May 22: International Day for Biological Diversity

Today, May 22nd, is International Day for Biological Diversity and we wanted to highlight Indigenous wins around the world for BioDiversity protections, conservation efforts, and earth defense. The following slides share the theme for this year which is “Acting locally for global impact” which reflects our values here at Woven and the work we do with our Global Indigenous Advisory Council, the many ways in which they are involved with international community dialogues and hands on work locally. Have today inspire you to take action by amplifying the ongoing efforts for fostering BioDiversities both in your own community and uplifting others.

#indigenousclimateaction #landrights #waterislife #biodiversité

Reflections on the Transition Away From Fossil Fuel Conference

This past month (April 2026), the Woven Project team, along with members of Global Indigenous Advisory Council, attended the First International Conference on the Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF), the People’s Summit and Indigenous Peoples Pre-assembly in Santa Marta, Colombia. Woven prioritized our time and efforts in support of the autonomous Indigenous Peoples space hosted by OPIAC - who spent months negotiating with the Colombian government to support Indigenous Peoples and voices.

What was the TAFF? 

The TAFF conference was hosted by the Colombia and Netherlands governments, and was the first of its kind, branded as a space outside of the UN where they could “initiate a concrete process through which a coalition of committed countries, subnational governments, and relevant stakeholders can identify and advance enabling pathways to implement a progressive transition away from fossil fuels, creating sustainable societies and economies.” The conference was open to countries, subnational governments, academia, Indigenous Peoples, Peoples of African Descent, peasants, civil society, workers, the private sector, and other key actors at different stages of the transition. 

Over 50 nation-states attended this inaugural gathering. Absent were many of the major oil-producing states, but Canada and Australia both attended. States in attendance according the websiteAngola, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kiribati, Luxembourg, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

Elements of this conference were in response to a global effort to develop a Fossil Fuel Non-Poliferation Treaty, something that is greatly needed. However, the process for this treaty still relies heavily on upholding colonial systems and processes. This conference was built in that frame and the three thematic areas to guide the conversations at the conference were as follows:

• Overcoming economic dependence

• Transforming supply and demand

• Advancing international cooperation and climate diplomacy

As an Indigenous participant I found there were severe limitations to these categories and it was clear the framing was very reductionist centering existing capitalist economies over planetary health and human rights.  Historically, discussions on fossil fuels and a just transition have not been welcomed in the UN spaces as major oil producing countries and corporations dominate discussion trying to maintain the status quo of petrostate economies and “solutions” that don’t threaten them. This conference proposed to work outside of the UN systems and spaces that would allow for more robust conversations with various stakeholders, and conversations that have remained stagnant for decades. 

While many people applauded brave states, like Colombia, in building a space to have “difficult” conversations and share ideas, plans and strategies for transitioning away from fossil fuels, I personally felt it fell short of achieving anything transformational or ambitious. While I appreciated the intent of creating a new and improved space, I struggled with how this “new space” didn’t function any differently than standard UN negotiations spaces, and still treated Indigenous Peoples as “stakeholders” with the same, in perhaps even diminished, access to high level discussion along with the rest of civil society.  It was even more surprising to see major oil producing nations like Canada and Australia present considering they have been doing very little to transition away from fossil fuels, have a deep history of exclusionary and racist policies for Indigenous Peoples, and in many respects are doubling down on production and using false solutions and net zero strategies to cover their tracks. 

I don’t know how to stress this enough, Indigenous Peoples have unique regional, national and internationally recognized inherent and distinct collective rights over our lands, territories and waters. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (2007) established a universal framework for the MINIMUM (not maximum) standards for the dignity and well-being of Indigenous Peoples. It holds up our rights to self-determination, access and decision making to our lands, territories and culture. Most notable are the multiple references to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) throughout the Declaration. This is important in the context of this conference and the themes discussed throughout, each area interconnected to the other, and proposed solutions often in contravention to upholding the rights of our Peoples. 

