“Indigenous Peoples Rights and Empowerment”

Shree Kumar Maharjan, 

Coordinator, Climate Change and REDD Programme, 

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) 

Background  

Indigenous peoples and communities are those, who have their historical connections with pre-colonial societies, their territories and distinct and unique cultures, identities. They have sustainable resource management systems in the societies where they are living and are determined to preserve, develop and transmit their ancestral territories, ethnic identities and management systems to the future generations, which is important for their continued existence as indigenous peoples in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems. Indigenous peoples are also known as ‘Native people’, ‘Aboriginal People’, ‘Ethnic Minorities’, ‘Hill tribes’, ‘Tribal people’, ‘Adibasi and Janjaties’, ‘mountain peoples’ in different parts of the world.

More than 400 million of the indigenous peoples are living in the Asia Pacific Region, which is 2/3^rd of the total indigenous population in the world. Indigenous peoples have intricate relationship with their land, territories and resources, as they are depending on their forest resources for their livelihoods, food, fibers, fuel-woods, herbs, medicine among others. Therefore, indigenous peoples continue to manage and promote the forest and other natural resources in a holistic ecosystems approach and sustainable ways. But, they are forced to leave and evicted their forests, lands and territories in many cases in spite of their contributions in sustainable resource managements. The declarations of national parks and protected areas have also resulted to physical and economic displacements of indigenous peoples. In addition, climate change and REDD+ strategies are now in the process of development without addressing these indigenous issues and concerns with minimal participation of indigenous peoples.  

There are very few indigenous representatives in decision-making bodies at all levels, that’s the reasons many policies, programmes and government decisions have serious consequences and impacts in their livelihoods. In this regards, indigenous peoples and communities are fighting for their rights, empowerment and legal recognition on forest management, land tenure, and sustainable livelihood practices throughout the region. A partner event was organized in Asia Pacific Forestry Week from 7 to 11, November, 2011 in Beijing, China focusing rights and empowerment of the indigenous peoples. Main aim of the event was to share and discuss the issues, concerns and experiences on indigenous rights and empowerment in Asia. The event was co-organized by Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and Forest Action in Nepal with the support of Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Altogether more than 45 participants from almost 20 countries actively participated and discussed in the event. There were four presentations from Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), Thailand; Indigenous Peoples Foundation for Education and Environment (IPF), Thailand; Forest Action, Nepal and Center for Sustainable Development in Mountainous Areas (CSDM), Vietnam which were facilitated by Ms. Marlea Munez from CODE REDD, Philippines.

1. Forest and the rights of indigenous peoples:

Ms. Rukka Sombolinggi, Executive Council Member of Asia Indigenous Peoples’ Pact (AIPP), Thailand presented the rights of the indigenous peoples based on United Nations Declaration on Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNRDIP) that was focused on rights for self determination and autonomy; customary laws and institutional systems; land rights; free, prior and informed consent; right to development; right to language and culture; right to education, media, health and international agreements and right to forest resources.

2. Indigenous peoples’ Forest management practices, issues and challenges: Case from Thailand

Mr. Kittisak Rattanakrajangsri, Executive Director of Indigenous Peoples Foundation for Education and Environment (IPF), Thailand presented issues and challenges of indigenous peoples in forest management practices special reference to Thailand. His presentation was focused on land and resources rights, community rights and traditional resource management and conflict over natural resources management between government and indigenous communities with cases from Doi Luang National Park and Kaeng Khachan National Park in Thailand.

3. Economic Empowerment through community forestry in Nepal:

Dr. Krishna Paudel, Programme Coordinator from Forest Action, Nepal presented economic empowerment of community forestry in Nepal with reflections of impact study conducted in Nepal. He presented the impacts of community forestry on sustainable livelihoods, environment and poverty including perceptions of local peoples on landscape changes. He also revealed the indigenous peoples’ issues on community forestry in Nepal, as centralized planning in community forestry ignore the needs and issues of indigenous peoples with denied customary rights.

4. Indigenous peoples rights and empowerment on community forestry in Vietnam:

Mr. Doung Hoang Cong, Project Officer of Center for Sustainable Development for Mountainous Areas (CSDM) presented brief overview of ethnic minorities; status of community forestry management and cases of empowering ethnic minorities in community forestry management system in Vietnam.

Major highlights of the event

As the event was more focused on rights and empowerment of the indigenous peoples, it was mainly highlighted on the following points:

• Common understanding of indigenous peoples
• International and national treaties and laws on indigenous peoples rights
• Issues, concerns and cases of indigenous peoples in reference to forest resources, lands and territories
• Challenges and conflicts of indigenous peoples with government
• Empowerment of the indigenous people and local communities
• Impact of community forestry in indigenous peoples and local communities and their perceptions

Discussion points  

Based on the presentations in the partner events, questions, queries raised in the forum and responses of the presenters were related to impacts of Indigenous Peoples Rights and Empowerment in ground reality. Discussions were focused on:

1.      Understanding Indigenous Peoples – Common understanding of indigenous peoples though known differently in different parts of the world with unique and distinct cultures, identities and management systems, different from other categories of minorities. 

2.      International Treaties on Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) – what are the impacts of UNDRIP to the indigenous peoples livelihoods.  

3.      Indigenous Issues and Concerns – What are the existing and possible issues and concerns indigenous peoples are facing on legal, socio-cultural, economic, political, and spiritual aspects that affect them.

4.      Conflicting Situations – What are the forms of aggression, deprivation, impoverishment, displacement, and inequity; how indigenous people are being affected, what are the realities at the ground in different parts of the Asia and how indigenous peoples are being able to address these conditions?

5.      Full and Effective Participation – What is the level of participation, representation and inclusiveness of indigenous peoples in decision making and policy bodies, how can it be enhanced and reflected in concrete actions.

6.      Challenges – What are the tools, processes and references (surveys, maps, and other records) that are enabling and empowering indigenous peoples?

Conclusion and Way Forward

There is no doubt indigenous peoples are living close proximity with nature and forests with sustainable resource management practices. Both Government and Civil Society Organizations at different levels are working for conservation and management of forest and resources. As part of conservation and management, indigenous peoples and local communities staying in proximity to forest and nature always got affected and displaced from their ancestral lands and territories. There are many such cases in Asia Pacific regions as well. In order to minimize such cases, indigenous peoples’ rights and empowerments have to be ensured for policy, advocacy, and lobby at local to international levels in a consolidated manner.

Forest Stewardship Council-International has approached Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) for collaboration together for inclusive and consultative processes in Indigenous Peoples rights and empowerment, which is very much appreciative. Such collaborative and cooperative hands are necessary for working together for indigenous peoples’ movements throughout Asia and World.       

Acknowledgement  

AIPP is grateful for financial support of SIDA and FAO for success of this partner event, which wasn’t possible without this. AIPP also express heartfelt thanks to Ms. Marlea Munez for her invaluable time and facilitation for successful accomplishment of the event. AIPP would like to express sincere thanks to Elizabeth, FAO for her continuous support in this partner event. AIPP would like to acknowledge the cooperation and collaboration Forest Action, IPF and CSDM.