Supporting the engagement of Indigenous Peoples in International Water Policy

The Water Governance Facility group has been working with Indigenous Peoples and other partners to increase the voice of Indigenous Peoples in international water policy, and gain wider recognition that Indigenous experts are often water experts.

Indigenous knowledge

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David Hebart-Coleman

Senior Programme Manager,

Water Cooperation and Diplomacy

Indigenous Peoples have long held important roles in water within their territories, although this role is often unrecognized or downplayed by many in the international water sector as well as those many dependent on the same water sources. Whilst Indigenous Peoples, and their knowledge, is increasingly recognized as being critical to address biodiversity challenges, similar understandings are not so evident in international water policy.

Given that the territories of Indigenous Peoples cover approximately 25% of the global terrestrial land area and include many important water sources, wetlands, water towers, lakes and rivers, it is important that water governance actors learn how to better engage with and learn from Indigenous Peoples.

In the last few years, the Water Governance Facility has been working with Indigenous Peoples and other partners to bridge this gap and help to increase the voice of Indigenous Peoples in international water policy, and to increase wider recognition that Indigenous experts are often water experts.

Such work includes the preparation of a joint report with Indigenous Peoples called Yaa Heen Koosge: Water Wisdom that is due to be launched at the World Water Week 2023 in Stockholm including groups such as Carcross/Tagish First Nations (Canada), Dharriwaa Elders Group (Australia), and the Northern Maasai (Tanzania); working with various Indigenous Peoples to identify knowledge products and activities that would advance recognition of their role, rights, and obligations in respect to their water bodies, including free prior and informed consent, and supporting them to increase their presence within international water forums such as through World Water Week and the UN 2023 Water Conference held in March in New York.

In the lead up to the Conference 2023, staff from the WGF were heavily involved in preparations for multiple official events, helped to facilitate Indigenous representative participation, as well as promoting many different sessions that were being led by Indigenous Peoples as well as coordinating the inclusion of perspectives from Indigenous Peoples into the official programme.

(T)he First Nations Focus that has been included as a theme in World Water Week 2023, where several events and trainings hosted or support by the Water Governance Facility in support of Indigenous Peoples will be evident.

The WGF worked with partners such as UNESCO, UNEP, FAO, and Cap-Net to host important events, as well as speaking in several events hosted by different regional Indigenous networks such as the Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact and the Water and Tribes Initiative.

Overall, the presence of Indigenous Peoples at the Water Conference was quite strong, reflected in close to 30 official side events led by Indigenous Peoples within the programme, recognition of Indigenous Peoples within official communications, as well as a pre-summit for Indigenous Peoples on water prior to the Water Conference.

And because of its support to many groups and partners, new relationships have been formed between many actors that can continue momentum. A good example of this is the First Nations Focus that has been included as a theme in World Water Week 2023, where several events and trainings hosted or support by the Water Governance Facility in support of Indigenous Peoples will be evident.