At the TAFF, colonial states continued to control the space, how it would function, who would have access to what and where and why, ultimately sidelining and siloing civil society and Indigenous Peoples alike. This was a direct abrogation of the tenets of UNDRIP and FPIC and it is clear that states are still grappling with what it means to truly uphold UNDRIP and respect our rights to self-determination. For Indigenous Peoples, our knowledge, sciences and ways of being are interwoven into the fabric of our cosmology and into the ways we see solutions to the climate crisis, which is a poly crisis. We can no longer silo transitioning away from fossil fuels from a just transition, human rights, Indigenous rights and the protection and preservation of all life. Something that felt difficult in a space that was designed to divide us into segments and issues to be worked through separately. 

Ultimately, this led to high tensions between Indigenous Peoples, civil society organizations (CSOs), national governments, sub-nationals, and global NGO’s. What unfolded was significant efforts by all the various stakeholders to control the narrative of this so-called transition. For Indigenous Peoples this meant stretching ourselves across the different sectoral spaces, trying to ensure that our rights, our ideology and way of life remained present and relevant. 

 The biggest challenges for Indigenous Peoples that we witnessed were as follows:

• Exclusion of Indigenous Voice: Indigenous peoples were frequently excluded from the broader CSO spaces and official People’s Assemblies and only had limited access to the high-level segments.

• Competing Agendas: Direct conflicts arose between government-led transition plans and the localized, rights-based demands of frontline communities.

• Scheduling Overlaps: The People’s Assemblies on April 26th and 27th intentionally or unintentionally overlapped with the Indigenous Peoples Autonomous Meeting, forcing a fragmentation of Indigenous representation.

The Outcomes

It should be noted that nothing was binding, everything felt a little performative, ethereal and unclear how this conference would actually move the needle on transitions away from fossil fuels. It felt like a lot of hot air, comparable with the scoring heat of Santa Marta. I found one of the most jarring hypocrisies of the conferences was how everything was being powered by diesel generators in an attempt to not overload the grid when keeping conference attendees cool inside the venues. 

Moreover, it was even more unclear how states would actually include, value and uphold Indigenous Peoples rights, voices and ways of being, in building a true transition away from fossil fuels. This was especially true when we learned that the high-level segments would be limited and there would be little to no room for broader Indigenous participation in the actual dialogues with states. They would relegate the thousands of participants (civil society, including Indigenous Peoples) who travelled to Santa Marta to, in some cases, literally fight for one of the limited “observer” tickets to enter the high-level space. If you were lucky enough, you might even have been granted the even more limited “speaker” ticket so that you would be allowed to speak with accredited delegates. 

I would be remiss to not mention that the hosts of the conference relied heavily on AI to synthesize session discussions and written submissions. While this meant that the final outcomes of the conference were released on April 30th, it meant turning away from the energy and water intensity of AI, not to mention the human and Indigenous rights implications associated with it. I also couldn’t help but wonder how much was excluded and what kinds of AI hallucinations there may have been. 

Throughout the 15 page outcome document Indigenous Peoples are only mentioned 4 times, and there are no references to the Position paper that global Indigenous peoples spent weeks drafting and days negotiating the finality of. Additionally, there were no references to the direct relationship between wars and conflict and fossil fuels, the ongoing pursuit of false solutions, geoengineering, and nuclear energy as ways to achieve net zero without actually transitioning away from fossil fuels. In fact, during the high-level segments, many nation-states named carbon markets, biodiversity offsets and other false solutions as necessary to build a pathway to transition away from fossil fuels.

States in the high-level segment really shone a light on how states see a transition away from fossil fuels “requires” carbon markets and other false solutions that can "stabilize" regional economies. Additionally, we heard the same old, same old focus on stabilizing capitalist economies by limiting the discussion to energy transition, carbon accounting and how states can maintain power and control over resources and their positions of power at the global stage. This leaves Indigenous Peoples and those most impacted completely out of the equation and left on the sidelines.  

For Indigenous Peoples, a real transition will require a holistic approach that isn’t just about fossil fuels and must include discourse on the increasing use of false solutions such as carbon markets, geoengineering, nuclear and biodiversity offset, and global strategies to mine critical minerals deemed necessary for an energy transition.  While the space was fragmented and disorganized, and sometimes a bit challenging to navigate, it was a necessary space to participate in to ensure that our voices, issues and rights were not invisibilized again. So we showed up, everywhere we could and even if we weren’t meaningfully included in the outcomes, we were there demanding a better way forward.

