Indigenous Peoples Biocultural Climate Change Assessment Initiative

WORKSHOP REPORT
2nd Meeting of the IPCCA Local Assessments: Synthesis of Emergent Results 24 29 September, 2011, Sevettijrvi, Finland
IPCCA Secretariat Asociacin ANDES, Cusco, Peru

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES AGENDA PARTICIPANTS AND METHODOLOGY SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS
Skolt Smi Repatriation Ceremony Session 1 IPCCA Methodology Session 2 Sharing Local Assessment Experiences Emergent Themes Session 3 IPCCA Synthesis Reporting Process for Developing the Synthesis Report Session 4 Local Assessment Synthesis Reporting Sharing Experience and Knowledge with the Skolt Smi Session 5 The Sevettijrvi Declaration Session 6 Building Conversations with the Futures into the IPCCA

3 3 4 4 6
6 7 8 14 16 18 19 20 22 22

MEDIA OUTREACH ANNEXES

Annex 1 Agenda sent to all participants Annex 2 Seveetijarvi Declaration Annex 3 Press Release

23 25
25 29 32

Introduction
This report, prepared by the IPCCA Secretariat, includes a description of the activities undertaken and synthesis of the themes discussed during the Second Meeting of the IPCCA Local Assessments which took place in the community of Sevettijrvi in the Skolt Smi territory in Lapland, Finland, 24 29 September 2011. The workshop was organised by the IPCCA Secretariat, and locally coorganised by Saami Nuett ry Skolt Smi Cultural Organisation and Snowchange Cooperative. The IPCCA initiative is now in its third year of implementation, with work on local assessments beginning in 2009 and most local partners currently in their second year of local assessment work. The First Meeting of the IPCCA Local Assessments took place in Kuna Yala, Panama in April 2010 and focused on the IPCCA Methodology. In line with the on-going implementation process and needs of local and international partners of the IPCCA, the meetings of local partners undertaking LAs are designed by the Secretariat to provide technical and coordinating support as required. This second meeting, therefore, was designed to provide technical assistance in the process which is at this time central for the IPCCA; synthesis reporting.

Workshop Objectives
The general objective of the workshop was to strengthen the capacities of IPPCA Local Assessment members to assess and organize their findings into a non-technical summary and synthesis. Specifically the workshop aimed to: 1. Inform IPCCA Local Assessment members about the work of the IPCC AR5 and the challenges and opportunities to input into the process; 2. Organize findings of the Local Assessments, and to propose actions with regards to the IPCC AR5 under the following themes: a. Climate Resilience and Vulnerability through Territorial Management b. Adapting Livelihoods and Maintaining Resilience c. Climate Change, Biodiversity and Food Security d. Bringing Local Tools and Methods into National Adaptation Planning and Implementation 3. Summarize conclusions and recommendations for common actions and activities for inputting into the IPCC AR5 The objectives as defined in the preparatory phase of the workshop were shared with Steering Committee members and local partners and later adjusted to meet the needs of all participants. A recurring theme during the planning and facilitation of the workshop was the tension between the need to strengthen reporting processes of the LAs based on their main goal of empowering indigenous communities and the highly technical and scientific nature required to produce reports that will feed into the IPCC AR5th and other processes. Related to this tension is the need to respect and work within community rhythms while simultaneously making contributions into an ever faster international policy framework. This report highlights how this tension was discussed during the workshop and collective decisions made regarding the IPCCA reporting process. 3

Agenda
A proposed agenda was developed by the IPCCA Secretariat in its role as organizers of the workshop, and shared with the local organizing committee to make final decisions regarding logistical aspects of the trip and agenda (see Annex 1). However, upon arrival in Finland and through reflection with participants, the agenda and objectives was adjusted to fit better the local conditions and opportunities for participation in parallel events, and the needs and desires of participants. The table presents the final agenda of the workshop as each session was carried out. Table 1. Workshop Agenda Date Saturday September 24 Sunday September 25 AM Activity Arrival of delegates in Helsinki Travel to Ivalo Travel to Sevettijrvi PM Repatriation Ceremony in Neiden, Norway Welcome by Skolt Smi Monday September 26 Session 1: IPCCA process and methodology Session 2: Sharing of Local Assessment experiences Tuesday September 27 Session 2 cont.: Sharing of Local Assessment experiences Session 3: Developing Process of Synthesis Reporting Session 4: Local Assessment Reporting Wednesday September 28 Thursday September 29 AM Field Visit to the River Ntm Session 5: Developing the Sevettijrvi Declaration Session 6: Building CwF into the IPCCA LAs PM Travel to Ivalo Travel to Helsinki Friday September 30 Delegates depart Helsinki

Participants and Methodology

In total there were fourteen (14) participants. The workshop was attended by representatives of seven (7) LAs from four regions; South and Central America, North America, the Arctic and South 4

and South-East Asia. Representatives from Kenya and Philippines were unable to attend. Two members of the Secretariat team also attended. As shown in Table 2, bellow, delegates from two potential new sites for LA work in China and Argentina also attended the workshop as observers. A third observer from the United Nations Organisation of Finland also participated. Table 2. Workshop Participants
No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Name Mar Soler Jose Proao Sagari Ramdas Sakda Raenmi Jorge Adreve Dennis Martinez Tero Mustonen Pauliina Feodoroff Tiina Sanila-Aikio Alejandro Argumedo Marina Apgar Marcela Olmedo Yiching Song Jenni Kauppila Organisation ANDES Potato Park Sapara Land is Life ANTRHA IPF FPCI Indigenous Peoples Restoration Network Snowchange Cooperative SmiNu'ett SmiNuett IPCCA Secretariat - ANDES IPCCA Secretariat - ANDES ICREES Centre for Chinese Agricultural Policy United Nations Organisation Country Peru Ecuador India Thailand Panama USA Finland Finland Finland Peru Peru Argentina China Finland

According to the objectives of the workshop, the methodology used included a combination of presentations and facilitated discussions around the workshop themes of LA methodologies, implementation, emergent results and their synthesis. Each LA representative presented on the work they have been doing and the emergent results of their process, and through this sharing of experiences facilitated discussions led to outlining reporting and synthesis processes. Another objective of the gathering was to experience the Skolt Smi culture and territory, to get to know first hand the work undertaken by Snowchange in Sevettijrvi and to use the context as inspiration and guidance for our collective discussions. Several activities were therefore organized by the workshop hosts in the community to provide opportunity for participants to experience the community and their work relating to cultural revitalization and climate change assessments. 5

Synthesis of Results
This section presents a synthesis of the main points discussed under each theme and workshop session illustrating both the process of the workshop and its content.

Skolt Smi Repatriation Ceremony

An event of historical and spiritual significance to the Skolt Smi took place on the day we arrived in Sevettijrvi; the repatriation of 90 Skolt Smi remains which had been taken from the cemetery of Neiden, Norway and kept in the Oslo museum. As hosts and local organizers of the workshop, the Smi wished that the group visit the repatriation site and participate in the ceremony. After taking lunch at the Sanila reindeer farm the group travelled to Neiden, over the border and into Norway, where Smi leaders from all over the territory were gathered. Tiina Sanila, president of Saami Nuett ry shared with us the deep felt emotion and significance of welcoming back her ancestors to their final resting place by the river Ntm which is the most important river for the Skolt Smi.

