As one of the only national Indigenous-led climate justice organizations in so-called Canada, ICA’s participation in international climate conversations—including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes such as the Conference of the Parties (COP)—is vital for advancing our work and supporting the communities we serve. When colonial leaders gather at an international level to negotiate decisions that affect our lands, rights and culture, Indigenous peoples must be at the table.

“Our goal is not to seek validation of our knowledge and ways of being, but to center Indigenous ways of knowing and sovereignty in these global climate discussions—without compromise. ”

We must be clear - Indigenous Peoples’ attendance is NOT consent. While ICA engages in colonial international spaces, this is not to embrace the very systems that continue to oppress us. Rather, it is a means to advocate for Indigenous communities and assert our rights in spaces where decisions are being made about the future of our lands and waters along with the potential multi-generational impacts on Indigenous peoples. Our goal is not to seek validation of our knowledge and ways of being, but to center Indigenous ways of knowing and sovereignty in these global climate discussions—without compromise. When colonial leaders gather at an international level to negotiate decisions that affect our lands, rights and culture, Indigenous peoples must be given a voice.

With our home fires in mind, ICA will build upon and highlight the work of the many Indigenous Peoples who have contributed to past COPs—advocating for policy changes that are in alignment with Indigenous rights, forging meaningful partnerships, and challenging harmful narratives that uphold systems of colonial violence and ineffective climate action.

At COP29, ICA will work to disrupt these narratives by highlighting some of the challenges Indigenous Peoples face in so-called Canada–a country that is often mistaken as a model for upholding Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship. In reality, Canada is failing to protect the environment while neglecting Indigenous rights, as a trade off for economic growth and the advancement of the colonial project within our communities and beyond.

The overall success of COP is dependent on countries achieving their ambitious climate pledges through inclusive actions that prioritize frontline communities, such as Indigenous Peoples. At COP29, we will continue to advocate for the Decolonizing of Climate Policy at the local, national and international levels.

How Do You Decolonize Climate Policy?

Decolonization is a widely used term that lacks a singular, fixed definition. At ICA, we take the stance that decolonization means climate policy created by and for Indigenous peoples, not absorption into colonial policy. For decolonization to be truly meaningful, Indigenous voices must be present at all levels of policymaking, from the initial planning phases, to implementation. Existing frameworks must respect Indigenous sovereignty and prioritize our relationship with the land. It is only then that we can ensure just solutions are brought forward, and counter the legacy of harm caused by colonialism and its profound impacts of the climate crisis. To learn more, check out our reports on Decolonizing Climate Policy.

“Decolonization is a widely used term that lacks a singular, fixed definition. At ICA, we take the stance that decolonization means climate policy created by and for Indigenous peoples, not absorption into colonial policy. ”

The success of the global Indigenous movement is interconnected with our own struggles and resistances to ongoing colonialism. At COP29, we are committed to supporting and amplifying the efforts of global Indigenous-led movements. We do this through active participation at the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), established in 2008, to empower and uplift Indigenous voices participating in the UNFCCC processes. Through our daily meetings and follow-up efforts, we will work to amplify Indigenous-led climate solutions and advance the key goals and lobbying efforts of the Indigenous caucus.

What does this mean for communities back home?

*Indigenous Climate Finance Action; COP28 Dubai*

Participating in the UNFCCC is simply a tool in the toolbox of global climate action. We need Indigenous people leading climate solutions at every level of society. The work at home informs the work at the global level and vice versa. None of this happens in isolation..

With climate finance being a major focus of this COP, the need for Indigenous peoples on the ground in Baku is crucial. Climate finance includes everything from the need to create a global fund to support those most impacted by climate change, how much is needed and how to distribute to the right people. Right now, the global Indigenous movement is demanding for direct, equitable, dedicated arrangements and simplified access for Indigenous Peoples in all regions of the world.

So-called Canada is the judge, jury and executor when it comes to climate finance, maintaining a paternalistic relationship with Indigenous people and determining how we adapt, mitigate and enact solutions to the climate crisis. We must demand direct access to ensure Indigenous communities are able to self-determine their solutions and strategies.

“We have been protecting 80% of the world’s biodiversity, ensuring that our lands and territories are protected from harmful colonial practices. As a form of enacting our sovereignty as Indigenous Peoples, we must continue to disrupt the colonial forces in these spaces.”

Climate finance is only one of the topics that ICA and the broader global Indigenous movement is following. Throughout all of the topics being negotiated here in Baku, we are calling on States and negotiators to prioritize human rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. We have been protecting 80% of the world’s biodiversity, ensuring that our lands and territories are protected from harmful colonial practices. As a form of enacting our sovereignty as Indigenous Peoples, we must continue to disrupt the colonial forces in these spaces.

Indigenous peoples must be at the table—not pushed to the sidelines

Want to Stay in the loop?

Join us in spirit at COP29 hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan and f along for updates and calls to action by visiting our COP29 webpage and social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok)! Let’s work together to strengthen the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples through meaningful inclusion in global climate discussions and strategies.

We also encourage you to explore our coverage of previous COPs and other resources that align with ICA’s mission of uplifting Indigenous voices, sovereignty, and stewardship of the lands and waters for future generations.

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ICA at the previous UNFCCC!

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No Decision About Us Without Us: ICA’s Goals for COP29