Climate change – the indigenous perspective

A new IUCN report, Climate change – the indigenous perspective, says indigenous peoples around the world will bear the brunt of climate change – but they are also armed with the traditional knowledge to survive its effects. The ingenuity of indigenous peoples is too often overlooked by policymakers making decisions related to climate change — even though they are among the most vulnerable to its impacts, according to the new report. The report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), released last month (March), points out that indigenous people usually occupy marginal and remote areas, such as small islands, coastal plains, mountain areas and drylands, where they are exposed to adverse environmental effects. Although these populations develop coping strategies, the severity of future climate change may exceed this adaptive capacity, say the report's authors. Furthermore, they are often socially vulnerable –– lacking rights, infrastructure and support, and with fragile livelihoods based only on natural resources. The areas liable to the greatest changes in climate, and indeed already affected, include the Amazon region, the Caribbean, southern Africa and southern Latin America — all containing large numbers of indigenous people. Gonzalo Oviedo, co-author of the report and IUCN senior advisor on social policy, told SciDev.Net, "Indigenous peoples' vast experience in adapting to climate variability will not be sufficient — they also need better access to other information and tools." The report emphasises the need to involve indigenous communities more in research and debate on climate change. "In the Arctic, scientists and indigenous people work together. It opens doors to knowledge not accessible through Western scientific methods," says co-author Sarah Gotheil, programme officer of IUCN's Global Marine Programme.

Grants for Indigenous Groups

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has announced the 2008 call for grant applications from indigenous peoples’ organizations and their communities. The Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility offers grants to fund projects, innovative approaches and partnerships that promote the development of indigenous peoples and help them. . .

Added by  Victor K. Mugarura  April 30, 2008
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Large-scale Biofuel Production May Increase Marginalization of Women

New study on biofuel production focuses on gender: Rapid increases in the large-scale production of liquid biofuels in developing countries could exacerbate the marginalization of women in rural areas threatening their livelihoods, according to a new FAO study. The study notes that large-scale plantations for the production of liquid biofuels su. . .

Added by  Emmanuel Habumuremyi  April 30, 2008
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Little improvement in Indigenous life expectancy

New figures on Indigenous health and welfare indicate little improvement in mortality rates. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show Indigenous mortality rates between 2001 and 2005 were three times that of non-Indigenous people in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Indigenous Affairs Mini. . .

Added by  Victor K. Mugarura  April 29, 2008
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Annual Indigenous Anzac Day

All Australians are being invited to attend the growing Indigenous dawn service at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anzac Memorial in Canberra tomorrow. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commemorative Ceremony, which began informally around a decade ago, is conducted in bushland directly behind the Australian War Memorial. Each ye. . .

Added by  Victor K. Mugarura  April 29, 2008
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First Nations and Cultural Heritage Management

In British Columbia, Canada, indigenous First Nations are engaged in a process of negotiating and specifying the meaning of treaties originally signed with the then fledgling nation of Canada over a century ago. The process of modernizing these treaties and giving First Nations equal voice in policy and resource management decisions necessitates re. . .

Added by  Peter Jones  April 29, 2008
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Nez Perce Country Book Review

Nez Perce Country provides basic information on the prehistory of the Snake and Clearwater River region, the culture of the Nez Perce, and the history of the people since the arrival of the White Man to the Pacific Northwest. It is a highly readable text, but the book contains little more than words; only fourteen illustrations are included. An int. . .

Added by  Peter Jones  April 29, 2008
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Native Americans and Recognition in Pennsylvania

Despite the fact that indigenous Native Americans resided in all parts of the present-day United States prior to its colonization and national formation, Native American tribes are still not recognized in all States of the Union. Often this is simply because a State does not contain any known Native American groups or any reservations within its bo. . .

Added by  Peter Jones  April 29, 2008
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