On International Indigenous People’s Day, Groups Call Collaboration for Climate Resilience

Today is International Indigenous People’s Day, and organizations representing Indigenous groups are issuing a call for greater collaboration to ensure their communities become climate-resilient. The Toledo Alcaldes Association TAA, Maya Leaders Alliance MLA, and Julian Cho Society issued a joint statement today, highlighting the impacts of climate change on indigenous communities, particularly in southern Belize. The groups noted that the bushfires of mid-May and early June were unprecedented and caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to crops and homes. The group said quote, “As Indigenous Peoples, we are facing the harsh impacts of climate change. According to the Government of Belize, the recent forest fires in the Toledo and Cayo District have caused 8.4 million dollars in damages. The Maya communities felt the brunt of the forest fires, a direct impact of climate change. Yet, our Maya communities, and Indigenous Peoples in general contribute the least to the causes of climate change,” end of quote. The groups note that a forest fire relief initiative was launched in the aftermath of the fires, which saw emergency supplies distributed to an estimated four hundred families. The relief supplies include 78,500 pounds of food (Corn, Beans, Sugar, Rice, Flour) to affected communities. However, the groups say that there is an urgent need for communities, in collaboration with government and other partners, to invest in climate adaptation interventions that work for them. The United Nations first observed Indigenous in 1994. This year, the day is being observed under the theme ” Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact.”