Leave No One Behind - SDGs and Indigenous Peoples

♪ (percussive music) ♪

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 opt 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.

(cars honking)

♪ (percussive music) ♪

We urgently need to protect nature
and its resources for future generations.

♪ (shaker instrument) ♪

As the 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.

♪ (percussive music) ♪

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.

♪ (percussive music) ♪

In 2015, the successor
to the MDGs was agreed,

following a global consultation
with over 150 world leaders,

and with major civil groups,
including indenous peoples,

under the umbrella of The World We Want.

♪ (percussive music) ♪

The result is the Sustainable
Development Goals,

also referred to as the 2030 Agenda

or the SDGs.

♪ (percussive music) ♪

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.

♪ (percussive music) ♪

The SDGs are comprehensive
in their objectives and scope.

They include all nations, rich and por,

and promote partnership, collaboration,

and participation of all citizens.

♪ (percussive music) ♪

The 2030 Agenda commits
to leave no one behind,

particularly, the poorest

and the most marginalized
of our communities.

♪ (percussive music) ♪

The 2030 Agenda comprises
of 17 ambitious goals,

promoting sustainability, empowerment,

equity, and respect for human rights.

♪ (percussive music) ♪

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.

♪ (xylophone music) ♪

Currently, countries are creating
new national development plans

with the commitment
to inclusion and participation.

♪ (percussive music) ♪

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?

We want dignity

and nondiscrimination.

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 on
what you can do by visiting our website