Within the framework of the 28th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP28), due to take place on 30 November, saving our primary forests is increasingly urgent.
Our relationship with nature, climatic and cultural value of forests, imported deforestation, indigenous knowledge and climate change were just some of the topics discussed at the latest Campus XL "Indigenous peoples, guardians of biodiversity", which took place on Monday 27 November in Room 1 at UNESCO headquarters.
The first half of the event consists of the screening of the film-documentary "Canada - The Way of the Ancestors", an episode in the "Guardians of the Forest" series. The documentary series, which will be broadcasted on the ARTE platform on December 9, invites viewers to discover and understand, through the eyes of five indigenous protectors, the major issues at stake in 5 of the world's major forests: Amazonia, West Africa, Oceania, Central Asia and North America.
Presented by producer Muriel Barra, the documentary aroused the interest of the students, who then had the opportunity to ask lots of questions to the director, Mike Magidson, and to the protagonist Twyla Edgi-Masuzumi, Guardian of K'ahsho Got'ine - working with the leaders of her Dene community in Canada.
The premiere was followed by a rich exchange between students and indigenous leaders on the impact of deforestation, the livelihoods of their communities, the symbolic value and cultural significance of the forest, and the worth of indigenous knowledge in combating the effects of climate change.
It was a landmark afternoon gathering with the 5 representatives of indigenous communities who live in the heart of the world's last 5 major primary forests:
- Benki Piyãko, Amazonian Indian, political and spiritual leader in Brazil
- Twyla Edgi-Masuzumi, Canadian guardian and leader
- Hilarion Kassa Moussavou (Mambongo), Gabonese shaman and traditional chief
- Tumursukh Jal, Director of the Red Taiga protected area in Mongolia
- Mundiya Kepanga, traditional chief from Papua New Guinea
Charismatic, traditional, spiritual, medical or militant leaders... Through the voices of these representatives, the UNESCO Campus presented the testimonies of these incredible personalities to the young people in attendance, who did not hesitate to ask lots of questions.
Starting with questions to Benki Piyãko about the biggest problems that Brazil's indigenous peoples face in their daily lives. Benki described how Brazil's forests are disappearing to make way for cattle farming. This is having a serious impact on their source of food, as the disappearance of the forest is causing the river to dry up, and then the fish in it to disappear.
On the other hand, forests have not only material values, but also immaterial ones.
The link between the forest and the land is closely linked to the identity of the people who live there.
Twyla shared to the students how important it is for young indigenous in Northern Canada to be connected to the land: if this connection is lost, their identity is also lost. It is therefore imperative that young people themselves become guardians of the forest, to preserve their cultural identity. The importance of forests goes beyond what they can substantially provide: their protection is the preservation of everyone's identity.
An essential part of the forest preservation concerns the knowledge of indigenous peoples. Mundiya Kepanga, from Papua New Guinea, explained that most of what he knows about protecting the forest in Papua comes from listening to the elders. When they are faced with a problem in the field, they talk to the elders in the community and discuss what can be done. The transmission is the promotion of this knowledge.
One of the most memorable moments of the exchange was a moment of unity and harmony led by Hilarion Kassa Moussavou (Mambongo), who sang a traditional song and invited all the students to sing along. Sharing this unique experience brought the room to a fever pitch of singing and applause. The message of the song was that everything is linked, everything is in harmony: there is not only wood in the forest because it is connected to us.
The forest represents a mother’s womb. The forest raised me and looked after me.
Our relationship with nature, the climatic and cultural value of the forest, imported deforestation, indigenous knowledge and climate change are just some of the themes addressed during this Campus XL, which was an unforgettable experience for all the participants.
The enthusiasm, curiosity, and warm welcome of 800 high school students at UNESCO headquarters gives hope that indigenous leaders are not alone and will not be alone in their work to protect our forests.
This event was made possible thanks to the collaboration of ARTE, Lato Sensu Productions and Maif, as well as the participation of Sylvère-Henry Cissé, journalist, lecturer and moderator of the UNESCO Campus.