The Indigenous Peoples Voice and Space

“Indigenous Peoples are rights-holders, self-governing Peoples, and guardians of our territories and Mother Earth. Without the right to self-determination, Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and the legal protection and security of our territories, lands and waters, there is no climate, environmental and economic justice. The Just Transition recognizes that humans are inseparable from Earth and nature. The Just Transition and phase out of fossil fuels must be built with us or it will not be just.”

The final position paper developed by Indigenous peoples was a beautiful articulation of what a real pathway to transitioning away from fossil fuels can look like. We developed 13 principles that guided our responses to the three thematic areas of discussion, providing clear and articulate strategies to address each area while upholding the rights, culture and lives of Indigenous peoples. The final position paper can be found here.

One of the most important articulations in the position paper was the Elimination and non-repetition of extractivism, Reject climate false solutions, and Move away from market mechanisms and financialization of Nature, and the acknowledgement of existing global agreements adopted by all nation-states in the UAE Just Transition Work Programme, paragraph 12.i, which states:

“...i) “The importance of the rights of Indigenous Peoples including their right to free, prior and informed consent and the importance of ensuring that all just transition pathways respect, protect and promote the distinct, collective and internationally recognized rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to self-determination, and acknowledge the specific rights and protections for Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact, in accordance with relevant international human rights instruments and principles;”

For the Woven team we prioritized this space and supported the work to secure and defend an autonomous Indigenous-only spaces where knowledge, strategy, and innovation could be exchanged without the interference of colonial timelines or state-driven agendas. This space was coordinated by OPIAC with support from the Colombian government. OPIAC did a tremendous job of setting up coordination calls in the lead up to the conference and hosting two days of meetings to refine and define a statement of Indigenous Peoples for a transition away from fossil fuels.

This allowed us to participate in the following:

• Shifting the Narrative: Moving the discourse away from Western-centric “solutions” toward Indigenous-led solutions rooted in Indigenous Knowledges and Sciences, Inherent and Collective Rights, Land Back and Upholding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

• Uplifting Global Solidarity: Strengthening relationships with regional and global partners to ensure Indigenous voices directly inform global policy.

• Contributing to Indigenous Peoples Statement: Participating in the development of the Indigenous Peoples Statement that highlights the leadership, needs and demands of Indigenous Peoples in developing pathways for transitioning away from fossil fuels and building a true just transition. 

This engagement served as a critical platform to advance Woven's mission of bridging ancestral knowledge with modern climate action while ensuring Indigenous self-determination remains at the forefront of the global energy transition.

However, it was very challenging to decide which spaces we would participate in as the civil society coordinated Peoples Assembly, which overlapped with the Indigenous Peoples pre-assemblies. We found ourselves trying to decide who would go where and what positions we would hold in each space. Additionally, there was very limited participation of Indigenous peoples beyond Latin America, with only a small handful of representatives from other regions. 

Ultimately, the statement created by global Indigenous representatives present at the conference was a strong articulation of our needs and demands in the pathway for transitioning away from fossil fuels and beyond. We strived for a consensus model in working out language, identifying key issues and proposing solutions to the three themes proposed by the conference host. The group went beyond and laid foundations to address how conflict, the pursuit of critical minerals and false solutions continue to be sidelined in the conversations and why our people, our knowledge, our way of being,  and our rights to self-determination are essential. 

It’s clear we have a lot of work to do, and it remains unclear how the position paper we worked on will be used, referenced or considered by colonial states. 

Conclusion

The tensions witnessed in Colombia underscore the primary threat to climate solutions: the continued colonization of the transition process, which extracts resources from Indigenous lands while excluding their stewards from decision-making. We were left with a watered-down, weakened outcome document that continues to perpetuate the status quo of colonial capitalism as the beating heart of society, driving business as usual in extractive industries, and dividing the global majority movements by making us fight for scraps and a perverted semblance of power. I would have liked to have seen a better reflection of how this would lead to the fossil fuel treaty and include key stakeholders in the process, but that felt unclear and even omitted from the final outcomes. 

I want to underscore and acknowledge that this was an experimental conference and brought an important conversation to the forefront of colonial nation-states. A conversation that Indigenous Peoples and those most deeply impacted by the fossil fuel industry have been asking for. So while this conference may not have had the conclusion we may have hoped for, we are very curious how the next proposed iteration of this conference in Tuvalu in 2027 will amend mistakes made at this one. 

One final reflection happened during the closing plenary when the Minister of Tuvalu announced they would be the host of the next TAFF he also made a powerful remark stating that Indigenous peoples will be a central player in leading discussions. To my surprise, the statement gave way to almost no fanfare or applause. I felt like I was a lone voice cheering in the audience. This was juxtaposed when the minister went on to share how civil society actors would be more deeply engaged and included, and the room burst into claps and hollering - a real demonstration that there is still a long way to go in understanding the value of Indigenous rights, culture, knowledge and sciences in these spaces. 

Following this conference, Woven is continuing to prepare for our inaugural global gathering in September 2026 to further consolidate an autonomous global Indigenous space to share our strategies, knowledge, culture and voice to build a cohesive movement of Indigenous climate leaders. We remain dedicated to the prophecy that survival depends on the shared strength and knowledge of all Indigenous Peoples from every corner of the world. We have a lot of work to do to demonstrate the power and scale of Indigenous Peoples in advancing climate solutions and strategies that the whole world could benefit from. 

April 22: Earth Day

The Earth Day 2026 theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” which emphasizes collective action, community mobilization, and the transition to renewable energy to drive environmental progress. It highlights that the power to protect the environment rests with people, rather than relying solely on political or corporate leadership.

Today, we at Woven are highlighting Indigenous efforts to combat Earth Mining.

Global Heat Wave - 2026 Reports

While we move closer to warmer months, the beginning of 2026 has already proved to have had record-breaking temperatures for extreme heat around the globe.

Record-Breaking Heat Waves in Early 2026

As of late March 2026, severe and record-breaking heat waves have already impacted multiple continents, characterized by unusually early spring heat in the Northern Hemisphere and summer fire emergencies in the Southern Hemisphere.

“Heat Dome”

“In the Northern Hemisphere, areas of high pressure rotate clockwise, with sinking air that compresses and warms as it descends to Earth’s surface. When an area of persistent high pressure occurs over a location, it can trap heat close to the ground for a prolonged period—causing a heat dome that drives record-breaking temperatures. A heat dome created extreme temperatures and fueled severe wildfires, resulting in a deadly start to the year.”

Demographics

Australia: Heatwaves cause more deaths in Australia than all other environmental risks combined. This year’s heatwave was the most severe in six years. Outside of it posing extreme hazards on health conditions in the city - it also has been significantly impacting rural areas among Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal communities, where risks are frequently under-recognised.

Canada: Abnormally warm temperatures are expected to sweep southeastern British Columbia to southern Saskatchewan. This is impacted by the U.S.’s heat dome.

Mexico: As Spring approaches, Mexico has been enduring extreme heat that has brought advisories to residents. Climatological recordings show that this time of year has become increasingly warmer and drier over the last decade, causing water stress in vulnerable ecosystems.

U.S.: March 2026 has had record highs for weather reports, with many locations across the Desert Southwest are expected to see their earliest 100+ degree day on record. Fossil fuel burning has exacerbated the heatwave and made it four times more likely for extreme weather. Causing heat-related illness, impacting local economies, and devastating the land from brushfires.

South Africa: “The 2025-2026 fire season has been the most severe in South Africa in a decade, killing wildlife and affecting high-populated areas such as Mossel Bay and Franschhoek. The hot, dry and windy conditions that drive the most extreme wildfires are becoming more intense and more likely,” Climate Scientist Theodore Keeping said. “And it’s happening all around the world.”

Argentina: The fires that burned through Argentina’s Los Alerces National Park demonstrate the shift, according to meteorologist Carolina Vera of the Center for Ocean and Atmospheric Research at the University of Buenos Aires. The park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to trees that have lived more than 3,000 years. Local officials determined that a lightning strike caused the fire. The blaze initially was under control. But Vera said a heat wave and strong winds caused it to spread about 20 km (12 miles) in a single day, making it the worst wildfire there in two decades.

