FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING OF WCC INDIGENOUS PEOPLES NETWORK: FOCUS ON CLIMATE JUSTICE AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will hold the first in-person meeting for the Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network Reference Group at the WCC Ecumenical Institute in Bossey from October 12-13, 2024. The meeting aims to strengthen the community, formulate work plans, and set priorities for future activities.

In addition to the internal meeting, some group members will participate in a seminar held from October 13-15. The seminar will address the theme "The Intersection of Indigenous Spiritualities, Indigenous Rights, and Climate Justice." Participants will share research findings, read poetry, tell stories, and engage in discussions with WCC staff from the Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. The seminar will also highlight the topic of climate-responsible banking and its relation to children's rights.

This seminar, supported by a grant from the German Foreign Ministry, will explore the connection between Indigenous rights and climate justice. This issue is particularly important, as Indigenous communities occupy 20-25% of the Earth’s land surface, with 80% of that area preserving the world’s remaining biodiversity.

The event will serve as an important forum to discuss the impact of the climate crisis on Indigenous rights and the role of Indigenous spirituality in advocating for social and environmental justice.