Working With Indigenous Knowledge Holders to Advance Equitable and Inclusive Nature and Climate Initiatives

The document outlines a framework for the ethical application of Indigenous Knowledge in nature-based solutions and climate adaptation. It emphasizes the necessity of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), the recognition of Indigenous women's leadership, and the shift toward direct funding for Indigenous-led initiatives. The brief draws on global frameworks like the Rio Conventions and specific regional protocols to bridge the gap between policy principles and the practice of engaging Indigenous Knowledge Holders.

• There is a persistent gap between the principles of engagement and actual practice when working with Indigenous Knowledge Holders, necessitating a focus on fairness, ethics, transparency, and reciprocity.
• Global environmental frameworks, including the Rio Conventions, increasingly recognize the necessity of Indigenous Knowledge for biodiversity and climate goals, though implementation requires strict adherence to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• Effective engagement must be led by Indigenous Peoples rather than non-Indigenous consultants to ensure the use of established protocols and the creation of safe spaces.
• Indigenous women face heightened vulnerability to climate change due to their spiritual connection to land and roles in household management, requiring dedicated budget lines and leadership roles in project design.
• To avoid the 'colonial extraction' of knowledge, non-Indigenous entities must respect the time required for relationship building and ensure that the goals of the project align with the aspirations of Indigenous communities.
• Funding mechanisms should shift toward direct engagement with Indigenous organizations and adopt landscape-seascape approaches that reflect Indigenous worldviews of interconnectedness, such as the Cree concept of wâhkôhtowin.

APA

V., L., E., M., T., R., G., R., W., O., & G., E. (2026). Working With Indigenous Knowledge Holders to Advance Equitable and Inclusive Nature and Climate Initiatives. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-02/indigenous-knowledge-holders-climate-nature-initiatives.pdf

Chicago

V., Lo,, Myers, E., Rainville, T., Reed, G., Ou, W., and Exell, G. Working With Indigenous Knowledge Holders to Advance Equitable and Inclusive Nature and Climate Initiatives. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-02/indigenous-knowledge-holders-climate-nature-initiatives.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=V. |first1=Lo, |last2=E. |first2=Myers, |last3=T. |first3=Rainville, |last4=G. |first4=Reed, |last5=W. |first5=Ou, |last6=G. |first6=Exell, |title=Working With Indigenous Knowledge Holders to Advance Equitable and Inclusive Nature and Climate Initiatives |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-02/indigenous-knowledge-holders-climate-nature-initiatives.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{v2026working, author = {V., Lo, and E., Myers, and T., Rainville, and G., Reed, and W., Ou, and G., Exell,}, title = {{Working With Indigenous Knowledge Holders to Advance Equitable and Inclusive Nature and Climate Initiatives}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-02/indigenous-knowledge-holders-climate-nature-initiatives.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }