Indigenous Peoples possess a profound reservoir of knowledge, yet our integration into trade and sustainability dialogues is a relatively recent phenomenon. A growing number of economies are acknowledging that without incorporating Indigenous Peoples perspectives, their endeavours to establish sustainable and inclusive frameworks will remain deficient. It is imperative, as we navigate these discourses, that we acknowledge and elevate the insights and contributions of Indigenous Peoples globally.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies are increasingly appreciating the importance of Indigenous Peoples in the regions trade and economic strategy. During APEC’s 2023 third Senior Officials Meeting (SOM3) in Seattle, Washington, U.S., APEC’s Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) convened an Indigenous Trade Workshop, themed “Enabling Trade by Indigenous Peoples”. This initiative was sponsored by Australia, with support from the World Economic Forum, and co-sponsored by supporting APEC economies - Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Chinese Taipei, and the United States.

The workshop addressed three pillars: (1) Indigenous Networks and Connectivity, (2) Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge, and (3) Indigenous Trade and Sustainability.

This article expands on the points presented by OpinioNative on the third pillar, aiming to highlight the indispensability of Indigenous Peoples perspectives in trade and sustainability discussions.

Legacy of our knowledge and worldviews

Indigenous Peoples knowledge systems encompass a holistic worldview that among other things integrates spiritual, ecological, economic, and social wellbeing. These perspectives can enhance sustainable trade frameworks, promoting balance and coexistence with nature. Yet, disappointingly, Indigenous knowledge is too often dismissed as folklore or confined to a human rights space, stripping out the multidimensionality of not only our perspectives but also the instruments through which our rights, interests, duties, and responsibilities as Indigenous Peoples are recognised.

However, some economies (not all within APEC) have recognized the inherent connection between Indigenous rights and nature. Ecuador, Bolivia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and India have established protections linking the rights of nature to Indigenous views, showing their pivotal role in achieving broader policy objectives.[1]

Avoiding the “traditional knowledge” trap and valuing the technical and legal expertise

In many economies, there is a prevailing tendency to narrowly define Indigenous knowledge as only "traditional knowledge". While this type of knowledge is essential in comprehending Indigenous ties to the environment, spirituality, and history, it is crucial to recognize that Indigenous knowledge is dynamic, not static. Historically, as Indigenous ancestors navigated diverse environments, they too adapted and updated their understandings, reflecting the ever-changing contexts they encountered. In the present, Indigenous Peoples are actively involved in many sectors, bringing to the table both ancestral wisdom and insights gleaned from modern experiences. The continued evolution, innovation, and adaptability of Indigenous communities underscore the vibrant nature of our knowledge systems. By restricting Indigenous knowledge to the confines of the past, there's a risk of historicizing it, wrongly suggesting its irrelevance in the present day. It is essential to value and promote the evolving nature of Indigenous knowledge as it is instrumental in addressing contemporary challenges and preparing future generations.

For more than a century, Indigenous Peoples have actively championed and sought recognition of our rights. This sustained advocacy, entrenched in a history of resistance, has also given rise to new generations of technical and legal specialists who introduce distinctive cultural viewpoints to discussions on trade and sustainability.

Along with our allies,[2] these experts have and continue to shed light on the often-unnoticed repercussions of trade on Indigenous rights, duties, interests, and responsibilities. Beyond traditional wisdom, Indigenous Peoples also actively participate in both national and international political arenas, contributing insights on trade, economic cooperation, rights advocacy, and social and climate justice, which mirror our modern experiences and ambitions.

It's vital for contemporary discourse to acknowledge the longstanding struggles of Indigenous Peoples and for international treaties and regional arrangements to incorporate provisions that safeguard both traditional and emerging Indigenous philosophies and innovations, ensuring the protection of our knowledge in its historical depth as well as its present-day significance and progression.