Photo 1: Tiina Sanila sharing her emotion of welcoming back her ancestors Dennis Martinez, a Steering Committee member of the IPCCA reflected with the group on the process of transmitting traditional knowledge and practices relating to livelihoods and climate, stressing its collective nature, it is never lost, it goes on through our continued relationship to the land, the knowledge of the Skolt ancestors which were repatriated has not been lost. The approach used by the IPCCA initiative and all of the partners at the gathering is built upon this foundation of understanding traditional knowledge as historical yet still alive and necessary for building resilient futures for indigenous peoples around the world. Taking advantage of our presence in the Norwegian side of Smi territory, we travelled a little bit further to the arctic sea, and stopped by the river Ntm, the main salmon fishing river, to build a perspective of the Skolt Smi territory and some of the challenges faced today such as less water in the river and reduced salmon production. In the evening of the first day in Sevettijrvi, Tiina Sanila and Pauliina Feodoroff welcomed us formally to the Sanila farm and Skolt Smi territory, providing an overview of the current situation of the Skolt peoples and reiterating the importance of our presence in their community. 6


Photo 2: Tiina Sanila welcoming the group to Skolt Smi territory

Session 1 IPCCA Methodology

The opening session of the workshop proper on September 26 took place in the Skolt Smi school of Sevettijrvi. Alejandro Argumedo, the international coordinator of the IPCCA initiative guided the session by setting the workshop and its objectives within the context of the IPCCA as an initiative which is undertaking assessments of climatic conditions and trends locally around the world in order to build response strategies, while also aims to feed into relevant international processes, such as the IPCC, UNFCCC, CBD etc. Main contributions are theough to come from work on adaptation responses based on traditional knowledge through biocultural and rights-based approaches. This cross-scale reality of the IPCCA initiative is the main reason that synthesis reporting is important, both to systematically analyse and learn from our methodology and approach in a diversity of biocultural realities across the world, and to articulate in appropriate language our contributions from the process. Photo 3: Alejandro Argumedo presenting the workshop objectives

In order to reach our goal of developing a clear process for synthesis reporting, the facilitation team decided to begin from the work of the LAs, and their experiences of undertaking assessments using the IPCCA methodology. During the first meeting of the LAs, held in 2010 in Panama, an initial outline of assessment steps guided the consolidation of a methodological approach, which allows coherence across all LAs without impeding a diversity of local processes adapted to the reality of each biocultural context. The resulting IPCCA Methodological Toolkit has been in development since the Panama workshop. Through LA reports and conversations with partners, the Secretariat has worked on producing a toolkit that provides methods and tools to be used by LAs in their assessment process. Marina Apgar and Mar Soler from the Secretariat presented the draft IPCCA Methodological Toolkit with the aim of sharing progress made to the group, and helping to focus the presentations of each LA during the workshop. Several points of discussion emerged from the presentation concerning the need for respecting local community processes while at the same time needing to ensure that we have a clear approach on sensitive issues such as using a gender lens. Through sharing examples from the Potato Park in Peru and the Adivasi assessment in India the need for creatively building gender sensitive processes became clear. In the case of the Adivasi, for example, Sagari Ramdas shared how the LA work has provided an opportunity to empower women in their roles within the community decision-making spheres. In other cases, however, it might not be as easy to bring women into decision-making through the local assessment process, in which case the facilitators of the process must analyse avenues for empowerment which will not create conflict. The IPCCA methodology is based on transdisciplinarity, respect for all knowledge systems and an emancipatory goal of building respect for all social spaces. It is built collectively and is to be used in the most appropriate manner within a community context, it is the role of the facilitators to manage the tensions that often arise in practice. From this discussion it is clear that the IPCCA gender focus must be clarified further in order to provide guidelines for all partners. An initial proposal for a gender strategy prepared by the Secretariat must now move into a consultation phase with the Steering Committee and local partners to be further developed and become operational. A further point that emerged through reflection on the LA methodology concerns the holistic approach of indigenous knowledge and people, in which climatic changes occurring are understood as part of wider global change processes. The IPCCA conceptual framework describes these as direct and indirect drivers of climate change, however, it is still unclear for some how the assessment process will, in practice, consider the wide range of drivers. This point illustrates, again, the need for local contextualization of the assessment process, and the need for defining a clear scope to help focus the assessment work. For example, in the Potato Park the focus is on the impacts on diversity of native potatoes, which is the basis of their biocultural resilience. Having a clear focus helps define what is within the scope of the assessment and what lies beyond it.

Session 2 Sharing Local Assessment Experiences

As discussed above, the facilitators decided that the best strategy for building a collective process of synthesis reporting of LA and across the whole IPCCA was to start from the experiences and ongoing work of the IPCCA LAs. For this, the LAs were placed in groups by livelihoods practices 8

and asked to present in a block, thus enabling emergent themes for each group to be identified easier. Table 3. Grouping of Participants Livelihood Group Agrobiodiversity livelihoods Forest livelihoods Participants Sagari Ramdas - India Mar Soler Peru Yiching Song China Jose Proao Ecuador Jorge Adreve Panama Sakda Raenmi Thailand Tero Mustonen Finland Dennis Martinez - USA

Fishing and animal husbandry livelihoods

Each LA provided a short presentation of the progress they are making methodologically and their emergent results for the group. The main points of each of the presentations is provided here: Agrobiodiversity Livelihoods Group 1. Adivasi, India Sagari Ramdas presented the work that ANTHRA and Adivasi Aikya Vedika are undertaking with Adivasi tribes in India. The work focuses on 5 forest dwelling tribes. Sagari presented analysis of the concepts of Indigenous Resilience and Buen Vivir as based on: Territorial integrity, rights and laws Women are key in decision making and livelihoods Systems of self-rule and local governance Cultural and spiritual traditions Animal diversity Forest resources - customary systems of governance, gods and goddesses Water resources

The driver of change or threats faced by the communities include: State is amending laws that weaken indigenous rights Weakening self-governance Women marginalised Youth alienation Forces of globalisation NAPAs focused on CDM Global markets

The vehicle used for analysis of changes and impacts is the lifecycle, which defines Buen Vivir of the community and links production and livelihood activities to seasons and climate. The assessment work is recording meticulously the changes the lifecycle is facing. While the 9

assessment has not yet reached the adaptation strategy phase, due to the holistic nature of the work, they are already recording emergent adaptation strategies based on indigenous knowledge, such as: Sharing seeds Strengthening the collective Use of traditional laws to help them decide Knowledge exchange between youth elders exchange

Photo 4: Participants in workshop session 2. Potato Park, Peru Mar Soler presented the process of the work being undertaken in the Potato Park in Peru. The assessment has been under implementation for two years now and focuses on the diversity of native potatoes and impacts of climate change on potatoes. This focused approach illustrates the need to find a vehicle that enables understanding of BuenVivir, as the Indian case also illustrated clearly the use of the lifecycle. The governance structures of the LA were developed based on the traditional community leadership, with presidents of each community comprising the Steering Committee, however, other support groups have also been developed in the communities to ensure a holistic and transdisciplinary methodology. In the Potato Park much progress has been made in developing the baseline, with information regarding the biocultural territory of the Potato Park, characterisation of native potatoes and current conditions and trends. Participatory mapping has also been used to produce maps of the traditional seasonal potato calendars and the muyu rotational system. The assessment work is supported by other activities, which relate directly to adapting native potato varieties undertaken in partnership with research organisations such as CIP, the International Potato Centre. The LA is currently undertaking assessments of conditions and trends, however, some weakness has been noted in the participation and empowerement elements of the assessment work. A new initiative of working with students and teachers at the 10