Heatwave Data

Indigenous Perspectives on the Climate Crisis

Yanisbeth González Robinson - Panama

“The islands that make up the archipelago are suffering from rising sea levels, so some communities have had to move to land, leading to a lack of space in

the community and affecting the living environment and traditional practices that have been passed from generation to generation. Rivers have dried up and there is a loss of fertile land for planting.”

Amelia Telford - Australia

Amelia founded the first climate network for Indigenous Youth – SEED, a grassroots network that connects young Indigenous people and amplifies their voices. Including issues such as the climate conditions that are highly sensitive to the impact of extreme weather like storms, floods, rain and bushfires. Housing in town camps that are set aside for Aboriginal people aren’t sustainable for the heat, and with the lack of rainfall, communities are running out of water. The temperature increase is reducing native food, sea levels rising is forcing people off their land and extreme weather events causing communities to be cut off from services.

Ili Nadiah Dzulfakar - Malaysia

“These rapid conversions of our natural habitat have led to more carbon emissions in the region. In 2012, Malaysia had the highest deforestation rates in the world and the loss of these critical ecosystems have led to more flooding tragedies during intense rainfall episodes attributed to the warming climate, such as the big flood in 2016 and the most recent flood in 2021 leaving a trail of death and destruction. Heatwaves have also become a yearly occurrence and forest fires commonplace, creating havoc to our ailing public health systems and decreasing the yields of our paddy fields.”

Elizabeth Wathuti - Kenya

“As a young person who has witnessed a vast array of climate change impacts from droughts, famines and food insecurity, floods, desert locust invasions, and heatwaves I know that it is no longer a distant threat. That is why I’m also urging world leaders into action to stop investing in fossil fuels and start actively regenerating the enormous swathes of the land that we’ve degraded while ensuring we keep all remaining natural ecosystems intact. Not in 2030 or 2050, but now. I envision a world where we will put people and the planet above profits and be mindful of how we leave this planet for the generations to come. This is what we need and must do to ensure a sustainable and fair future for all.”

Call to Action: Hawai'i Flash Floods

Information on how to stay informed and involved in relief efforts.

March 22: World Water Day

For World Water Day, March 22, we are spotlighting the efforts of Indigenous water defenders across the globe. The 2026 theme emphasizes water sanitation and gender equality with women making up 61% of the climate activists today. In these slides we are sharing the crucial work from water protectors in Lake Tanganyika, Klamath River, Sierra Madre (Tinipak River), Murray Darling Basin, Sápmi, Biobío River, & Pikialasorsuaq. These water sources, along with other vital freshwater systems, are essential for flourishing eco-systems and our future generations.

March 21: International Day of Forests

International Day of Forests, celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.

The following slides share the work and legacies of Indigenous forest defenders and the ongoing battles against extraction, deforestation, and displacement. Since this year’s theme is Forest Economies, we wanted to highlight the various ways communities are uplifted through Indigenous stewardship and systems of trade that counter harmful industries.

THE WOVEN PROJECT STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH DARIA EGEREVA AND CALLS FOR HER IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The persecution of Indigenous rights advocates continues to rise throughout the globe, across developed and developing nations. This issue hits close to home for all of us here at The Woven Project, with the recent arrest of our close colleague, renowned international climate leader, Ms. Daria Egereva. Daria is a mother and a representative of the Selkup Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East recognized by the Russian Government. She is a citizen of the Russian Federation and a long-standing participant in international consultative processes related to Indigenous Peoples and climate policy. She is also a long-time member of the Centre for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North (CSIPN). As Indigenous Peoples deeply invested in climate justice, we know that we must take urgent action and call for the immediate release of Ms. Egereva. Her diplomatic leadership in championing climate solutions is critical for international advocacy, but she is also needed by her family and community. 

