^{Photo: David Flood}

Last June, the 49th Annual National Indian Timber Symposium, hosted by Intertribal Timber Council, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin & Stockbridge-Munsee Community, welcomed more than 500 delegates from across the United States, creating a unique space for Tribal Nations, forestry professionals, and partners to strengthen relationships and share experiences in Indigenous forest stewardship.

^{Photos: Satnam Manhas, David Flood}

The FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), participated in the Timber Symposium, with Satnam Manhas alongside David Flood, FSC PIPC Chair, and with participation of Lorraine Rekmans, FSC International Board member.

David Flood, from Matachewan First Nation, reflected on the gathering saying “it felt very welcoming, like one big family among the Intertribal Timber Council.”

Satnam Manhas also reflected on the experience, highlighting the opportunity to learn from the Menominee’s approach to forest management: “Having everyone see how the Menominee manage their forest not only for timber, but for the benefit of all species, demonstrated the importance of Indigenous stewardship and how traditional knowledge systems continue to shape sustainable forest management. It was also inspiring to see how their experience helped influence the FSC Standards.”

Likewise, Lorraine Rekmans, Serpent River First Nation, shared that the gathering, with the Menominee Tribal Enterprises at the 49th Inter Tribal Timber Symposium, was an amazing opportunity to build new partnerships. She added “the Menominee People have selectively harvested timber continuously since 1854 and they are experts in sustainable forest management. The are excellent partners to have in the FSC Network.”

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Regional meeting between Indigenous leaders, FSC–IF and FSC

In parallel with the symposium, the FSC-IF hosted a meeting on June 8 to facilitate the selection of members from the U.S. Region on the FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC).

^{Photos: Satnam Manhas}

The meeting provided a space for dialogue on forest stewardship and the important role Indigenous Peoples play in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Participants discussed the role of PIPC members and agreed on a nomination process that reflected their own cultural values and decision-making traditions. After taking time to reflect together, attendees returned with a nomination, demonstrating Indigenous governance grounded in respect and dialogue.

A central part of the dialogue was the exchange of knowledge and perspectives between Indigenous leaders from the FSC Canada Indigenous Chamber and Indigenous participants from the United States.

The knowledge exchange also encouraged reflection on the historical experiences that continue to shape Indigenous stewardship in Canada and the United States. Reflecting on this, David shared:

“Indigenous Peoples in both countries have faced long-standing challenges related to their lands, cultures, and rights. Despite this history, Indigenous Nations continue to strengthen their governance, affirm their rights, and maintain their relationships with their traditional territories. Reconciliation is an ongoing process. FSC certification, particularly through Principle 3, can contribute by recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and supporting respect for Free, Prior and Informed Consent.”

^{Photos: Satnam Manhas}

The meeting also brought together representatives from across the FSC system, including FSC North America, FSC US, FSC Investment and Partnerships, and FSC members. Their participation created an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding, strengthen collaboration, and foster dialogue between Indigenous leaders and the broader FSC community.

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“To our Menominee brothers and sisters and the Menominee Tribal Enterprise family, thank you for a week of enrichment as you hosted the 49th Intertribal Timber Council meeting and helped facilitate the North America US Regional meeting.’’

David Flood, Matachewan First Nation

Photos by FRLD, Kalea Aquino

Manila, Philippines | 8–10 July 2026

The Ninth Meeting of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) brought together Board members, governments, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, and international organizations in Manila, Philippines, to advance decisions on one of the world’s newest climate finance mechanisms.

Established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage aims to provide financial support to countries and communities facing the irreversible impacts of climate change. As climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, the decisions made by the Board will shape how resources are mobilized, governed, and delivered to those most affected.

FSC Indigenous Foundation participated in the meeting through Kalea Adrienne Aquino, Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific, who followed the negotiations and supported the participation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations (IPO) Constituency.

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Indigenous Peoples call for meaningful participation and direct access

In its closing statement, delivered by Kalea, the IPO Constituency welcomed the opportunity to engage in the Board’s work while expressing concern that several key decisions were adopted without adequately reflecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights or participation.

The statement reaffirmed that Indigenous Peoples are rights-holders, recognized under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ILO Convention No. 169, and emphasized that rights to lands, self-determination, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) are legal obligations, not discretionary commitments. Guided by the principle “Nothing about us, without us,” the Constituency called for Indigenous Peoples to be meaningfully involved in all decisions affecting their communities.

The Constituency also highlighted four key priorities for the Fund moving forward:

• Increase the scale of climate finance to reflect the growing needs of communities experiencing loss and damage, with greater contributions from historically high-emitting countries.

• Establish direct access to funding for Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and communities, reducing reliance on intermediary institutions.

• Embed Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) within the Fund’s Results Management Framework to ensure activities affecting Indigenous territories respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

• Strengthen Indigenous participation by adopting the Active Observer Policy, enabling Indigenous Peoples to engage more effectively and transparently in Board decision-making.

Looking ahead to the Tenth Board Meeting (B10) in Barbados, the IPO Constituency called for concrete progress on these priorities, emphasizing that climate finance must be rights-based, accessible, and accountable to the communities most affected by climate change.

For Indigenous Peoples, responding to loss and damage is not only about mobilizing financial resources. It is about ensuring that climate finance respects Indigenous rights, recognizes Indigenous governance systems, and reaches the communities that have long safeguarded the world’s ecosystems while bearing a disproportionate share of the climate crisis.

Missed the discussion? Watch the recording of Day 3 of the Ninth Meeting of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).