schools is a strategy for bringing parents and more community members into the process, enabling knowledge exchange between elders and youth. This is part of the Conversations with the Futures project, with which the IPCCA is collaborating and aims to undertake conversations between youth from different indigenous peoples worldwide, through focusing on their main crops and traditions, the potato in Peru, and for example, maize in the Seneca Nation in the US. 3. South-West China Yiching Song from the Centre for Chinese Agricultural Policy shared with the group the work she has been undertaking with indigenous communities in South-West China. While they have not been conducting an IPCCA LA, Yichin shared her experience working in participatory plant breeding through bridging traditional knowledge and science for climate change adaptation. Corn and rice seeds in the communities of South-West China are the basis for continuation of livelihoods and resilience in biocultural systems. Traditional knowledge for seed production and improving landraces, and community-based seed production is the key for adaptation strategies. Farmers are observing reduction in their yields due to increased temperatures and drought. Through building agreements for Access and Benefit Sharing with research institutions, their efforts are enabling a respectful relationship between traditional knowledge and science. Forest-Based Livelihoods Group 1. Spara Territory, Ecuador Jose Proao from Land is Life shared the work being undertaken with the Spara Womens Association. First, Jose provided an overview of the context of the Spara Territory in the Ecuadorian Amazon; the Spara people have been enslaved historically and suffered genocide, and are currently in a process of cultural revitalisation through recovering traditional knowledge and practice. Analysis of climate change in the Spara LA has required analysis of climate from a Spara Amazonian perspective. Strong or obvious impacts of climate change have not been felt by the community, and a hypothesis for why this is so has emerged; the forest ecosystem in which the Spara live is still a resilient ecosystem, so extreme climatic event which have resulted in floods are within the memory of the Spara as infrequent but possible events. The main focus of the LA work with the Spara has therefore shifted to the impacts of mitigation strategies, which are linked to REDD+ projects. The Sociobosque program promoted by the Ecuadorian government and brought to a number of indigenous territories is being implemented in their territory. The government has not respected the collective rights over territory and did not undertake a full consultation process with the Spara peoples. Other indigenous peoples who are implementing Sociobosque in their lands have resulted in being cases against them for improper use of the funds provided by the government. The Spara land is also the target of oil exploitation and exploration schemes. The contradictory stance of the government on promoting both oil exploration a major driver of climate change and mitigation efforts based on reducing emissions from deforestation in indigenous territories needs to be reflected upon. From the IPCCA rights based and biocultural approach, the impacts 11

of climate change itself and of resulting responses in indigenous territories must first and foremost recognise the collective rights of the main stakeholders. 2. Kuna Yala, Panama Jorge Andreve shared the work being undertaken in Kuna Yala by FPCI. First, through sharing the context of Kuna Yala as an autonomous indigenous territory with forest, coastal and marine ecosystems, Jorge explained how resilience is understood through the Kuna governance system. Buen Vivir is understood as Nabir Gudi Gued, a concept that stems from Kuna cosmology and collective governance. The IPCCA conceptual framework was analysed through work with groups of local advisors in the 5 communities in Kuna Yala were the LA is focusing its efforts to produce a focus on how resilience can be strengthened. Traditional calendars used for forecasting also stem from the Bab Igar or collective memory of the Kuna. Jorge then shared the process and methodology of the LA, developing participatory maps of the impacts of flooding on island communities and coastal areas. The main impacts are the result of sea level rise, which is making life on the islands extremely difficult. One of the most important accomplishments of the LA work has been to make climate change adaptation a priority for the Comarca, through its collective governance processes. A Comarca wide adaptation strategy will be developed through continuation of the LA work. Currently, the Kuna Yala LA has also been analysing potential impacts of REDD+ in the Comarca, and developing a Biocultural Protocol for safeguards within the context of the Kuna autonomy and governance system. This work has been undertaken through awareness raising on REDD+ in the communities, leading to a platform for biocultural analysis of potential mitigation plans. 3. Huay-Manao, Karen, Thailand Sakda Raenmi shared the process and emergent results from the LA undertaken with the Karen people in one forest dependent village. The first steps of analysis of the conceptual framework and development of a methodology led to assessment of climatic conditions and trends through traditional knowledge of forests and livelihoods Indigenous knowledge of climate, such as knowledge of wind and indicators used such as animal behaviour were first recorded into a baseline. Further, participatory mapping of the community enabled analysis of the changes occurring and impacts felt. Rituals related to rice paddy farming and their shifts were recorded. Impacts recorded by community study groups and include: Paddy fields have changed Farming cycles are changing Rice yield is greater as the weather is warmer there is better production Water levels in many creeks are drying up Variety of plant species in dry rice field are decreasing Foods from forest are still rich Some aquatic animals have increased, some decreased Insects decreased Animal husbandry supplementary occupation 12

The LAs has also developed an adaptation strategy based on traditional knowledge and practice. In the current funding cycle the LA will work on improving community maps and holding workshops on lessons learnt and replication through work with schools and other forums. Fishing and Animal Husbandry Livelihoods Group 1. Skolt Smi, Finland The presentation on the LA work of the Skolt Smi, was given jointly by Tero Mustonen of Snowchange Cooperative, and Pauliina Feodoroff of Saami Nuett ry. Tero began with an Eastern Smi story about weather, which described the Smi universe as holistic, and snow and ice being defining elements. In this fully autonomous Smi system time is understood differently so climate change and its impacts are also understood in their own way. Through Snowchanges work all possible information on land use and health of the land is collected, maps play a central role in this process. Maps can be used to describe otherwise invisible issues and processes on the land, but the question of maps and mapping has to be conducted carefully and in full dialogue with the community involved. Tero explained the choice of working in Sevettijrvi with the Skolt Smi as based on the Skolt being the memory of the Eastern Smi peoples, a village which has never in the past been part of an international initiative, so the impact of the IPCCA work was thought to be potentially significant. The Smi have suffered a loss of memory, and the Skolt still hold some of the last remaining pockets of knowledge, which is now being brought back in a process of rebirth of culture and peoples. For example, bringing back the moon calendar, which was historically used to manage livelihood practices. Through exchanges with other indigenous peoples, such as a visit from Australian aboriginal peoples, new ideas of knowledge management such as databases on traditional knowledge have emerged as vehicles for this process. Pauliina Feodoroff said Our lands, which we are not farming, and our fishing waters are not giving us enough food the biggest warning sign are the lakes and the rivers, we are so few in numbers, those of us living here a destructive adaptation measure is that we are leaving, change in berries, because when they bloom we have harsh rain and so no production, there are no mushrooms, due to the acid rain the bottom of the lakes are not nutritious enough we are dependent on fish restocking (not fish farming), and that has caused a change in the diet. Our land is not healthy even though our reindeer are healthy. The Skolt Smi have no rights to land or water in Finland, so using a rights-based approach in the IPCCA LA work is of prime importance. The area of the Skolt Smi is now a geopolitical hotbed due to the opening of the northeastern passage across the Eurasian North from Europe to the Orient and exploration of natural gas deposits. This makes for an extremely difficult security situation for the Smi, and needs to be considered in all aspects of climate change work. A resilient peoples needs land and rights. 2. Pacific North Western Tribes, USA Dennis Martinez presented the work he has undertaken over a year of visits to 13 communities in two major biomes: Pacific coast, coastal islands, and coastal mountains; and continental semiarid interior mountains, shrub-steppe, Great Basin, Columbia Plateau, with the aim of 13

undertaking a pre-assessment and selecting communities in each biome to later undertaken a full local assessment process. Dennis shared with the group how through these visits, he gathered much information for the baseline, on climatic changes occurring and their environmental and social impacts. Major climatic trends and impacts in the region include: Declining springtime snowpack leading to reduced summer flows, straining water supplies Increased insect outbreaks, wildfires, and changing species composition in forests will pose changes for ecosystems and the forest product industry Salmon and other coldwater species will experience additional stresses as a result of rising water temperatures and declining summer stream flows Sea-level rise along vulnerable coastlines will result in increased erosion and the loss of land

Dennis then shared a list of indicators of adaptive capacity developed through analysis with the communities involved: 1. Environmental effects of climate disruption and how communities are adapting 2. Environmental problems with an uncertain relationship to climate disruption that may affect 3. The efficacy or lack of TEK 4. Governance and support from councils 5. Socio-economic situation 6. Partnerships and alliances with others 7. Mitigation and alternative energy economies 8. Future visioning Perhaps the most surprising and thought provoking part of Dennis presentation was the explanation of the extreme poverty in which much of the tribal areas find themselves in today. While in the case of the Smi, where they have high quality European education they lament the loss of traditional knowledge, the PNW tribes do not have access to adequate education and feel this is limiting their ability to adapt and be resilient. One of the solutions that Dennis presented to the problems facing the communities is finding complementarity between traditional ecological knowledge and Western scientific knowledge. Emergent Themes Through the two days of sharing experiences between the LA work, discussions occurred through question and answer sessions after every presentation. At several moments throughout the discussions attempts were also made at synthesizing what is emerging from the LA processes into key themes that can help with development of the synthesis reporting.