Contextualizing Indigenous Trade and Sustainability

Indigenous Peoples comprise approximately 5% of the global population, yet they steward 20-25% of the Earth’s land surface,[3] which encompasses 80% of the worlds remaining biodiversity and 40% of all terrestrial protected and ecologically intact areas. [4]  Indigenous Peoples are the custodians of as many as 5,000 distinct cultures, and their languages —accounting for over 4,000 of the world’s 6,700[5]— embody intricate knowledge systems that have evolved over millennia to safeguard their cultures, livelihoods, and environments. [6]

While a growing group of technical and legal experts increasingly offer Indigenous cultural insights into trade and sustainability discussions, it is essential to recognize that policies, often formulated without Indigenous inclusion, can significantly impact global environmental outcomes. An example is the current emphasis on liberalizing environmental goods and services, lauded by organizations like the World Trade Organization as beneficial for trade, environment, and sustainable development. However, from an Indigenous viewpoint, “liberalizing” often equates to deregulation and privatization, jeopardizing Indigenous livelihoods and our very existence. Increased trade, though intended to benefit societies, can exacerbate resource over-exploitation and ecosystem degradation.

The liberalization of environmental services agenda, while promoting sewage, waste disposal, and sanitation as positive, raises significant concerns for Indigenous communities. Toxic waste residues from such activities can harm areas vital for Indigenous food and fibre sourcing, compromising already endangered food systems. These vulnerabilities are exacerbated by existing trade-enabled practices, like the surge of industrial agriculture, which has led to soil degradation, seed contamination, and rampant deforestation.

The environmental ramifications aren’t restricted solely to direct activity sites. Secondary channels, like water runoff or atmospheric currents, can disperse pollutants to regions not initially earmarked for waste disposal. For a genuinely inclusive sustainable framework, it is imperative to understand and address the far-reaching effects of liberalizing environmental goods and services on Indigenous populations. Overlooking these issues risks causing irreparable harm to both the environment and the cultural essence of Indigenous societies. For this reason, integrating Indigenous viewpoints into the broader developmental narrative is of critical importance.

THE SUPPORT WE NEED

Respect

Indigenous Peoples are increasingly engaged in consultations on trade and related policy issues. However, these engagements often take place within pre-determined time constraints that appear to prioritize political expediency over genuine dialogue.

Despite recent improvements in some economies to amplify Indigenous voices in trade and economic discussions, our voices are frequently moderated or modified, rendering them more "digestible" for economic stakeholders, often at the cost of their original essence and context.

In many cases, it appears that those seeking our views, conceive of our input as a mere reaction to a current situation ignoring that these views are part of a longer narrative – they have a lineage, and recognizing this lineage is essential when engaging with Indigenous communities on trade and related dialogues.

Because genuine respect means not just seeking our perspectives but ensuring that they are represented as accurately and authentically as they are given. Beyond consultations or engagement, we need meaningful, substantive, unfiltered and unaltered dialogues that genuinely respect, value, and honour our contributions.

Relationships

Though some economies have made strides in forging partnerships with Indigenous Peoples, our direct involvement in negotiations remains limited. Direct interactions with negotiators from various economies are pivotal for Indigenous Peoples to establish authentic culture-to-culture bonds. Reliance on intermediaries compromises the efficiency and quality of those interactions, it’s essential to eliminate these communication barriers, advocating for direct dialogues that ensure mutual understanding of each party's perspectives and contexts. This approach fosters genuine relationships and collaboration, transcending mere procedural formalities.

Resourcing

For meaningful and empowered participation of Indigenous Peoples in trade and economic discussions, it is imperative that we are sufficiently resourced. This goes beyond mere participation in discussions. A significant amount of input provided by Indigenous Peoples is often voluntary. This results in limited capacity for exhaustive research, and a lack of comprehensive representation in discussions.

