Indigenous Peoples and the Economy of Life

NIFEA Webinar / UNFPII side-event on “Spirituality, Land, and Self-Determination"

In the context of the UN’s Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) taking place between 19-30 April, the webinar will reflect on how the confluence of the three “Cs” of capitalism, colonialism and Christianity has deepened the experience of exploitation, marginalization, and displacement for many Indigenous communities. Panelists will be asked to share their community understanding of wealth, equality, land, and spirituality while also addressing the importance of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). In addition, panelists will explore their Indigenous perspectives on and contributions to building an Economy of Life, focusing on concepts of reparation and restoration, land as life, as well as alternative and holistic visions of prosperity and development that embrace all creation.

Opening blessing by:

• The Most Rev. Mark MacDonald, archbishop of the Anglican Church of Canada

Moderator:

• Rev Chebon Kernell, director of the Native American Comprehensive Plan of the United Methodist Church in the USA. He has actively engaged in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and is a cultural practitioner and member of the Helvpe Ceremonial grounds.

Speakers:

• Marcus Briggs-Cloud, co-director of Ekvn-Yefolecv, an Indigenous ecovillage community in Weogufka, Alabama.
• Elvira Rumkabu, an Indigenous Papuan woman who has been working with Dewan Adat Papua (Papuan Customary Council/DAP), an Indigenous Peoples organization that represents and advocates for indigenous Papuan issues.
• Jocabed Solano, an Indigenous theologian and activist from the Gunadale nation in Panama.
• Rev Mari Valjakka, a Sámi priest in the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland.
• Naomi Wolfe, Indigenous Theologies Project Officer at the University of Divinity and board member of NAIITS, an Indigenous Learning community.
• Rev Dr Ferdinand Anno, an indigenous pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines who teaches theology and worship at Union Theological Seminary-Philippines.
• Inatoli Aye, an Indigenous woman from Nagaland in India, belonging to the Sumi tribe. She has degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary in the USA and Protestant Theological Seminary in the Netherlands and her work attempts to engage indigenous liberation with women’s emancipation.
• Evariste Ndikumana, a member of the Batwa community from Burundi. He has engaged with the United Nation Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights to promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Burundi.
• Jenne Pieter, pastor and assistant director of research and development at the Protestant Church in Maluku in Indonesia. She works with indigenous communities and is passionate about ecological justice.

Organizers:

• World Council of Churches
• World Communion of Reformed Churches
• Lutheran World Federation
• World Methodist Council
• Council for World Mission

Register for the Zoom webinar

Language: English