Leave No One Behind - SDGs and Indigenous Peoples

We are at the tipping point in the way

humankind inhabits the earth.

Depending on what we do next

this could be good news or bad

If we don't work together
to fight threats to

our existence such as climate change,

If we don't ought to end hunger,
poverty or

change the ways we share and nurture our

planet if we don't care about how we

treat each other or about equality and

sustainability then our lives and

communities may well be in jeopardy

We urgently need to protect nature in its

resources for future generations.

As a first step in 2000, world leaders

ratified the Millennium Development

Goals or the MDGs, created to help focus

on tackling some of the world's most

acute problems. By 2015 we had made

significant progress in areas such as

gender parity in primary education,

reduction in child mortality, access to

piped drinking water.

However, indigenous peoples were left

behind, and much remains to be done if we

are to uplift those still in poverty,

marginalized, and discriminated, and

achieve sustainable development for all.

In 2015 the successor to the MDGs was

agreed following a global consultation

with over a hundred and fifty world

leaders, and with major civil groups

including indigenous people under the

umbrella of the world we want. The result

is the sustainable development goals

also referred to as the 2030 agenda or

the SDGs. This ambitious set of goals is

a guide and framework for what we

collectively must achieve over the next

15 years to bring about a fair

and sustainable world. The SDGs are

comprehensive in their objectives and

scope. They include all nations rich and

poor and promote partnership,

collaboration, and participation of all

citizens. The 2030 agenda commits to

leave no one behind,

particularly the poorest and the most

marginalized of our communities. The 2030

agenda comprises of 17 ambitious goals,

promoting sustainability, empowerment,

equity, and respect for human rights.

Let's look at each of the goals. No

poverty; zero hunger; good health and

well-being; quality education; gender

equality; clean water and sanitation;

affordable and clean energy; decent work

and economic growth; industry innovation

and infrastructure; reduced inequalities;

sustainable cities and communities;

responsible consumption and production;

climate action; life below water; life on

land, peace, justice, and strong

institutions partnerships for the goals.

These are the sustainable development

goals, but there are cautions too for our

indigenous societies. The goals of

economic development in

industrialization must be managed

carefully to avoid violation of

indigenous land rights and ensure

equitable use of resources.

Currently countries are creating new

national development plans with the

commitment to inclusion and

participation. As indigenous peoples, we

must engage in these national

discussions and decisions. This is a

unique opportunity for indigenous

peoples to confirm our place in the

future of the planet and not to be left

behind. Who are we? There are more than

370 million indigenous peoples

throughout the world. We manage many

different ecosystems and traditional

occupations. Where can you find us?

Plains, grasslands, and tundra, oceans

deserts, forests, mountains. The SDGs are

relevant and applicable to the world's

indigenous peoples directly, and as a

contributor to their success. They create

a framework that will guide governments,

private sector, and civil society to

create a better world and mutually

beneficial relationships with and for

indigenous peoples. We as indigenous

peoples have been conserving our

resources sustainably for centuries, not

only for our survival, but also as part

of our identities, culture, and well-being

of humanity and the planet. This must

continue to be protected, ensuring that

indigenous peoples and our ways of life

form a core element of our common future.

What do we, as indigenous peoples require

in order to take part in meaningful ways?

Education, capacity building, partnerships

with governments based on the respect

for our rights and trusted partners, a

place at the negotiating tables at

national, regional, and global levels.

This aggregation of data based on

ethnicity without properly collecting and

filtering data, indigenous peoples could

be misrepresented or simply remain
invisible.

Indigenous peoples need to be

part of reporting and review processes

from national to global platforms.

Already, initiatives are being put into

place to address this, such as the

indigenous navigator, which monitors the

level of recognition and implementation

of their rights. The SDGs already have

shoulders to stand on in the form of the

United Nations declaration on the rights

of indigenous peoples and other UN

instruments. These should be fully

integrated into the SDGs implementation,

particularly involving indigenous

peoples land rights and cultural

integrity. What do we, as indigenous

peoples, have to offer? Indigenous

knowledge and innovations, sustainable

food production and food security,

knowledge and values for sustainable

living, cultural diversity,

conflict prevention,

conservation of forests, natural

resources and biodiversity, medicines,

handicrafts. What is the world that we

want?

The education period is very important
to indigenous people.

Access to indigenous education,

recognizing the contributions of

indigenous peoples in sustainable

development

Good health and well-being. It is really

the essence of being connected to your

lands, languages, your culture. Holding the

destruction of our habitat and

territories.

Empowerment of and respect for the
rights of indigenous women, youth,

and indigenous persons with disabilities.

The whole sustainable development goal

should be focused that no one will be

left behind, and is also that nothing

about us without us

we, as indigenous peoples, have so much to

give to the future diversity and

security of the planet. The SDGs will not

achieve their aims

without the effective participation and

inclusion of indigenous peoples. Find out

more and what you can do by visiting our

website