First Global Summit on Indigenous Peacebuilding
Around the world, Indigenous peoples often live in contested border areas on the front lines of violent conflict, insurgency and organized crime. And with limited employment opportunities, Indigenous peoples are disproportionately recruited into armed groups. Meanwhile, illicit traffickers and criminals target their lands for natural resources, ranging from violence from extractive industries operating illegally to the poaching of protected species and land theft. Yet despite these many risks and obstacles, Indigenous communities have consistently drawn on their traditions, culture and religious practices to resolve violence and build local peace. While often highly successful, these efforts are underappreciated by the peacebuilding community or ignored entirely in formal peace processes.
To bridge this gap, USIP brought together 50 Indigenous leaders from around the world to foster broader understanding of the unique capacities and approaches that allow Indigenous leaders to resist violence and build peace. This historic event helped develop recommendations to advance the inclusion of Indigenous people in peace processes and established a global network of Indigenous peacebuilders who can work to mitigate and resolve violent conflict across borders.
Continue the conversation on social media using the hashtag #IndigenousPeacebuilding.
Speakers
Lise Grande
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace
Secretary Debra Haaland, keynote address
Secretary of the Interior, U.S. Department of the Interior
Palwasha Kakar
Interim Director, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute of Peace
Wakerahkáhtste Louise McDonald Herne
Bear Clan Mother, Mohawk Nation Council
Binalakshmi Nepram
Senior Advisor, Religion and Inclusive Societies Program, U.S. Institute of Peace
Michael A. Orona
Senior Advisor for Global Strategy and International Indigenous Issues, U.S Department of State
Chief Wilton Littlechild
Grand Chief, Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations
