Indigenous leaders from across the Caribbean and Canada called for greater economic empowerment, participation in decision-making, and robust protection of rights at an Indigenous Peoples Forum which opened the Carib-bean Development Bank’s (CDB) 54th Annual Meet-ing yesterday in Ottawa, Canada.
Titled “Catalysing Caribbean-Canada Collaboration on Indigenous Peoples Affairs for Resilient Prosperity,” the forum represents a key step in the Bank’s ongoing efforts to tackle issues impacting the Region’s Indigenous communities and promote their upliftment through cross-national collaboration.
According to a press release from the CDB, the event provided a platform for representatives to advocate for addressing systemic challenges facing their communities. Attendees included political leaders, community elders, and Indigenous rights advocates representing communities such as the Kalinago of Dominica, Garifuna of Belize, and First Nations across Canada.
“For generations, our voices have not been sufficiently elevated, and our invaluable contributions to sustainable development have been overlooked,” said Cozier Frederick, Dominica’s Minister for the Environment, Rural Modernization and Kalinago Upliftment.
Fredericks, who is a member of the Kalinago People commended the CDB for taking “a different approach”. He said, “We must all commit to championing the rights and inclusion of all indigenous peoples, ensuring that we are active partners in a journey toward a better future for all. It’s with utmost respect and honour that I join this very progressive development by CDB to ensure that voices of first nations across our region and Canada are respected.”
The release highlighted other Indigenous speakers who addressed the disproportionate economic marginalization their communities face due to the lack of opportunities, exploitation of natural resources, and land rights issues. They warned of the existential threat climate change poses to traditional ways of life honed over centuries.
“Our cultures, languages, spiritual practices, and the fragile environments sustaining our livelihoods and identity must be strengthened, preserved, and passed to future generations,” urged Damon Corrie of the Lokono Ara-waks, who advocated for a permanent Indigenous secretariat to centralize efforts.
The release noted that Greg Sarazin, Chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakana-gan First Nations, emphasised the strength and resilience of the First Peoples. “The Algonquin nation was here occupying and defending our homelands where we have been since time immemorial. We are still here in 2024, and we will continue to be here for the next seven generations and beyond.”
Therese Turner-Jones, CDB’s Vice President, Operations (Ag), acknowledged the “disproportionate socioeconomic challenges” Indigenous Peoples confront and reaffirmed CDB’s commitment to keep Indigenous voices central.
“We recognise and honour Indigenous peoples as the original inventors, healers, explorers, leaders, and contributors to sustainable development, through food security, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and more. Yet we acknowledge that there are barriers that they disproportionally face as a result of weak social and economic development, exploitation of natural resources, and threats to their knowledge systems,” Turner-Jones said. “We have, therefore, been working closely with Indigenous Peoples across the Region – under the guidance of an Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group – comprising Indigenous and tribal leaders some of whom are with us today,” she added.
The release noted that Indigenous representatives sought urgent action, while leaders like Sheena Zuniga of Belize’s Garifuna Coun-cil underscored the need for partnerships, stating, “By leveraging our collective strengths and traditional ecological knowledge, we can catalyze collaborations benefiting Indigenous communities through truly sustainable development.”
