to incorporate indigenous perspectives and traditional practices into sustainable urban development, ensuring policies are culturally inclusive and environmentally responsible.
• Identify and propose solutions to overcome systemic barriers such as marginalization, inadequate access to services, and environmental vulnerabilities faced by indigenous communities in urban areas.
• Encourage the development of inclusive governance frameworks that respect and leverage indigenous wisdom, fostering partnerships between indigenous communities and urban policymakers.

Expected outcomes and impact

• Development of culturally inclusive human settlement policies: The roundtable aims to inform policymakers and planners about the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge into development strategies. This could lead to the formulation of policies that are not only environmentally sustainable but also culturally inclusive, ensuring that the unique needs and contributions of indigenous populations are recognized and integrated.
• Enhanced resilience of human settlement environments: By incorporating traditional practices and indigenous perspectives on sustainability, the roundtable is expected to provide insights that help human settlements enhance their resilience against environmental hazards. This includes adopting indigenous methods of natural resource management and environmental stewardship within urban and human settlement planning processes.
• Promotion of social inclusion and equity: The discussion underscores the role of cultural expression and traditional knowledge in promoting social inclusion. Highlighting the power of indigenous languages and practices, the roundtable will foster a broader understanding and respect for cultural diversity in human settlement settings, which is crucial for building equitable communities.
• Strengthened global collaboration on indigenous human settlement development: By showcasing examples of successful international collaborations among indigenous communities, the session is anticipated to encourage further global partnerships. These collaborations are essential for shaping policies that respect and uphold indigenous rights and wisdom, contributing to more inclusive governance frameworks globally.

Guiding questions

• How can urban planners effectively integrate indigenous knowledge and practices into city development to enhance sustainability and inclusivity?
• What are the primary challenges faced by indigenous populations in urban settings, and what successful strategies have been implemented to address these issues?
• In what ways can indigenous cultural practices contribute to more resilient and cohesive urban communities?
• How can partnerships between indigenous communities and urban policymakers be strengthened to ensure culturally sensitive governance and planning?