News

Indigenous Peoples have solutions to address water-related problems 

Connection and exchange between Native American Tribes and Indigenous Peoples of Latin America on challenges, lessons learned, and innovative models.

man in boat, Ecuador Amazon

“Water is the backbone for sustainable development,” commented Francisco Souza, Managing Director of the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), in a webinar on Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and Water Rights. 

On May 11, 2022, the FSC-IF’s Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD) and the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) Committee on International Indigenous Issues organized this webinar to open a discussion on the struggles, experiences, and lessons learned by Native American Tribes in the United States to benefit from and take advantage of their water resources. Members of Indigenous Peoples organizations in Latin America were invited to have the opportunity to connect and exchange with Native American Tribes. 

The event began with an introduction by Francisco Souza who presented the current situation of water as a resource and central element in the development of productive activities and society. In recent decades there has been an increase in water needs and, if this situation continues, a water deficit is expected by 2030. Faced with this situation, Indigenous Peoples are key actors in the mitigation and resolution of the problems caused by lack of water. Their traditional and ancestral practices are essential to carry out actions that recognize the value of water as a fundamental element of biodiversity, nature, and forests. Indigenous Peoples have the solution to address the impact of water-related problems.  

The experiences and lessons from Indigenous Peoples should be shared, as well as their views on water and the recognition of their rights. Dr. Souza also highlighted the importance of collaboration among Indigenous Peoples, associations, and other organizations that work together for this purpose. 

The event continued with a background of the U.S. Federal Indian Act by the Deputy Solicitor for Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior, Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes. She shared the history of Tribes and their relationship with governments, the legal context, and the agreements that have developed over time on water rights. Then Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Department of the Interior Wlzipan Garriot took the floor to highlight the contribution made by Indigenous Peoples in the preservation of natural resources such as water and the importance of recognizing the achievements made for the health and welfare of the planet.  

After the previous comments, the Panel composed of the Gila River Indian Community and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fishery Commission shared their experiences with water resources, rights, and opportunities.  

First, Governor Stephen Roe Lewis presented the case of the Gila River Indian Community including its water plan, how it was implemented, and how it has been maintained over time. It is one of the most successful plans in terms of its results, which include increasing the opportunities for members to cultivate their lands in a sustainable manner and rehabilitating parts of the Gila River.  

The Panel culminated with the participation of Aja K. DeCoteau, Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fishery Commission. She gave a presentation on the Columbia River Basin and the opportunities that the river offers, being a source of numerous resources such as salmon, and the center of diversity in fauna and flora. The river provides power, irrigation, and water supply in addition to being a  method of navigation, source of recreation, and the basis of culture and tradition of the Tribes and their ancestors.   

The creation of the dams impacted the Tribe’s way of life through flooding, leading to loss of land and other resources. One of the major consequences was the decline of the salmon population. In response, the Tribes have developed protection laws and defined a plan with goals that involve bringing the fish back into the ecosystem, protecting treaty rights and sovereignty, and providing services to the people and fishermen who inhabit the river areas. As a result of this process, the Indigenous Tribes are now leading a joint approach to the ecosystem, combining Indigenous knowledge with science and involving a new generation of leaders.   

Finally, Indigenous Peoples organizations in Latin America will connect with Native American Tribes through the IPARD Program to continue to exchange, learn, and collaborate on the opportunities water resources offer for Indigenous Peoples in developing their sustainable economic models. 

View a recording of the event here.  

News

Introducing the Judges of our Indigenous Innovative Solutions Photo Contest

Renowned photographers from around the world will select the winning photos.

The FSC Indigenous Foundation has convened expert photographers from around the world to serve on a judging panel for our Indigenous Innovative Solutions Photo Contest. The contest encourages Indigenous communicators and photographers to tell their stories and those of their communities through photographs so we can learn more about their realities, problems, proposals, and innovative solutions to defend their rights, manage their territories, and protect Mother Earth.

Read on to learn the judges’ stories and motivations and to see their inspirational work on themes of Indigenous Peoples, the climate crisis, human rights, gender, exploring identities, and more.

If you are interested in entering the photo contest, you may find more information here and submit your photo before April 15th.

Sara portait -  Judges of our Indigenous Innovative Solutions Photo Contest

Sara Aliaga Ticona is an Aymara woman, social communicator, documentary photographer and National Geographic explorer based in the city of La Paz, and founder of the first collective of women photographers in Bolivia, War-MiPhoto.

Her thematic axes of artistic and documentary research are based on gender and identity, human rights and Indigenous Peoples.

She is third-place winner of POYLATAM (2021), grantee of the fund for research and new narratives on drugs of the Open Society and Gabo Foundation (2020), winner of the Photo Book Award of Fotoevidence and World Press Photo with the collective COVILATAM, (2021) Amazon Rainforest Journalism Fund and Pulitzer Center Journalism Fund Fellow (2021), National Geographic Journalist Emergency Fund Fellow (2020), Women Photograph Workshop winner (2019), Reporters Instructed in Saving Colleagues TRAINING 2019 Fellow.

