OTTAWA, Canada, CMC—Indigenous leaders from across the Caribbean and Canada called for greater economic empowerment and participation in decision-making as well as robust protection of rights on Monday.
During the Indigenous Peoples Forum, they outlined their position, which opened the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) 54th annual meeting here.
Under the theme, “Catalysing Caribbean-Canada Collaboration on Indigenous Peoples Affairs for Resilient Prosperity,” the forum represented a crucial step in the CDB’s efforts to tackle issues impacting the region’s Indigenous communities and promote their upliftment through cross-national collaboration.
The CDB said that the event provided a platform for representatives to advocate for addressing their communities’ systemic challenges.
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.
“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 honor that I join this very progressive development by CDB to ensure that voices of first nations across our region and Canada are respected,” said Frederick, a member of the Kalinago People.
During the panel discussion, other Indigenous speakers highlighted 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,” said Damon Corrie of the Lokono Arawaks, who advocated for a permanent Indigenous secretariat to centralize efforts.
Chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nations, Mr. Greg Sarazin, used the occasion to emphasize the strength and resilience of First Peoples.
“The Algonquin nation was here occupying and defending our homelands where we have been since immemorial. We are still here in 2024 and will continue for the next seven generations and beyond.”
CDB’s acting Vice President of Operations, Mrs. Therese Turner-Jones, acknowledged the “disproportionate socioeconomic challenges” indigenous peoples confront and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to centralizing Indigenous voices.
“We recognize and honor 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 due to weak social and economic development, exploitation of natural resources, and threats to their knowledge systems.
“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.
Sheena Zuniga of Belize’s Garifuna Council was among leaders urging urgent action, saying, “By leveraging our collective strengths and traditional ecological knowledge, we can catalyze collaborations benefiting Indigenous communities through truly sustainable development.”
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