Stacey Alvarez de la Campa, Project Officer – Global South Education at Common Seas and Indigenous climate justice expert, reflects on the what the ocean protection movement could learn from Indigenous Peoples.
As a woman of Indigenous heritage, I often think of the following numbers: 6.2, 80, and 7. These numbers represent the percentage of the world’s population that is Indigenous, the percentage of the world’s biodiversity that is protected by Indigenous people and what is referred to as “The Seven Generations Principle”. All of these can be explored through the lens of plastic pollution, the impact that this pollution has on Indigenous societies, and how we can find solutions.
There is a noticeable disparity between the number of Indigenous people in the world, and the percentage of the biodiversity that we protect, and this results from the fact that the close relationship that we have with our natural surroundings forms a core tenet of our identity and sense of self. For us, land is not a commodity, it is identity. When this powerful and undeniable connection is nurtured, it further enhances an understanding of climate processes and impacts, adaptation to climate change, sustainable land management across different ecosystems, and improved food security. Together, these three numbers illuminate the leading role that Indigenous communities play in protecting our planet and stewarding a healthy future.
From climate change to cultural cultural preservation, Indigenous peoples have long been leaders in movements to secure a healthier and more just world. Exploring how all of these factors can be explored through the lens of plastic pollution is key to understanding the impacts that pollution has on Indigenous societies, and how we can follow their lead in implementing solutions.
As the numbers I shared highlight, there is a noticeable disparity between the number of Indigenous people in the world and the percentage of the biodiversity that we protect. This results from the fact that the close relationship that we have with our natural surroundings forms a core tenet of our identity and sense of self.
For us, land is not a commodity, it is identity. When this powerful and undeniable connection is nurtured, it further enhances an understanding of climate processes and impacts, adaptation to climate change, sustainable land management across different ecosystems, and improved food security.
Millions of Indigenous people live in close relationship with coastal and ocean ecosystems, a positioning which shapes our culinary heritage, cultural practices, and governance systems. We also embody a multi-generational understanding of the ocean, and knowledge that can offer a more nuanced perspective in response to environmental challenges such as marine plastic pollution.
Why Indigenous ocean leadership matters
The impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems has a disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities. For Large Ocean States, this pollution results from waste management challenges, as well as the fact that plastic pollution is carried by ocean currents from all over the world to arrive on their shores. These plastics have a direct impact on marine animals that Indigenous people rely on not just for sustenance, but for the cultural practices handed down across generations.
It is therefore imperative to not only reduce single-use plastics that end up being discarded, but also to implement the utilisation of Indigenous alternatives. The use of such alternatives is in keeping with the Seven Generations Principle, the heart of which teaches that any actions taken or decisions made today should be based on creating a sustainable world for the seven generations that follow. This highlights a connection between us, the Ancestors, and our descendants, which forges a sacred resilience.
Even when faced with extreme hardship, Indigenous communities make choices with future generations in mind. The Seven Generations Principle extends beyond nature and the environment to encompass interpersonal relationships. Its tenets encourage us to break dysfunctional cycles to promote collective healing, preserve languages and cultural practices, and promote Indigenous scientific knowledge.
This final point – promoting Indigenous scientific knowledge – has been a key element of Indigenous societies’ campaigning for an effective and just Global Plastics Treaty. But how could learning from Indigenous knowledge to tackle plastic pollution look like in practice?
One example can be found in the use of Indigenous alternatives to plastic itself.
Ancestral solutions: Indigenous alternatives to plastic products
Some of the most versatile Indigenous materials are calabashes, banana leaves, and coconut husks. Their use by coastal Indigenous communities shows that many of the solutions to single-use plastics are already available if we take Indigenous peoples’ lead.
Calabashes come from a domesticated wild plant that can also be eaten as food, has medicinal benefits, and can be shaped into musical instruments. The husk is naturally waterproof, it can be grown into various sizes, is reusable, and can contain liquids of various temperatures. It has been used as a drinking vessel for centuries, as well as for storage of herbs and crops.
Banana leaves can be used as biodegradable packaging, serving plates or platters, and wrapping food during cooking. They can also be used to wrap food to keep it fresh, as they contain natural compounds that inhibit bacterial growth.
Coconut shells, when repurposed, can be used in a similar was as the calabash.
All of these alternatives to plastic are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and beneficial to planetary health. But, as with any systemic solution, their use also brings numerous co-benefits.
When sustainably sourced and equitably managed, the use of these regenerative alternative materials to replace unnecessary plastic items could support Large Ocean States and coastal countries to preserve cultural practices, nurture Indigenous biodiversity, and mitigate plastic pollution.
This year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous people reminds us that 6.2% of the population can – and already do – have a wide-reaching positive impact that protects our planet for generations. By upholding Indigenous leadership and implementing proven solutions, we can drive systemic, lasting reductions in plastic pollution where it’s needed most
As I reflect back on this year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous people I hope to see a future that celebrates the many contributions of Indigenous communities, prioritises our rights, and recognises the role that we play in creating a hopeful and healthy future, free from the harms of plastic pollution.
