INDIVIDUAL INTERVENTION SESSION
11 June 2013
Intervention by Tom Goldtooth, on behalf of the Indigenous
Environmental Network, delegate from the North America Caucus.
Mr. Chair, Bureau, Indigenous Peoples Delegates and
Indigenous Peoples of the World;
This intervention is not on behalf of the North American
Caucus, but on behalf of the Indigenous Environmental Network.
It is very important that the outcome document articulate
the expression of Indigenous worldview that we all share, as Peoples of the
Land, Waters, Oceans and noting our relatives of the Polar region – I will add
the “Peoples’ of the Ice and Snow”.
The full recognition of our spirituality and cosmovision, as part of our
culture, has consistently been under attack by States and their colonial bodies
and within the implementation of their economic globalization and so-called
sustainable development agenda.
As Indigenous Peoples we are observing the UN, the World Bank, and other financial
and private sectors, including energy and extractive industries that are
pushing a “green” economy agenda. As Indigenous Peoples, we must articulate our voices in the
Outcome Document on this UN and member States’ economic development agenda that
is expanding the commodification, financialization and privatization of the
functions of Nature. These functions of Nature are the life-giving cycles of
Mother Earth.
This green economy regime places a monetary price on Nature
and creates new derivative markets that will only increase inequality and
expedite the destruction of Nature – of Mother Earth. We cannot put the future
of Nature and humanity in the hands of financial speculative mechanisms like
carbon trading, REDD, conservation and biodiversity offsets and payment for
environmental and ecological services.
As Indigenous Peoples, we are the Guardians of Mother Earth and Father
Sky. We are the Peoples of Mother
Earth. The rights of Indigenous Peoples and the rights of Mother Earth are not separate. We
only have one Mother Earth – let’s take care of her and lift up her right for
her natural laws to be recognized.
Thank you.