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Marina Apgar brought together the presentations and offered three major themes: 1. Food Security, Traditional Knowledge and Livelihoods All of the presentations centred on the importance of traditional knowledge and ways of life for food security, as an emergent result of LA work. In the agrobiodiversity livelihoods group this is perhaps the most obvious due to the agricultural nature of livelihoods, which are being severely disrupted by climate change; in India the lifecycle has shifted and in Peru the muyu shifting cultivation of potatoes is being disrupted as varieties move higher and higher up the mountains. However, it is also true for forest dwelling and fishing peoples; the moon calendar of the Smi is no longer in use and is being brought back as a strategy for building resilience while in Kuna Yala the seasonal calendar which is used for forecasting weather and managing fishing and forests based on collective memory is now disrupted. The LAs are illustrating clearly the direct impacts of climate change on their livelihoods practices, their associated knowledge and as a consequence, food security. In all cases the traditional calendars are being disrupted. What perhaps is even more interesting and important are the findings relating to the prime role that traditional knowledge can play in adapting to these changes. Examples of seed sharing in India, participatory landscape breeding in Peru and plant participatory breeding in China all illustrate clearly how traditional knowledge of biodiversity links livelihoods and food security. Adaptation through use of traditional knowledge has historically been undertaken by most indigenous communities and continues today. This sends a strong message regarding how adaptation is viewed in general, as a reactive process, and of the importance of using holistic frameworks that can make the links we need across knowledge, practice and well-being. Another common theme for most LAs is the use of epistemological bridges or linking of traditional knowledge and Western science in adapting livelihoods and practices. Several cases where discussed were respectful agreements with research centres can help this process, and in the case of the Arctic, working together with science in reporting has strengthened their position. A need to articulate concrete examples of these epistemological bridges was felt by participants, while there is much going on on-the-ground in this regard, we are failing to report and articulate it clearly as a group. 2. Territory and Governance for Resilience A second emergent theme comes from the common use of a rightsbased approach, which has Buen Vivir and endogenous development as its central focus. A unifying factor for all indigenous peoples within their diverse contexts is the need for territory and self-governance. Whether it be the context of Kuna Yala where territorial autonomy has been gained and continues to be successfully defended, or the context of the Smi where no land rights have been gained, for all IPCCA partners, the basis of resilience is being able to manage people and land collectively. The common understanding of the world across the regions as holistic and interconnected, where people and land are part of the biocultural reality brings home this message. Climate resilience, therefore, should not be understood purely through technical abilities to respond or withstand the changes such as the proposed use of GMOs by some international organisations but should instead be embedded in territory and governance. A discussion that occurred through the presentations and touched upon several peoples experiences was the understanding of climate change as part of a wider process of global change; the direct and 15

indirect drivers of change. Taking this perspective, the impacts felt by indigenous communities, which are related to climate change are also directly related to their ability to govern on their lands. Having no land rights increases vulnerability of the Smi to climate change impacts and makes it extremely difficult to respond from a position of local resilience. The Kuna case illustrates clearly that having space for self-governance means that they can respond, whether the government or external agents chose to recognise and support their efforts or not. In terms of adaptation and mitigation responses and how they are promoted from within and from without this theme is very enlightening. The case of REDD+ and its impacts on indigenous territories was discussed through the Spara case in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where State led initiatives are disrespecting their collective land rights in the name of climate change mitigation. The message that emerges from the LAs regarding how we respond to climate change is that appropriate responses that will build resilience must be based on strengthening indigenous territories and their ability to govern. In some cases this requires actions to be taken from the communities to fight for this right, while in others it might require negotiation with governments and the international community. 3. Indigenous Rights and the Need to Implement the UNDRIP An important goal of the IPCCA and each LA is to contribute to local, national and international processes for strengthening indigenous peoples rights within the climate change agenda. Climate justice is becoming ever more important in the international debates around climate change impacts and response strategies. Indigenous participation in the UNFCCC processes has highlighted their role as rightsholders and not stakeholders. The LAs are illustrating the severe impacts of climate phenomena on communities who are strengthening their traditional livelihoods. Further, through assessing conditions and trends the LAs are developing response strategies that support indigenous rights. In all of the presentation, the recognition of indigenous rights, livelihoods and knowledge were highlighted as an important part both of the assessment process and its results. The case of REDD+ and its violations of the Sapara territorial rights is another example of how the LAs can contritube into implemeting UNDRIP and other international treaties where national procesess are not respecting their rights.

Session 3 IPCCA Synthesis Reporting

The main objective of the workshop was to collectively build a process for synthesis reporting of the LAs and the IPCCA overall to meet strategic goals of indigenous peoples in national and international climate change processes. Initial scoping by the Secretariat in preparation for the workshop identified areas of potential contribution into the IPCC AR5th to frame development of a synthesis report. Upon arrival in Finland, IPCCA members provided reflections on the need to consolidate the emergent results of the LAs, leading to adaptation of the strategy towards nurturing synergies from the LA results while also considering the context for contribution. To help facilitate a collective discussion on synthesis reporting, Tero Mustonen shared a presentation of the experience of Snowchange with the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, the first climate change assessment report that included indigenous knowledge through case studies and direct comparison of scientific and indigenous knowledge of climatic phenomena. Tero shared the outline of chapters for the ACIA where indigenous knowledge was included: 16

Chapter 3 was devoted to indigenous peoples climate change observations and included after each observation a peer-reviewed source supporting the observation. Chapter 12 described livelihoods and included direct case studies and oral histories which made it through a peer-review process Chapter 7 also included comparison of indigenous and scientific knowledge

Further to this contribution regarding avenues for IPCCA synthesis reporting to feed into international processes, Tero shared a message from Neil Adger, lead author of the Human Security Chapter of the IPCC AR5th report. The message from the author is that he welcomes IPCCA contributions into the AR5th, however he stresses that all material to be included must be peerreviewed. He added that each regional chapter has a lead author for inclusion of indigenous perspectives, which could prove an opportunity for the IPCCA through each LA reporting process. Alejandro Argumedo facilitated a discussion around the tensions between developing a synthesis report from the IPCCA process for empowerment and expressing our findings in the most appropriate way for the communities and, aiming to contribute into relevant international climate change science and policy processes. Discussion regarding the most appropriate and effective avenue for synthesis reporting began around the question of whether we are aiming to structurally shift the IPCC to include indigenous knowledge or whether we are asking specifically for a chapter in the AR5th or inclusion in all chapters. Dennis Martinez was of the opinion that it is better that our contributions be integrated throughout the report rather than just in one chapter which could sideline our contribution and simply be ignored by those not interested. Alejandro added that there are several international processes other than the IPCC that are of interest to the strategic goals of indigenous peoples and therefore the IPCCA, such as the CBD and the UNPFII processes. Tero shared Snowchanges experience in producing the Snowscapes and Dreamscapes document as an alternative means for expressing indigenous visions in climate change, which was given to people at the launch of the ACIA as a reminder of what an indigenous approach looks like. He added that if we liberate ourselves from the IPCC frame we can produce something that expresses our view accurately and can still contribute into the IPCC through scientific papers. The emergent decision from this discussion was to work towards an IPCCA synthesis report that accurately expresses the themes that are emerging from our process. Alejandro nominated Tero to chair the development of the 2012 IPCCA Synthesis Report and was ratified by the group. Nonetheless it was thought useful to use the outline of the indigenous chapter of the ACIA, adapted to the IPCCA process as a starting point for the synthesis reporting process. It was agreed that through development an appropriate table of contents would emerge. The starting outline is shown in Box 1 bellow.