Ms. Egereva was arrested by Russian authorities on December 17th, following her participation in COP 30 held in Belem, Brazil, where she completed her official duties as the co-chair of the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She is accused of participating in a ‘terrorist organisation’, a charge in direct retaliation for her Indigenous rights advocacy. After two months in detention, Ms. Egereva appeared before the Basmanny Court in Moscow on February 11th, where the court decided to maintain the detention of Ms. Egereva until March 15th. Daria has been charged under Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code (participation in a terrorist organization). This is the most severe designation in the Russian legal system and it carries a potential prison sentence of 10 to 20 years. 

As long-time colleagues of Ms. Egereva, we know that these accusations could not be further from the truth. Prior to her elected position as co-chair, she served in leadership roles within the IIPFCC and participated in UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties, including COP28, COP29, and COP30. She was also a member of the Facilitated Working Group of the Local Communities Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) and has contributed to the development of structured mechanisms for engagement between States and Indigenous Peoples within the UNFCCC framework. In addition to these distinguished roles she has also participated in United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Ms. Egereva’s work has always been to promote respectful and peaceful dialogue between Indigenous Peoples and State delegations to achieve implementation of UN standards through consultative means. 

She must be freed immediately! We stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples’ across the globe asking President Putin for her immediate release. 

We need your support! Please follow the website supporting Daria for the latest campaign updates. The website also contains instructions on how to send supportive messages to Daria and public access to the letters of solidarity and calls to action that can be used to amplify the call for Daria’s release. 

The campaign for #FreeDariaEgereva will require global support, especially from organizations, allies, and partners in the Global South.

Global Study on Indigenous People’s Climate Contributions

November 19, 2025

Member of our Global Indigenous Advisory Council (GIAC), Kimeran Ole Riamit, is the Executive Director of The Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners (ILEPA) and is part of Indigenous Peoples’ Global Partnership on Climate Change, Forests and Sustainable Development (ELATIA). ELATIA is the consortium delivering the Global Study on Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Contributions.

Kimeran Ole Riamit

“Grounded in a rights‑ and responsibilities‑based approach, the study, carried out by the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Partnership ELATIA, with inputs from an Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee and External Review Expert Group, examines Indigenous Peoples‑led climate adaptation, mitigation, ambition, and finance across the globe, while also documenting loss and damage, and centring climate justice. The study compiled information from over 700 Indigenous Peoples-led or Indigenous-partnered climate initiatives worldwide. Its aim is practical and immediate – improve the quality and availability of Indigenous Peoples‑generated evidence, elevate Indigenous leadership, and reorient resources toward effective, equitable, and scalable Indigenous Peoples‑led climate solutions.”

The Woven Project is proud to work along individuals like Kimeran and aim to create an additional space where this important and groundbreaking research can be accessed by even more Indigenous People’s internationally.

Below is the full Global Study on Indigenous People’s Climate Contributions as well as a link to ILEPA’s call for case studies that go towards future contributions.

Statement in Solidarity of Local Demonstrations in Belem

Wednesday November 19, 2025

Belém, Brazil

As COP30 continues, local demonstrations by our relatives from Brazil continue as Indigenous Peoples of this region were promised access to the Blue Zone of COP but were met with exclusion and state violence.

“The Indigenous Peoples' global movement is diverse, and we honor the self-determination of our Peoples, especially their right to express themselves through autonomous and self-determined tactics and strategies deemed necessary. Indigenous Peoples and our representative structures continue to be marginalized and denied adequate access to spaces where decisions are made about our lands, waters and territories. The actions taken this week by our relatives from Brazil, were powerful articulations of this longstanding frustration. The IIPFCC expresses its solidarity with the statement made by those Indigenous Peoples participating and stands firmly with those who are directly affected by mining, mercury contamination, expanded oil development, deforestation, privatization of waters, financialization  and commodification of nature, and the ongoing destruction of the Amazon, their home. These struggles reflect the broader challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples globally in defending their lands, rights, and ways of life.”

The Woven Project stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters from Brazil and we will continue to illuminate injustices and express frustrations on behalf of the Indigenous People’s in the Blue Zone for those who cannot and were met with exclusion.

Below is International Indigenous People’s Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) “Statement in Solidarity of Local Demonstration’s in Belem during COP30” in full.

