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Nia Tero Indigenous Guardianship

Insight

There’s a climate solution no one is talking about.

Indigenous Guardians care for 80 per cent of the world’s most vital biodiversity, however this positive impact goes largely unnoticed by world leaders, governments and the public during key conversations happening at the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

Indigenous Guardians from all over the world already know how to live in harmony with nature and have done for tens of thousands of years. It’s time for us to listen to their wisdom and learn from their practices.

Indigenous peoples are affected first and worst by climate change, and by colonial climate action, yet we drive critical climate solutions rooted in our relationships with the living world.
- Taily Terena, Indigenous Leader
A row of images featuring Indigenous leaders, with an Instagram post on a phone in the center. The leftmost image says, “You can’t fight climate change without nature’s stewards.” Other images show individuals speaking or posing outdoors.
A young Indigenous woman in traditional clothing stands at a podium in front of birch trees. Text reads: Drilling harms more than the land. Info at the edges includes Alaska, COP26, and niatero.org/cop26.

Idea

Giving Indigenous voices the platform they deserve.

Non-profit organisation Nia Tero has opened up the discussions being had at COP26 to include more Indigenous voices everywhere. A symbolic podium is placed in the world’s most biodiverse landscapes, where the wisdom already exists and is ready to be shared for the benefit of our world. Indigenous voices are here to re-educate humanity about nature’s rights and help us appreciate things like the impact of only borrowing from nature what can be replenished.

Impact

Voices heard around the world.

Global Indigenous voices are brought to COP26 on social media with the anthemic ‘learn these ways’ film created in collaboration with a cast of Indigenous artists, activists and voices.

Two tablets display a climate advocacy website. The left screen shows a headline about Indigenous guardianship fighting climate change, with photos of Indigenous people. The right screen lists action steps in bright green text on a black background.

A social toolkit was created for climate activists and influencers to drive conversation and engagement towards this overlooked solution. Hyper-targeted digital advertisements moved the conversation online to the dedicated website where visitors are able to learn more about Indigenous wisdom and the Nia Tero organisation.

cop26.niatero.org ↘

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