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Box 1. Starting Point for Developing the IPCCA Synthesis Report

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Executive Summary Introduction Biocultural Diversity and the nature of Indigenous Knowledge The uses and application of Indigenous Knowledge Indigenous Knowledge and Science Livelihoods and uses of biocultural resources by indigenous peoples a. Indigenous peoples, animals, and climate i. Animals, food, and survival ii. Animals and cultural identity iii. Place, environment, and climate b. Indigenous peoples, food agriculture, and climate i. Food crops, and survival ii. Food crops and cultural identity iii. Place, environment, and climate c. Indigenous peoples, forest, and climate i. Forests, and survival ii. Forests and cultural identity iii. Place, environment, and climate d. Mixed livelihoods Natural Resources and global processes a. Natural Resources and climate change i. Climate change impacts: some key facts ii. Indigenous observations of climate change b. Consequences of climate change for the livelihoods of indigenous peoples i. Concerns over irreversible impacts c. Responding to climate change i. Flexibility and adaptation ii. Barriers to adaptation iii. Opportunities for adaptation and response The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Understanding climate change impacts through Local Assessments

7.

8. 9.

Process for Developing the Synthesis Report Tero, as the appointed Chair of the IPCCA Synthesis Report led a discussion on the timeframe, methodology and logistics of developing the report. First and foremost he stressed the importance of having adequate funding to produce a good report. The Secretariat team agreed to fundraise for this purpose. Next, the timeframe was discussed, and it was agreed that a year will be needed to produce LA synthesis reports and in turn synthesize them into the IPCCA report. Questions around whether the current IPCCA partnership provides the global picture needed to have impact upon the IPCC process arose, and it was decided that it is necessary to also include Pacific voices and perhaps strengthen African voices in the IPCCA process. The challenge of overcoming busy schedules and local responsibilities built reflection on the need to use teleconferencing facilities to coordinate the writing and synthesis, rather than travel and face to face meetings. Nonetheless, one face-to-face meeting to discuss the pre-synthesis report in 2012 was agreed upon.

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Session 4 Local Assessment Synthesis Reporting

Leading on from the discussion of IPCCA synthesis reporting, Alejandro facilitated a discussion on the process for LA synthesis reporting. As Tero pointed out, it is necessary to make sure that the information produced in the LA synthesis reports are sufficient to have the impact we want internationally. The need for a standardized format of IPCCA LA synthesis reporting led to discussions around a proposal made by Sagari Ramdas, based on the Adivasi LA, that combines using the IPCCA local assessment steps and emergent themes as a starting point for producing a template. This proposal is presented in Box 2. By collective decision the Secretariat is to work form this basis to produce a template to be agreed upon with Tero and later sent to all LAs to begin synthesis reporting in the upcoming months. Box 2. Proposal of IPCCA LA synthesis report outline
1. Key information on the Local Assessment 2. Reslience of the systems is in the land-livelihoods What this all means for Indigenous Resilience and BuenVivir Systems of Governance (National legislations on territories/ rights of Adivasis) Culture Women Biiodiversity Knowledge 3. Assessing Conditions and Trends (Traditional knowledge and Scientific information) inter-generational data local level Scientific data- 30 year data meteorological data 4.The Seasonal Calendar its relationship to TK, Biodiversity, Livelihoods, a. Adivasi and Forests i. Forests, and survival ii. Forests and cultural identity iii. Place, environment, and climate e. Adivasis, food, agriculture i. Food crops, and survival ii. Food crops and cultural identity iii. Place, environment, and climate f. Adivasis and animal husbandry i. Animals, food, and survival ii. Animals and cultural identity iii. Place, environment, and climate 4. The Change (in the life cycle) as experienced by the community climate change (validations of this Scientific ) Forests, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Governance systems 5. The Adivasi response: Adaptation / Mitigations as is happening and being observed 6. National Adaptation Plans- proposed and implications for Adivasi Societies 7. Case studies of how national adaptation plans (eg plantations) have negatively impacted livelihoods, resilience, food security, and increased climatic vulnerability 8. National Legislations that protect the territories and rights of indigenous people and how communities to build their resilience, including climate resilience, are using these. How these can be further used to levarage with the government and to make national financing of such local plans possible. 9. Direct and Indirect Forces that impact of Climate Change 10. Proposals by Indigenous Communities on local adaptation plans and implications of these for the National plans.

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Further aspects discussed included the timeframe of the baseline used in the assessment process, which needs to be similar across all LAs for synthesis reporting. The timeframe that can be used depends largely on the years of historical climate data that is available in each national and local context. It was agreed through discussion to begin with 30 years as a standard timeframe for assessing changing.

Sharing Experience and Knowledge with the Skolt Smi

One of the objectives of meetings of the IPCCA LAs, held once a year, is to provide opportunity to learn from each other. The setting of the workshop within Skolt Smi territory meant that the group could learn from the Smi experience as well as share their own experiences with the community. There were several opportunities for direct exchange of information and experiences with the local community. First, on September 26th, when the workshop was held in the Skolt Smi school of Sevettijrvi, an activity was organized by the school to share the workshop themes with the students. During the activity, each LA member introduced themselves and explained where they come from using a world map. The students then asked the participants questions regarding climate change and how they might help their community deal with the changes. The students also showcased their Skolt Smi cultural knowledge traditions through dance and poetry in their mother tongue. The experience was enriching for all; participants were impressed with the extent to which the Skolt are working to rejuvenate their culture with a school dedicated to bilingual education in spite of having only eight students in total. Further opportunity for sharing with the Skolt Smi and their efforts to build resilience came through a visit to the Sevettijrvi community and cultural centre, where workshops are held on traditional practices such as weaving with tree bark and constructing traditional reindeer sleds.

Photo 5: Skolt Smi children and participants exchange On Wednesday the 28th, the hosts of the workshop facilitated a field trip to learn about the Smi practices and ecosystems. The trip led the group through the forest to the Ntm river, the most important river to the Skolt Smi both as a source of subsistence fishing and due to their spiritual relationship with the environment. 20

The main group was led by Tiina, and traversed a 7km trail on foot to the river. A second group took a route with less walking to accommodate participants who were unable to make the longer trip and traversed 3km of forest and 3 lakes. During the walk on the trail, there where unique opportunities for understanding Smi culture through exchanges between participants. The forest ecosystem and climatic conditions on the land might seem like a hostile environment for survival, but the guide explained how the interrelationship between different parts makes for an environment where their livelihoods flourish. For example, the density of mosquitoes that abound in summer months are vital to movement and rounding up of the reindeer, while the low temperatures means that there is low tree density which permits optimum reindeer grazing. Related to the interconnections between the forest ecosystem, animals and water are the impacts of the changing climate. The tree density is now growing due to the increased temperatures. Further, the reduction in Smi population living on the land and the large extension of their territory means that forest management and clearing which is necessary for optimum berry picking is no longer possible. These changes are indicating major threats to the Skolt Smi way of life. Reindeer herding is being impacted by the dense forest cover, while the forest now becomes a target for timber companies to exploit the area for profitable wood resources, as is happening in other parts of Scandinavia. Indicators used by the Skolt Smi, such as flowering of plants out of season, the lack of mushrooms this year are also related to climate change. Upon arriving at the river after walking through the rain and moss, the tree bark was used to light a fire and cook dried reindeer meat, commonly used on the land by the Smi. From the meeting point of the two groups participants descended to Pauliinas fathers cottage located on the bank of the Ntm river. In this refuge, Pauliina and Tiina shared the practices of salmon fishing on the river. They spoke with much emotion of the loss they feel now, of the marginalization their people have suffered and their wishes to recover what they still feel is alive in their territory and people; they have no words to express what this inner strength is, but it is related to their resilience on the land. The setting provided opportunity for sharing similar stories of other indigenous peoples, and proved important to bring unity to the group, strength to move forward with the LA work under the IPCCA to look both toward building responses but also repairing past pain and wrongdoing.