She has publications in the research magazine of the University of Bern, Switzerland, Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper, The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC, El País, NBC, POY Latam Magazine, La Nación, Cosmopolitan, Reuters Agency, AP, ABC Nyheter, bistandsaktuelt, Vice among others and photographic exhibitions in New York, India, Paris, Normandy, Uruguay, Antarctica, Switzerland, Canada, Antarctica, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.




Yannis portait -  Judges of our Indigenous Innovative Solutions Photo Contest

Yannis Davy Guibinga is a 26 year old photographer from Libreville, Gabon currently based in Montréal, Canada.

In order to contribute to a change in the narrative about the continent, Yannis Davy Guibinga has found in photography a strength and a tool allowing him to not only celebrate but also to document and represent the many cultures and identities on the African continent and its diaspora.

Yannis has worked with clients such as Apple, Nikon and Adobe and has exhibited works internationally in England, South Africa, Nigeria, France, Russia, Qatar, Switzerland and more, as well as featured on platforms such as CNN Africa, Document Journal, I-D, Harper’s Bazaar Russia,  Condé Nast Traveler and more. His works have also been acquired to be part of permanent art collections such as the Wedge Collection in Toronto. 





Michael portait -  Judges of our Indigenous Innovative Solutions Photo Contest

Michael Eko is a photographer based between Indonesia and the Philippines.

Since 2010, he follows Indigenous and frontline communities in the Southeast Asian region in adapting to current socioeconomic, cultural and climate change.

His ongoing works show how the history of colonialism with its relation to contemporary globalization and the climate crisis has created a huge impact on communities and their natural world. Working with media, academics, civil society groups and communities, he incorporates visual language into a multidisciplinary and participative approach to create change in society.





Luvia portait -  Judges of our Indigenous Innovative Solutions Photo Contest

Luvia Lazo is a Zapotec photographer, textile and art lover from Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca. Photography is her way of portraying the worlds to which she belongs.

Her work aims to capture reality from the perspective of the contemporary Zapotec woman, creating a constellation of images through time and spaces in Oaxaca, documenting the generational gaps and the transformation of identities across ages.

She is a recipient of the Jóvenes Creadores grant of the FONCA 2020 (National Fund for the Culture of the Arts, Mexico) and inaugural recipient of the Indigenous photo grant 2021.






Flanegan portait -  Judges of our Indigenous Innovative Solutions Photo Contest

Flanegan Bainon discovered his interest in photography at the age of 18 during his backpack travel around Europe.

He is a Murut native from Borneo island specialized in portrait, lifestyle, and documentary photography.

He has worked with agencies and clients in Malaysia, Japan, Australia and traveled all over the Asia Pacific for assignments.





Priscila Tapajowara is the first Indigenous woman to graduate from the Paulus Faculty of Communication (FAPCOM) in the Audiovisual Production course.

Since then she has acted as cinematographic director of the webserie documentary “Ãgawaraita” and the short documentary “Tapajós Ãgawaraitá”, besides the music videos “Carimbó com Merengue”, “Misogyny” and “Tetchi aru’ngu.”

She was the Director of Photography of the documentary feature film “Arapyau: Guarani Spring” and the documentary series “Sou Moderno, Sou Índio,” producer of the Latin American Film Festival CineAlter and assistant director and researcher of the feature film “Amazônia, a nova Minamata?” Besides acting as communicator at Mídia Índia, she is vice-coordinator of the Indigenous production company Nató Audiovisual and vice-president of the Instituto Território das Artes (ITA).


News

Indigenous Fellowship Program

We received applicants from Indigenous Peoples passionate about creating meaningful changes for their communities around the world.

Transformative change for Indigenous Peoples begins with robust Indigenous leaders. Today, a new cadre of Indigenous leadership is needed for solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises.

This is why the FSC Indigenous Foundation is launching an Indigenous Fellowship Program (IFP) for Indigenous Peoples passionate about creating meaningful changes for their communities around the world, to catalyze change at the local, regional and global levels.

In partnership with USAID and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the FSC-IF invites applications from Indigenous Peoples to exchange, dialogue, and to strengthen their leadership and networks with the aim to facilitate the implementation of a project at the sub-national, national, regional, or global level and to share their experience and learning process with their Indigenous peers. The critical topic areas of this fellowship opportunity are Environment/Climate ChangeLand Rights, and Indigenous Economies.

The fellowship aims to bring opportunities to link traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples with practices in areas related to management, finance, business development and economies, sustainable resource management, leadership, and other important topics to support long-term Indigenous self-development, self-governance, and self-reliance.

It is our belief that the outcome of this support goes beyond training of participants and translates into real involvement and sharing of experiences for Indigenous communities all around the world. 

INDIGENOUS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS

Applicants may apply to one of the four subprograms outlined below. If you would like to apply to more than one subprogram, you must submit a separate application for each.

