For Earth Week 2021, Oceanic Global hosted Ancient Wisdom and the Ocean—a virtual gathering, supported by Aspiration, which amplified traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge from around the world & the importance of blending it with modern science to create holistic, long-term solutions for protecting our blue planet.
The gathering was hosted by actress and activist Nathalie Kelley and included four discussion circles—led by global community leaders, field experts, and representatives from Seeding Sovereignty, Eco Resolution, and the United Nations Division of Law and the Sea—across the themes: protecting marine areas, fisheries, climate resiliency, and oceanic biodiversity.
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Host: Nat Kelley
Sacred Water Ceremony
- Biskungwi Marquez Izquierdo & Guneymaku Izquierdo Marquez from the Wintukwa Community of the Arhuacos (Colombia)
Aunofo Havea
Spotlight on the Mundas People in the Sundarban region of Bangladesh
- Remarks from Sanjeeb Drong (General Secretary, Bangladesh Indigenous People’s Forum)
- More information on Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples from the International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
Dune Lankard
- Founder, Native Conservancy
- Featured Article by Cultural Survival
- Greenwave kelp farming resources (Dune is on the Board of Directors)
- IG | FB | TWTR
Spotlight on the Tagbanwa People in Palawan, Philippines
- Remarks from Reynante Ramilo (Program Coordinator, Community Centred Conservation Philippines (C3PH))
- Featured article on Mongabay about the Female-Driven Oyster Farm in the region
- Fisheries Management Case Study (C3PH Website > Case Studies > Fisheries Management)
Emily Cadiz
- Program Director, Hui Maka’āinana o Makana
- “HĀ‘ENA: THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ANCESTORS” (Book about the history of the region and community building to form the nonprofit)
- Fisheries Management
- Hāʻena CBSFA 2019 Report (5-year report for the DLNR after the designation of the first Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) in the State of Hawaiʻi)
Marina Testino
Nina Gualinga
- Environmental Activist & Storyteller
- Featured Article on VOGUE
- Featured Article in Forbes
- Amazon Watch Videos & Articles
- Artipoppe Podcast Episode
- Take Action:
- Legal Fund for Indigenous Women
- Choose Earth Campaign
John Milton
- Ecologist & Spiritual Teacher
- Way of Nature Spiritual Fellowship
- Sacred Passage
- Source Awareness (formerly Vision Quest)
- Sacred Land Sanctuary Program
Giselle World
CLIMATE RESILIENCY
Julia Drapkin
Ruby Reed
- Co-Founder, EcoResolution
- Advaya ~ related events and resources
- IG | FB | YouTube
OCEANIC BIODIVERSITY
Alannah Vellacott
- Bahamian Marine Ecologist, Coral Restoration Specialist, Coral Vita
- List of Research & Reports
- Coral Vita
Janet MacGillivray
- Founder, Seeding Sovereignty
- Educational Resources
- Bustle Articles
- Videos
- Art
- Stop Pipelines to Plastic Campaign
PROTECTING MARINE AREAS
Dr. Sarah Hameed
- Director of Blue Parks & Senior Scientist
- Blue Parks Criteria
- Blue Parks 2021 Nominations
- List of Reports & Publications
Francois Bailet
- Senior Legal Officer and Head of Capacity-Building & Trust Funds, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations
- The Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II)
- Capacity Building
FISHERIES
Melissa Garren
- Founder & CEO, Working Ocean Strategies
Films
- The Condor & the Eagle looks at how fossil fuel industries and climate change drastically affect Indigenous peoples and seeks to uplift the Indigenous lead movements that are creating positive change. Directed by Sophie & Clément Guerra.
- Sustainable Futures – Communities in Action seeks to highlight the strories and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples in Nuu-chah-nulth territory on Canada’s west coast, Peoples of Papendorp, South Africa, as well as Peoples of the island of Koh Pitak, Thailand. Created by the CCRN.
- Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change shares Innuit knowledge and experience regarding climate change. Directed by Nunavut-based Zacharias Kunuk (Atanarjuat The Fast Runner) and researcher and filmmaker Dr. Ian Mauro (Seeds of Change).
- National Film Board of Canada Indigenous Cinema offers many different films by Indigenous Peoples in Canada about Indigenous knowledge, stories, and more.
- Indigenous Voices on Climate Change Film Festival shares incredibly localized documentaries that uplift Indigenous voices in climate justice movements.
Literature
- Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples by Linda Tuiwah Smith reminds us that while we all push to support Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous lead movements in the fight for climate justice, we must all look at our intentions behind our actions to ensure that, in the process of doing all of this, Indigenous Knowledge is not colonized. Chapter 3, Colonizing Knowledges, is particularly relevant (begins on page 58).
- An Indigenous approach to ocean planning and policy in the Bering Strait region of Alaska by Julie Raymond-Yakoubian and Raychelle Daniel not only showcases the incredible impact of Indigenous Knowledge and organizing in Alaskan Indigeous communities, but it also describes how to respectfully bring western science/policy together with Indigenous Knowledge and values from Indigenous communities for ocean planning in general.
- Guidance and Responsibilities for Effective Tribal Consultation, Communication, and Engagement A Guide for Agencies Working with West Coast Tribes on Ocean & Coastal Issues by the West Coast Tribal Engagement Caucus works to build meaningful conversation and effective communication between Indigenous tribal peoples/governments and non-Indigenous communities that seek to work with West Coast Tribes of the United States. Offers a really strong base of respect for those seeking to be allies for Indigenous peoples.
- Establishment of Seagrass Decline and Causative Mechanisms in Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua through use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Sediment Coring and Direct Visual Census by Monica Schuegraf shares insight into Nicaragua Pearl Lagoon local communities’ sustainable interactions with the ocean. Via interview and observation, Schuegraf learns how local communities use western technology and Indigenous knowledge/technology to help both the seagrass and their peoples thrive.
- (Re)discovering Okinawan Indigeneity: Articulation and Activism is a thesis by Megumi Chibana that highlights the impacts of American military institutions on local and indigenous peoples, as well as the environment. Chibana also puts energy into movements like food sovereignty, protesting, and other means of resistance that help decolonize Okinawa.
- This powerpoint and video share the story about Djola Peoples in Senegal, who joined together as a community to create conservation areas and reinstate traditional sustainability practices. Their environmental values and practices brought back biodiversity and continues to support their community.
- Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Conservation in Ollei, Palau featuring the work of the Ebill Society in the Ebill Conservation Area, led by Executive Director Ann Singeo. Ann’s work focuses on a female-led approach to fisheries management. More information on Palau’s path to resilience in this report outlining Pathway to 2030.
- Community Mangrove Forest Conservation of Baan Bang La is an award-winning Equator Initiative project spearheaded by Bang La community residents with leadership from Suwimol Sereepaowong and Pichet Pandam. This is a community-led initiative to establish a community-managed mangrove forest conservation area with the approval of the provincial government. The community’s sustainable management of this area has triggered the return of the protected Phuket Sea Otter, and places this endangered species at the center of awareness campaigns that engage women and youth in natural resource management.