Photo 6: The Ntm river 21

Photo 7: Campfire in the forest

Before leaving the cottage, Pauliina asked the group to take a moment to salute the Ntm river. Participants joined the hosts by the river, thanking it in silence for the presence of life and human existence in the territory. The silence was broken by Smi and Adivasi songs that expressed the emotions of sharing among the group and with Mother Nature.

Session 5 The Sevettijrvi Declaration

As this second meeting of the IPCCA Local Assessments provides a once a year opportunity to come together as a group to discuss our ongoing work, share experiences and collectively build programmatic development, it is also an important opportunity to collectively communicate about the IPCCA process and goals. The day the group arrived in Finland was a day of historical significance to the Skolt Smi through the repatriation ceremony that took place, and the following day a victory was celebrated when the UN Commission on Human Rights issued a Moratorium on the slaughter of reindeer of the Inari Smi of Nellim. These two events and the experience of the Skolt Smi in cultural revitalization in extremely a challenging political context, became the inspiration for drafting a Declaration to be distributed as a result of the meeting.

Photo 7: Developing the Declaration on the last day of the workshop Alejandro Argumedo took the lead in developing ideas and a draft of the Sevettijrvi Declaration based on the discussions that took place during the first day of the meeting, and our message of solidarity with the Skolt Smi and the injustices they continue to suffer. The draft Declaration was then circulated within the group for comments and edits. On the final day of the meeting the group collectively finalized the Declaration, which is shown in Annex 2, sending a strong message to the IPCC and other UN bodies to redress the scientific bias against indigenous knowledge in climate change science and policy.

Session 6 Building Conversations with the Futures into the IPCCA

As part of the IPCCA Secretariat leadership in developing methodologies and programs within the IPCCA, Alejandro Argumedo shared a proposal to include the Conversations with the Futures (CWF) program in the LA processes. CWF is led by the indigenous organization Seneca 22

International, and was in part inspired by the Conversations with the Earth program which has used participatory video to bring indigenous voices to international processes. Alejandro explained that the CWF initiative is an opportunity to give more leadership to youth and schools within the IPCCA LAs. The program contains two main components. First, holding conversations between girls and boys of different indigenous communities all over the world via videoconferencing, establishing a dialogue on agrobiodiversity and the challenge that climate change poses. Most communities have a flagship crop, such as the potato for the Quechua and maiz for the Seneca, which are the basis for their agrobiodiversity, culture and food sovereignty. The conversations would share indigenous knowledge and practices related to these crops. The second component consists of working with the schools in the communities, developing academic curricula to integrate climate change, indigenous knowledge and food sovereignty into formal education. From this understanding, Alejandro proposed a three tiered strategy to incorporating youth conversations into the LA methodology: 1. Travel from the communities to the facilities where the conversations will take place are used as an opportunity to visit key areas in the region that strengthen their identity, and, simultaneously can prepare the children in the relevant fields of climate change from their cultural context and specifically the impacts on their food sovereignty in the future. This would help to integrate youth perspectives into the LA. 2. Conversations via videoconference: Through the youth exchange, new knowledge networks are built for reflection within the IPCCA, and building new opportunity for synthesizing results across the LA to feed into global policy development. 3. Post-conversations: The experience of the exchange can be used to promote in the classroom discussion on the impacts of climate change and development of adaptation measures by the youth, strengthening the ongoing LA work. In particular, it can help to include indigenous voices in international processes, as the youth initiatives can be presented along side the LA results. Most participants expressed much interest in working towards inclusion of the CWF program in their LA work.

Media Outreach
During the first day in Seveetijarvi, after the repatriation event was visited, a member of the Finnish national press interviewed Alejandro Argumedo and Tero Mustonen on the purpose of the workshop and the IPCCA initiative. The Sevettijrvi Declaration and press release were distributed to Finnish national press and international media through list serves and press related supporters. The following on-line articles illustrate the international interest in the Declaration: 1. Indigenous Declaration on Climate Change and Traditional Knowledge, natural justice blogspot. http://natural-justice.blogspot.com/2011/10/indigenous-declaration-on-climate.html 23

2. International: Indigenous Leaders Call Upon The IPCC To Respect Indigenous Knowledge, indigenous peoples issues.com http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12516:inte rnational-indigenous-leaders-call-upon-the-ipcc-to-respect-indigenousknowledge&catid=65:indigenous-peoples-general&Itemid=92 3. International: Indigenous Leaders Call Upon The IPCC To Respect Indigenous Knowledge, isuma.tv http://www.isuma.tv/hi/iu/indigenous-peoples-issues-and-resources/international-indigenousleaders-call-upon-the-ipcc-to 4. Indigenous Leaders call upon the IPCC to Respect Indigenous Knowledge, colonos.com http://colonos.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/indigenous-leaders-call-upon-the-ipcc-to-respectindigenous-knowledge/ 5. Indigenous Leaders call upon the UN to Respect Traditional Knowledge in Climate Change Policy, cultural survival http://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/none/indigenous-leaders-call-upon-un-respect-traditiona-lknowledge-climate-change-policy 6. Indigenous Leaders call upon the IPCC to Respect Indigenous Knowledge, aippnet.org http://ccmin.aippnet.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=685:indigen ous-leaders-call-upon-the-ipcc-to-respect-indigenous-knowledge&catid=1:news

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Annexes
Annex 1 Agenda sent to all participants

Programme 2nd Meeting of the IPCCA Local Assessments: Synthesis of Emergent Results

24 29 September, 2011, Sevettijrvi, Finland

Local Organisers: Saami Nuett Skolt Saami Cultural Organisation and Snowchange
Cooperative

General Objective: To strengthen the capacities of IPPCA Local Assessment members to assess
and organize their findings into a non-technical summary and synthesis.

Specific Objectives:
1. To inform IPCCA Local Assessment members about the work of the IPCC AR5 and the challenges and opportunities to input into the process; 2. To organize findings of the Local Assessments, and to propose actions with regards to the IPCC AR5 under the following themes: a. Climate Resilience and Vulnerability through Territorial Management b. Adapting Livelihoods and Maintaining Resilience c. Climate Change, Biodiversity and Food Security d. Bringing Local Tools and Methods into National Adaptation Planning and Implementation 3. To summarize conclusions and recommendations for common actions and activities for inputting into the IPCC AR5

Agenda
Date Saturday September 24 Activity Arrival of delegates in Helsinki Stay in Sokos Hotel Presidenti 25

Sunday September 25 AM Sunday September 25 PM Travel in minivan to Sevettijrvi Skolt Saami community Traditional Welcoming Ceremony Monday September 26 AM Theme 1: Climate Resilience and Vulnerability through Territorial Management Monday September 26 PM Monday September 26 Evening Tuesday September 27 AM Tuesday September 27 PM Theme 4: Bringing Local Tools and Methods into National Adaptation Planning and Implementation Theme 3: Climate Change, Biodiversity and Food Security Theme 2: Adapting Livelihoods and Maintaining Resilience Day 1 Synthesis Presentation of the IPCCA Toolkit Writeshop Opening Session Travel to Ivalo on Finnair Flight

Writeshop Synthesis

Tuesday September 27 Evening Wednesday September 28

IPCCA Strategic Development

Field Visit to the River Naatamo

Thursday September 29 Travel from Sevettijrvi to Ivalo AM Thursday September 29 Travel from Ivalo to Helsinki

