At a recent global gathering of Indigenous peoples at the United Nations, Native Hawaiian activist Makanalani Gomes emphasized the importance of youth self-determination. She stressed the critical need for sovereignty for all Indigenous peoples for their survival.
The United Nations released a new report consolidating recommendations from the event. The recommendations aim to advocate for specific countries, international agencies, and U.N. member states.
While the forum wasn’t solely focused on climate issues, discussions highlighted how climate disasters are linked to the exploitation of Native land. The report calls for effective and non-harmful carbon credit programs, urging accountability for carbon emissions and benefits for Indigenous Peoples.
The report recommends U.N. agencies to ensure projects respect Indigenous rights and land ownership. It emphasizes more climate funding and involving Indigenous peoples in conservation efforts.
Further, the report urges countries to respect Indigenous rights and regrets failed initiatives, like Australia’s referendum. Self-determination remains a central theme in the report’s recommendations.
Gomes continues her advocacy for Indigenous rights at a festival in Hawaiʻi, highlighting the journey of Pacific canoes and the quest for freedom for all Indigenous peoples.
