First Nations Focus at World Water Week

Indigenous People are water experts

This is the second time that there has been an extensive focus led by Indigenous Peoples at World Water Week, and the programme has expanded since its inception in 2023. Organized and led by Indigenous Peoples, supported by non-Indigenous partners, this series of sessions aim to elevate Indigenous expertise and water knowledge.

For millennia, Indigenous Peoples have developed strong relationships with water. As first-hand water managers, they have played a critical role in caring for and protecting lakes, rivers and seas. It is only in recent years that their expertise has been increasingly acknowledged by the global community.

Join a series of events

This year, ten events and three workshops across a wide variety of topics have been planned.

• Building bridges between communities and states through water tenure.
  C1, Level 2 – Monday 26-August – 09:00-10:30
• Recognising and strengthening the role of Indigenous territories in atmospheric moisture flows (Workshop)
  Room 26, Level 2 – Monday 26-August – 11:00-12:30
• Green colonialism. Indigenous youth for a peaceful and sustainable future
  A2, Level 6 – Tuesday 27-August – 09:00-10:30
• Strengthening Indigenous and Community Rights Through Source Water Protection
  C4, Level 2 – Tuesday 27-August – 11:00-12:30
• Empowering Futures: Indigenous Water Allies (Workshop)
  Room 26, Level 2 – Tuesday 27-August – 14:00-15:30
• Revitalizing Indigenous Matriarch Roles in Water Leadership
  A2, Level 6 – Tuesday 27-August – 16:00-17:30
• Shared Visions: Collaboration in Water Resource Practices
  C3, Level 2 – Wednesday 28-August – 09:00-10:30
• Enabling Indigenous Peoples Participation: Perspectives from the Colorado River Basin
  A2, Level 6 – Wednesday 28-August – 11:00-12:30
• Yaa Hèen Koosge – Our Water Wisdom
  C2, Level 2 – Wednesday 28-August – 14:00-15:30
• Reimagining Sustainability: How indigenous knowledge is bridging the gap (Workshop)
  Room 27, Level 2 – Wednesday 28-August – 16:00-17:30
• Beyond Consultation to Collaboration and Meaningful Engagement with Indigenous Peoples
  C1, Level 2 – Thursday 29-August – 09:00-10:30
• Indigenous and Local Community Leadership in Transboundary Fisheries Management
  A2, Level 6 – Thursday 29-August – 11:00-12:30

In addition, the Stockholm Sámi Association has organised an exhibition booth 2.10, which will be located on Level 2 in the Waterfront Congress Centre.

You can also follow these sessions that include Indigenous speakers, or are on related themes:

• Inclusive decision-making: Turning legal best practice into practical community solutions
  C4, Level 2 – Sunday 25 August – 9:00-10:30
• Inclusive Water Management: Navigating Gender, Disability and Social Dimensions
  C4, Level 2 – Sunday 25 August  – 11:00 – 12:30
• Beyond Language Borders: WASH-Systems-Strengthening through Sports, Arts and Music
  C2, Level 2 – Thursday 29-August – 14:00-15:30