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PM Friday September 30 Delegates depart Helsinki

Methodology and Format

This 2nd Meeting of the IPCCA Local Assessments will take place in three parts. Part 1: Understanding the IPCC AR5 process at the global, thematic and regional levels and the need to develop a knowledge base that can support indigenous peoples community-based adaptation and mitigation responses this first part of the meeting will provide analysis undertaken by the IPCCA Secretariat and members on the process of the IPCC AR5 and will enable collective identification of how the IPCCA may contribute to global, thematic and regional levels as well as strengthening local resilience and the development of rights-based adaptation and mitigation responses. Part 2: Synthesis writeshop during the two days of the writeshop, IPCCA Local Assessment members will work on synthesis of results into 4 key themes to feed into the IPCC AR5. The writeshop will begin by a presentation by the Secretariat on the writeshop process to clarify the purpose of the synthesis document, propose the task word (or words), and establish a clear plan for the writing process. The Secretariat will present a strategy for collective identification and evaluation of source material to support the topic and IPCC review and a common format for quoting and citing sources (taking into account what is required by the IPCC). Peer review options for each report/paper will also be discussed. For each of the identified themes, an IPCCA member has been nominated to lead the working group session by providing a short presentation of the theme and a proposed table of contents for the specific report section. 4 working groups defined by common livelihood practices will be established (see draft attached list). Each group will start its work by analysing the theme using the results emerging from their Local Assessments and experience. Next, the group will structure the components into the table of contents, in an annotated table of content format (summarizing each part, showing the topics covered, and listing sources that relate to the topic). Further, each working group will collectively synthesize the results for the IPCCA Global Synthesis report to feed into thematic AR 5 chapters. The Secretariat will be in charge of editing the final version of the Global Synthesis The four themes to be discussed are hereby briefly described: Theme 1: Climate Resilience and Vulnerability through Territorial Management Indigenous territorial management is based on a holistic approach that views the world as interconnected and complex. The basis of indigenous resilience is such an approach to territory and community. Its foundations lie in collective practices of governance, institutional structures, traditional knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystems and spiritual and social practices. Each of the local assessments has been using the IPCCA conceptual framework to reflect upon the concept of indigenous resilience, providing an indigenous and local understanding of resilience and vulnerability to climate change. 27

This topic may feed into WG II Chapters 2, 19 and 20. Theme 2: Adapting Livelihoods and Maintaining Resilience Under current conditions of climate change and extreme events, communities are facing challenges to maintaining their livelihoods practices. The impacts are being documented through assessment of conditions and trends, leading to the need for adaptation. Adaptation, however, requires processes for thinking from the wider basis of indigenous resilience. Traditional knowledge can provide create avenues to adapting livelihoods while maintaining system resilience. This topic may feed into WG II Chapters 13 17. Theme 3: Climate Change, Biodiversity and Food Security Indigenous peoples food security has historically been based on a reciprocal relationship with the ecosystems and biodiversity. Traditional knowledge and practices related to management of biodiversity have provided historical resilience, but today are challenged by climate change. The local assessment work can articulate the relationship between knowledge of climate and biodiversity and food security, to illustrate its importance for response development. This topic may feed into WG II Chapters 3 - 7 as relevant, 12, 13 and WG III Chapters 3, and 4 Theme 4: Bridging Local Tools and Methods into National Adaptation Planning and Implementation Climate change planning and policy development continues to be based on global models and national and international processes, and is only just beginning to consider local perspectives, tools and methods. Local perspectives on the impacts of climate change as well as response strategies are necessary to provide a more accurate picture of the challenges we face, and to ensure that adaptation and mitigation responses build resilience and further indigenous peoples rights and needs. From the IPCCA experience, local assessments are identifying tools and methods that can be complementary to science and global modelling, and should be considered in national plans and their implementation for adaptation and mitigation. This topic may feed into WG II Chapters 14 17, and WG III Chapters 13 16. Part 3: Learning from the Saami Local Assessment work the Sevettijrvi Skolt Saami community where the meeting will be held is the site of the Saami Local Assessment that is facilitated by Snowchange Cooperative. One day will be spent visiting the River Naatamo which is a crucial Atlantic Salmon fishery and a traditional harvest area of the Skolt Saami. Using fieldtrips and commentaries from the participating Skolts we will have a participatory learning of how livelihoods practices of the Saami are being affected by climate change, and the strategy they are using to develop appropriate adaptation and mitigation responses. Snowchange expert Tero Mustonen will provide additional questions on northern climate change and community adaptation as a part of the field day. Most delegates will walk the 5-7 kilometres trip, but those in need of an assistance will be transported using ATV /monkija vehicles to the river.

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Annex 2 Seveetijarvi Declaration

On 25-30 September 2011, representatives of indigenous peoples local assessments carried out in China, Ecuador, Finland, India, North America, Panama, Peru and Thailand under the Indigenous Peoples Biocultural Climate Change Assessment (IPCCA) initiative met in the community of Sevettijrvi, located in the boreal forest of North East Finland. The meeting was hosted by the Skolt Smi Nation and Snowchange Cooperative. IPCCA members shared emergent findings from their local assessments and discussed adaptation and mitigation options for indigenous peoples, integration of biocultural dimensions in assessments, and approaches and strategies for addressing climate justice. As a result, recommendations for future actions were developed. From our diverse but united perspectives we conclude that the global climate system is in a state of deepening crisis. We salute the work of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and other international scientific assessments. We stress that the complex relationships between conditions of the forests, water systems and climate need to be first and foremost understood from the perspectives and worldviews of the most vulnerable, such as indigenous peoples and other marginalized communities, who are on the frontlines of climate change. Locally, we see our calendars shifting, ecosystems and species disappearing, food shortages, cultural disruption and destruction of livelihoods. For example, on Skolt Smi lands, waters dont freeze in the same way anymore, and in the autumn, instead of proper snow cover, ice rain falls on the ground, impacting reindeer food cycles. In the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Siberia, Russia, in the lands of the Chukchi reindeer herders, the permafrost is melting, having major implications for global climate change and weather systems as millions of tons of greenhouse gasses which are currently trapped in the permafrost will release additional emissions into the atmosphere. In Kuna Yala, Panama, sea level rise is threatening the existence of Kuna communities located on coral islands and livelihoods based on marine, coastal and forest ecosystems. Implementation of REDD projects in the Ecuadorian Amazon are violating the collective rights of indigenous peoples, such as the right to free, prior and informed consent. Impacts are severe in mountain ecosystems, such as in the Peruvian Andes, where the ecological range of native potatoes and other crops are shifting, leading to species extinctions and endangering the food security and culture of the Quechua peoples. Across the world, indigenous peoples crops and agricultural cycles, the basis of their food security, are similarly disrupted, such as millets and pulses of the hilly forest based Adivasis in India and maize and rice of indigenous peoples of the mountain regions of South West China and Thailand. In Pacific North America the loss and warming of freshwater systems and ocean acidification is directly resulting in increased loss of cultural and ecological keystone species, especially the salmon. Climate change is also resulting in the re- emergence of life-threatening diseases such as Malaria and Dengue. Our Elders and spiritual leaders tell us that the world as it is, will never be the same. However, in spite of these deepening crises, emerging trends of biocultural resilience, resurgence and re- diversification of our ecosystems, give us hope that we can develop creative solutions for our communities and ultimately for the continuing existence of all life on Earth. Our indigenous efforts must be matched with concrete steps by nations around the world to reduce consumption patterns and change the paradigm of development based on economic growth, the drivers of human induced climate change. The Importance of Indigenous Peoples and their Initiatives: We affirm that indigenous peoples continue to make major contributions to the understanding of climate change. The IPCCA is an example of how indigenous communities are undertaking assessments on their own terms. Intercultural methodologies that bridge traditional knowledge and Western science provide essential local information to assess climatic conditions and trends. We stress that these efforts must be led by indigenous peoples and local communities and mainstreamed into international and national climate change assessments and policy processes.