Woven Launch Event COP30

Thursday November 13th, 2025

Join us on Monday November 17th, 2025 at the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion in the Blue Zone at COP30 in Belem, Brazil at 12:05-13:05 local time to learn more about this initiative, our current research project and some of the people involved. 

In 2024, I was awarded the Climate Breakthrough Award, the single-largest climate philanthropy program for individuals—and Woven was born. Drawing together representatives from the seven socio-cultural regions of the world, Woven formed the first-ever Global Indigenous Advisory Council (GIAC), amplifying regional, grassroots movements to create a global impact. 

In accordance with prophecy, Woven creates space for connections, collaborative action, and a global knowledge exchange—built by and for Indigenous peoples. We remain steadfast in the belief that ancestral knowledge, culture, and teachings are not a mere component, but the single-most formidable force in securing a climate-stable future. Understanding that the liberation of our communities and the liberation of our planet are intertwined, we gather Indigenous wisdom, strength, and solutions at a global scale.

Woven will support the exploration, advancement and development of cutting edge resilient climate solutions driven and guided by Indigenous peoples. We often hear about weaving western and Indigenous knowledge together, but this can often lend to Pan Indigeneity and flattening the diversity of Indigenous Peoples cultures, knowledges and strategies. Woven centers the weaving of diverse Indigenous knowledges and rights first and foremost. This will strengthen our collective strategies for sovereignty and self-determination as foundational to building and implementing effective and meaningful climate solutions. 

PROJECT SUMMARY

The Woven project will not be driven by colonial processes, timelines and systems but will be rooted in bottom up climate justice and Indigenous rights based approaches. Since 1992, colonial governments have been in the driver's seat meeting to discuss ways to prevent and mitigate the climate crisis with little to no success. Every year GHG emissions rise, eco-systems crumble, high emitting industries continue unabated and there is mounting loss of human and non human life. Woven weaves the ingenuity and genius of Indigenous knowledge,  our affirmed rights and our demonstrated capacities to safeguard ecosystems necessary to planetary health to drive radical climate solutions to the forefronts of the discourse. 

Indigenous peoples have always been climate leaders and it is critical to shift power and advance Indigenous peoples, our rights, knowledge and solutions for a climate stable future. 

Led by global Indigenous climate leaders at the forefronts of Indigenous innovation and rights advocacy we will shift narratives and strategies to tackling the climate crisis to actually reduce emissions. We will quantify the role and impacts of Indigenous land defence movements to avoid/mitigate GHG’s, and thereby increasing Indigenous Land Back efforts to support true sovereignty and self-determination. Indigenous Peoples climate initiatives and movements continue to be underfunded, undervalued and misunderstood. By building tools and resources;  facilitating global Indigenous knowledge exchange platforms to weave our strengths and capacities; providing adequate resources; and changing narratives for Indigenous land back we will safeguard critical biodiversity, address historical human and Indigenous rights abuses,  and bolster strategies to combat planetary collapse while reducing global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

Speakers:

Eriel Tchekwie Deranger is a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN)  and Executive Director/Founder of Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) and 2024 winner of the global Climate Breakthrough award. Deranger is active in international Indigenous rights advocacy movements participating in various boards and UN bodies. Deranger’s work focuses on Indigenous rights, climate justice  and intersectional movements. She is recognized for her role as spokespersons for her community  in the international Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign.  Prior to this she was a Specific Land Claims and Treaty Land Entitlement Researcher for the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.  
Deranger has written for various magazines and publications; featured in documentary films including Elemental (2012); and is regularly interviewed for national and international media outlets.

Graeme Reed is a Strategic Advisor with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), where he advocates for the inclusion of First Nations in international, national, and regional climate change and energy policy dialogues. During this, he has had the privilege of representing AFN in a wide variety of contexts, including as board member of Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac), member on the Canadian Environment Domestic Advisory Group (CEDAG), and Indigenous North American Representative to the Facilitative Working Group of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Leo Cerda, from the Kichwa community of Serena in the Ecuadorian Amazon, is a climate activist and Indigenous rights defender who focuses on efforts to build a more just and sustainable society. Like many Indigenous Peoples, Leo had no choice but to learn about the struggles of his people at a young age, so he started working with local grassroots organizations to create awareness about the environmental and cultural impacts caused by the oil industry. He is the Founder of the HAKHU Project, a young organization that supports community-based economic initiatives as a way to fight against exploitative oil and mining development in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Leo currently serves and works with many organizations locally and internationally, bridging indigenous community initiatives and international support.