Proper funding and resources are crucial for our communities to undertake the necessary research and provide substantial and informed contributions, thus enhancing the quality and maximising the impact and influence of our perspectives in trade negotiations and regional economic development strategies.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES IN APEC FOR SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COHESION

Most APEC economies have endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Despite its near universal acknowledgment, the UNDRIP does not receive the consideration necessary in APEC because it is largely viewed as a human rights instrument. However, the UNDRIP consolidates various rights and responsibilities intrinsic to Indigenous Peoples globally. While not an absolute solution, it sets the groundwork or the minimum standard for establishing international economic – including trade, and environmental rights for Indigenous Peoples.

As various economies strive to foster socially and culturally harmonious ties with Indigenous Peoples whose traditional territories fall within their economies, their counterparts must respect and support those efforts through building their understanding and acceptance of the impacts of regional policy on Indigenous Peoples.

For instance, the continued resistance to language around general exceptions that safeguard Indigenous rights and responsibilities or refusal to include provisions or carveouts that maintain policy freedom for economies and their Indigenous communities in agreements that APEC members are party to counteracts the domestic goodwill that some economies have been actively pursuing to right the wrongs of their historical injustices. This resistance within APEC hampers the very foundation of "inclusion" because it manifests in mistrust and scepticism about the authenticity of the goals set by APEC members.

Every economy has unique domestic challenges. But it's essential to see the larger picture — rejecting or resisting the integration of Indigenous rights and responsibilities not only hampers social cohesion within economies but also actively derails APEC's mission of inclusivity.

Call to Action

Inclusion is more than a token invitation to dialogue. It requires genuine acknowledgment and action on Indigenous contributions. As global economies shift more deliberately towards sustainable trade and economic models, Indigenous worldviews are the keystone to ensuring harmony between trade, sustainability, and inclusivity. The path to a truly inclusive and sustainable future lies in embracing Indigenous voices and rights, not in sidelining them.

FOOTNOTES

[1]      Ecuador enacted constitutional protection for the rights of nature in 2008, and Bolivia followed by introducing the Law of the Rights of Mother Earth in 2010. Later, New Zealand enacted Te Urewera Act 2014 and Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017 to protect these sites of cultural significance through ascribing legal personhood. This approach was also adopted by India in respect of two of its major rivers. These initiatives highlight the special and unique place of nature to Indigenous worldviews and the influence it can have on broader policy objectives. For a fuller readout on Indigenous Trade and Sustainability see: Stoddart-Smith, C. & Schwartz, R. (2023) Exploring the promise of a sustainable and inclusive trade agenda for Indigenous Peoples (INDIGI-X).<https://www.indigi-x.com/_files/ugd/9cdc34_e5c64e3f4b92484191d6a31d500b21c1.pdf>

[2]      Allies play a pivotal role in amplifying and championing the interests of Indigenous Peoples in the trade space. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Dr Jane Kelsey's dedication to this work and as a lead technical advisor to Nga Toki Whakarururanga underscores this; she consistently stands alongside Māori, ensuring that trade and related agreements respect and reflect the rights, interests, duties, and responsibilities guaranteed to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Similarly, in Canada, Risa Schwartz's expertise has been instrumental. Initially providing legal representation to the Assembly of First Nations in significant trade discussions such as CUSMA, CPTPP, and IPETCA, she also uses her expertise to empower diverse clients in a range of international negotiations. In the United States, Sergio Puig's scholarly contributions have been groundbreaking. He has elucidated the nexus between the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and international economic law, emphasizing the necessity to view the UN Declaration beyond just a human rights lens. These allies not only support but also elevate the importance of Indigenous Peoples inclusion in the international trade and economic space.

[3]      UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples Sustainability’ (April 2021) Policy Brief No. 101

[4]      ‘Indigenous Peoples’ (World Bank, 14 April 2022) <https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples> accessed March 1, 2023; UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Backgrounder, ‘Indigenous Languages’

[5]      UN News ‘UN launches 10-year survival plan for endangered indigenous languages’ (16 December 2022)

[6]      UN News ‘UN launches 10-year survival plan for endangered indigenous languages’ (16 December 2022)