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 We alert that recent treaties such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) establishes international minimum standards for the respect, protection and fulfilment of indigenous peoples' rights. Indigenous knowledge systems are recognized as based on the distinctive spiritual relationship that indigenous peoples have with their territories, and should be respected and considered in climate change assessments and development of adaptation and mitigation responses. This UN Declaration obliges all UN scientific and technical bodies, such as the IPCC, to appropriately include indigenous knowledge in assessment reports of climate change, such as the upcoming Fifth Assessment Report. We therefore: Call upon the IPCC to include an independent chapter on indigenous knowledge written and developed by indigenous peoples. The chapter should provide an assessment of how climate change affects indigenous livelihoods and rights, in view of developing adaptive strategies based on indigenous peoples spiritual, cultural and ecological values. Request the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) to formally request the IPCC to include a specific chapter on indigenous peoples. The UNPFII should also establish a Traditional Knowledge and Practice body involving indigenous leaders, educational institutions, experts and scholars, to guide its work and that of other UN processes. Request national governments to provide full support to indigenous peoples own assessments and to invest in education and research institutes that empower indigenous voices in climate change science and policy. Alert indigenous peoples of the deepening inequities between Western science and traditional knowledge in climate change science and policy. We call upon indigenous peoples organisations to communicate the inequities to the general public and powerful institutions such as the IPCC and to make all efforts to redress the balance of power. Climate Change and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: We celebrate the adoption, in September 2007, of the UNDRIP as the culmination of decades of indigenous peoples struggle for the recognition of their rights. The rights enshrined in the Declaration apply to all proposed adaptation and mitigation solutions and should serve as the international minimum standards for respect, protection and fulfillment of indigenous peoples' rights. Through respecting rights, we can build indigenous responses to climate change based upon traditional knowledge and the voices of youth, women and Elders. Recognising that indigenous women are being impacted differently and more by climate change, we promote a gendered approach that seeks climate justice for the most vulnerable. We call upon all governments to implement the Declaration and hold all international institutions accountable for its full implementation in climate change adaptation and mitigation projects. We strongly reject false solutions such as REDD/REDD+, which threaten our livelihoods and adaptive strategies, and note that the Declarations founding principle of Free Prior and Informed Consent should be the baseline for any mitigation or adaptation intervention within indigenous communities and territories. Unlike REDD/REDD+, forest tenure and governance by indigenous peoples has been proven to reduce illegal logging and creates economic benefits from sustainable forest use as well as strengthening livelihoods and food security. In support of indigenous responses to the climate crisis, we demand policies and legislation that ensure indigenous forest governance and nurture forest biocultural systems. Redressing Injustices to Eastern Smi Peoples: We salute the UN Commission on Human Rights Moratorium on the slaughter of reindeer of the Inari Smi of Nellim issued on September 23, 2011. In addition to the 2005 Moratorium on logging in the same area, this is a historical turn of events in the development of Smi rights in Finland. We wish to recognize this significant victory and urge the government of Finland to recognise the land and water rights of the Smi as enshrined in international law. This process should be based on a full-scale land use and occupancy study of international standards.

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We are deeply concerned by several disturbing processes which threaten the existence of the language, culture and lands of Eastern Smi peoples. The Eastern Smi have demonstrated a remarkable ability to survive past genocidal trends both in Finland and Russia. Now their homeland is becoming a geopolitical hotpsot due to the opening of the Northeastern Passage. Extensive mining plans and construction of a pipeline on the Kola Peninsula of Russia as well as development of off shore oil and gas exploration in the Barents Sea constitute direct threats to the ecosystems and the people of the area. Now the very survival of the Eastern Smi Nations and their homelands is under threat. We urge the world community and especially the UNPFII to investigate the situation of the human and Indigenous rights of the Eastern Smi peoples in Russia and Finland. On the basis of this we demand that the governments of Russia and Finland commit to redressing centuries of injustice through jointly implementing the UNDDRIP with the Eastern Smi peoples. Tiina Sanila-Aikio Saami Nuett Finland Tero Mustonen Snowchange Cooperative Finland Alejandro Argumedo Indigenous Peoples Biocultural Climate Change Assessment initiative Asociacion ANDES Peru Dennis Martinez Indigenous Peoples Restoration Network USA Sagari Ramdas Adivasi Aikya Vedika Anthra Yakshi India Sakda Saenmi Network of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand Indigenous Peoples Foundation for Education and Environment Thailand Jose Proao Land is Life Ecuador Jorge Andreve Fundacion para la Promocion del Conocimiento Indigena Panama Yiching Song Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy China

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Annex 3 Press Release

Indigenous Leaders call upon the IPCC to Respect Indigenous Knowledge Addressing scientific bias against Indigenous Knowledge will improve international responses to climate change, say Indigenous Leaders

Helsinki, Finland (IPCCA). As the UNFCCC climate talks opened in Panama, a gathering in Finland of indigenous leaders from around the world has called upon the international community to remove scientific bias against indigenous knowledge from climate change science and policy. The Sevettijrvi Declaration, adopted at the meeting, calls on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to make all efforts necessary to include indigenous knowledge and local perspectives in its assessment processes. Indigenous peoples and other marginalized communities are on the frontlines of climate change. Their knowledge of climatic phenomena and trends includes detailed understanding of impacts on ecosystems and livelihoods, said Alejandro Argumedo, International Coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples Biocultural Climate Change Assessment (IPCCA) initiative, Insights provided by this are critical for a comprehensive global understanding of climate change. Without indigenous knowledge, climate adaptation and mitigation efforts will continue to exacerbate inequities rather than redress them. We have not contributed to the climate crisis, and we continue to have low carbon societies, yet we are suffering the biggest burden and face food insecurity, said Sagari Ramdas, representing Adivasi Aikya Vedika of India. Through our biocultural assessments of climate change, guided by indigenous knowledge, we are responding to the unprecedented impacts and building evidence-based adaptation and mitigation strategies. Our partnerships with research institutions and donor agencies enable us to bring knowledge systems together in our fight for survival. The IPCC should learn from our experience she concluded. The IPCCA leaders discussed their experiences and emerging findings which illustrate the major contributions that indigenous knowledge has made in the past, and continues to make today, to understanding what we all face. Tero Mustonen of Snowchange Cooperative, a host of the Northern gathering, added The IPCCA is an example of how indigenous communities are undertaking climate change assessments on their own terms, building invaluable knowledge based on local information about conditions and trends in critical ecosystems. Our knowledge systems and our distinctive spiritual relationship to our territories should be fully recognized by the international community. The IPCCA network will be releasing a synthesis report of the results of their local assessments in 2012. The report will present evidence of climate change, impacts and adaptation and mitigation responses from the most representative ecosystems on the planet and provide recommendations to policy makers for future actions. Addressing climate change requires that climate justice be taken seriously, said Paulina Feodoroff of the Skolt Smi nation. We remind the international community that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples establishes international minimum standards for the respect, protection and fulfillment of indigenous peoples' rights. The IPCC and others are therefore obliged to include traditional knowledge in assessment reports. We call upon our brothers and sisters to communicate the problem of bias against our knowledge in Western science, 32

and to pressure the IPCC to make the changes we need for all of humanity to survive the climate crisis. she concluded.
The Sevettijrvi Declaration (see INSERT THE URL HERE) contains further analysis and examples of the climate change impacts on indigenous peoples. The Declaration includes specific requests to the IPCC, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and national governments on how ensure that indigenous knowledge properly informs climate change science and policy. Contact: Alejandro Argumedo, International Coordinator Indigenous Peoples Biocultural Climate Change Assessment (IPCCA) initiative Asociacin ANDES Tel: +51 84 245021 alejandro@andes.org.pe

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