Tiana Jakicevich, Hailing from the east coast of Aotearoa New Zealand, Tiana is a descendant of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Whakatōhea, Ngāi Tai, and Ngāi Tūhoe. Tiana is a dynamic advocate for environmental protection and climate action. With a deep connection to her tribes and the natural world, she has dedicated her work to ensuring a sustainable future for all. Tiana's leadership spans Aotearoa and the Pacific, where she is at the forefront of efforts to phase out fossil fuels and revitalise Indigenous knowledge to tackle the global climate change and biodiversity loss crises. Her vision for a just, resilient future is driven by the belief that rangatahi (youth) can create lasting, positive change.

Tunga Bhadra Rai belongs to the Rai Indigenous Nationality of Nepal. He is an Indigenous researcher and anthropologist currently working as the Director of the Climate Change Program of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) and a member of Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Group of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). He engages in advocacy for the Indigenous Peoples’ rights at UN Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC), the GCF and other national and international fora. Mr. Rai has published articles on Indigenous Peoples.

Larissa Baldwin-Roberts is a global leader in climate activism and First Nations justice. As a Widjabul Wia-bal woman from the Bundjalung Nations, she has deep connections to her country.
Raised in a family of political activists, she has been involved in advocating for land rights, Indigenous Rights, climate justice, and cultural heritage protection. Larissa has spent over a decade supporting First Nations communities, including stopping fracking, removing fossil fuel subsidies, and increasing voting access for remote communities. She is currently the campaign director of the national campaign for Treaty. Larissa is also the Director of Research for Passing the Message Stick. As a co-founder of Seed, she created a platform for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to protect their country and prioritise Indigenous approaches in the fight for Climate Justice. Larissa served as the CEO of GetUp and currently co-founded and leads Common Threads, an Indigenous organization focused on transforming the capability of First Nations social movements to usher in systems change through indigenous approaches to campaigning and self determination. In addition, Larissa serves as the co-Board chair of Climate Action Network International. And is one of the Pacific regional delegates for the COP30 Indigenous Peoples Commission.

Indigenous Peoples continue to be excluded from COP30 and storm the gates of the “Blue zone”

Thursday November 13, 2025

Belém, Brazil

Despite COP 30 being branded as the “Indigenous COP” thousands of Indigenous people continue to lack the resources and proper accreditation to enter the official “Blue Zone”, or the negotiation spaces, in Belém, Brazil. Indigenous Peoples from various communities are relegated to the “Green Zone”, or the public zone, or the Indigenous Peoples Village where they are often treated as decoration or attractions for the public. While there continues to be a lot of progress for the inclusion of language that reflects respect for Indigenous rights, we continue to be sidelines and excluded from the spaces where colonial states are making decisions about our lands, waters, territories and peoples.

The frustration of local Indigenous Brazilian peoples and allied movement organization culminated with them storming the entrance of the COP30 Blue Zone demanding entrance and a platform to voice their concerns. For the first time in COP history security was breached and resulted in a dramatic altercation between the security and representatives of Indigenous Peoples and movement organizations.

We are at a tipping point and over 30 years of negotiations have not successfully decreased emissions, safeguarded ecosystems or protected human and Indigenous rights. It has been those on the frontlines, Indigenous Peoples and our allies, that have been protecting and safeguarding the planet. Now more than ever we need to stand in solidarity with those on the frontlines and the defenders of life.

Below is a statement released by the International Indian Treaty Council that summarizes the event and outlines why support for those excluded is critical.

The Woven project stands in solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples and allies who faced violence at the hands of UN security and will continue to advocate for the voices of ALL Indigenous Peoples inside and outside of the COP30 spaces. We will continue to be on the ground here at COP30 to participate in with the global Indigenous Peoples movement for climate justice to follow the negotiations, the actions and the outcomes of this year’s climate conference. Stay tuned to learn more.