1. Young Indigenous Practitioners:

The FSC-IF with headquarters in Panama is opening opportunities to work for a period of 2.5 months side by side with the Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD) Program Leads. A specific emphasis in one area of the Program does not exclude the participation and learning opportunities of the fellows in other areas of the FSC-IF, taking advantage of the FSC-IF multi-sectoral crosscutting strategies. To participate in this program, candidates need to have a university-level degree. English skills are desirable. This program is designed for professionals under 35.

2. Indigenous Leadership and Networking:

In coordination with the FSC family, opportunities to engage and partner with businesses and organizations linked to the FSC certification process will be identified. Participants for this opportunity could be individuals of any age who will spend 2-3 months interacting with forest-related businesses and learning about the FPIC process, economic viability tools, Indigenous Cultural Landscapes, and family and community forest approaches.

3. Indigenous Capacity:

This opportunity is open to fulfil the capacity needs presented by the candidates linked to Environment/Climate Change, Land Rights, and/or Indigenous Economies for short training opportunities (up to 4 months) in their own country or in another country.

4. Business Development Fellowship:

This opportunity is open to Indigenous youth entrepreneurs to promote the economic, social, and cultural development in support of the long-term self-development and self-reliance objectives of their communities they live in, based on their traditions, culture, cosmovision, Indigenous-cultural landscape management. To learn more about this sub-program of the IFP please click here.

Some fellows will be received in the FSC-IF office in Panama City, Panama, or in IPARD´s partner organizations in other countries such as communities, community enterprises, private companies, and FSC national offices. The organizations that receive the selected candidates will share knowledge and experience to improve their capacities as well as to guide them identify sources of funding for the implementation of their project ideas. FSC-IF will assist the selected candidates with the living costs (round trip flights, accommodation in the city or community, health insurance, lump sum for food, transportation, and visa). 

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet all the following eligibility criteria to be considered for fellowship. Approval of training is up to the discretion of the FSC-IF. To see eligibility criteria, please click here.

Women with the requirements mentioned above are encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants may apply in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese. The application deadline is 11:59 ET on March 31th, 2023. Applicants will be notified of the results within two months after the application deadline.  

Potential start date of fellowships: May and June 2023. 

Interested candidates must apply here and prepare the following documents. If you have any issues accessing the form or submitting documents through the form, please send us the information in this link over email.

  • A video, pdf or word document, slide presentation, canvas, among others describing (1) the motivation to participate including the interest in one of the three areas mentioned above, and (2) how the program will help the candidate to achieve her/his goals, a description of the project to be implemented after her/his fellowship is completed, and any other information relevant to this application.  
  • 2 supporting letters by Indigenous Peoples’ organizations that include the name, address, and phone number of the organization providing the reference (references cannot be provided by members of candidates’ immediate family i.e. parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, or grandparents).

For the 4th Window of Opportunity – Business development fellowship, please check the additional information for the application.

Applications will undergo a rigorous and competitive selection process with the participation of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) members, plus members of IPARD´s National Indigenous Committees and other high-profile Indigenous leaders.  

RESOURCES TO BE CONNECTED

FSC-IF is committed to providing a platform for the alumni to share lessons and stories with each other and the greater Indigenous community. The following resources are available to connect FSC-IF alumni and other Indigenous Peoples: 

  • IFP’s Facebook group to connect alumni to each other and share their work. 
  • IFP’s LinkedIn group to connect alumni to each other and with other organizations and professionals in their country. 
  • Connection to periodic events and spaces of interactions in initiatives with FSC-IF strategic partners, including multilateral agencies, governments, and the private sector. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information on IFP subprograms 1, 2 and 3, please write to the email below and copy Laurence Portal (l.portal@fsc.org) Program Lead for Capacity Development and Inclusion at IPARD, in the subject line. For subprogram 4, please copy Katherine Coronado (k.coronado@fsc.org), Program Lead for Indigenous Women and Girls Economic Empowerment (I-WEE) at IPARD.  

Email: ifp@fsc.org 

A webinar to answer any questions about the four subprograms of the IFP will take place on January 31st at 9 am ET.  Those interested please register here. The deadline to receive your questions is Wednesday, January 25th, 11:59 ET.

Accepting applications from Indigenous Peoples passionate about creating meaningful changes for their communities around the world.

News

Global Forest Summit 2022

Three members of the FSC-IF Council will be speaking at conference aimed to take stock of the situation of the world's forests

Forests play a central role in the fight against climate change and preventing biodiversity loss. The guardians of the world’s forests – Indigenous Peoples and local communities – must also play a central role as drivers of solutions.

The Global Forest Summit brings together multilateral organizations, scientists, the private sector, NGOs, and Indigenous Peoples to provide a platform to stay up to date on global forest trends. The summit shares the latest data on deforestation, restoration, and sustainable management of the world’s forests and inspires concrete, rapid and sustainable steps on a global scale.

Speakers at the summit from the FSC-IF Council include Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Coordinator of the Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad (AFPAT) and Coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), Gregorio Mirabal, Coordinator of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) and Kim Carstensen, Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The summit will take place on March 24, 2022.

Find more information and register here.

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