Pope: We must listen to Indigenous Peoples to address climate crisis
By Lisa Zengarini
Pope Francis has urged governments and the international community to respect the cultures, dignity and rights of Indigenous Peoples, acknowledging their crucial role in helping address the current global environmental crisis.
The appeal came on Friday as he addressed a group of 40 Indigenous delegates attending the 6th Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples Forum, taking place this week in Rome in conjunction with the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The Forum was established in 2011 as a platform for consultation and dialogue where Indigenous Peoples鈥 representatives convey their concerns, requests and recommendations to improve their ongoing partnership with IFAD to eradicate world poverty and hunger.
Indigenous Peoples鈥 Climate Leadership
This year鈥檚 meeting, running until 13 February, is focused on Indigenous Peoples鈥 Climate Leadership: Community-based Solutions to Enhance Resilience and Biodiversity.
In his address in the Consistory Hall, Pope Francis remarked that the theme offers an opportunity to recognize the critical role indigenous peoples play in protecting the environment and to 鈥渉ighlight their wisdom to find global solutions to the immense challenges that climate change poses to humanity on a daily basis鈥.
Reconverting Western models to address the climate crisis
The Pope insisted on the urgent need for 鈥渏oint actions鈥 and dialogue to reconvert 鈥渢he consolidated power structures that govern Western societies and, at the same time, 鈥渢ransform the historical relations marked by colonialism, exclusion and discrimination鈥, because, he said, 鈥渢he environmental challenge we are experiencing and its human roots have an impact on each of one of us鈥.
Valuing Indigenous People鈥檚 cultural heritage
He therefore called upon governments to recognize the indigenous peoples 鈥渨ith their cultures, languages, traditions and spiritualities鈥, and to respect their dignity and rights, remarking that 鈥淚gnoring the original communities in the safeguarding of the Earth is a serious mistake, not to say a great injustice鈥.
While commending IFAD's work to assist indigenous communities in their endeavours for autonomous development, in particular through its special Fund to Support Indigenous Peoples, Pope Francis said these efforts must be intensified and accompanied by farsighted decisions for a 鈥渇air transition鈥.
Harmony with creation key for a good life
Continuing off the cuff, the Pope encouraged Indigenous peoples to persevere in pursuing harmony with creation and in their communities as a key for a "goo, life", and expressed his support for their fight against the current extractivist policies which are destroying the Earth. Indeed he said, the good life 鈥渋s not doing nothing, 鈥榣a dolce vita鈥欌, it鈥檚 harmony with our environment which is more than an equilibrium, because 鈥渋t鈥檚 not functional鈥 to something.
Indigenous peoples know this too well. This is why, the Pope insisted, 鈥淎boriginal cultures must not be converted to a modern culture鈥, but 鈥渘eed to be respected鈥 , and allowed to follow their own path to development, and their wisdom should be listened to.
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