The Critical Role of Indigenous Peoples in Environmental Policymaking

Chiefs of Ontario Environmental Director Kathleen Padulo comes to the University of Minnesota on October 22, 2019 to speak on Indigenous peoples rights and leadership with respect to environmental and climate change issues. The talk, "Principled Voices: Indigenous Peoples Need a Say on the Environment," marks the third installment of the Human Rights Program's Annual Scallen Lecture in Human Rights. The Scallen Lecture, free and open to the public, was established in 2017 as a means of highlighting leaders and thinkers who distinguish themselves by carrying out their passion for human rights, cultural awareness, democratic principles, fairness, and dignity, often at great odds and great personal risk.

Ms. Padulo is a leading advocate for the human right to water for First Nations communities in Canada. We are thrilled she is visiting the University at a time when discussions, activism, and advocacy on the environment, climate change, and access to clean water and air are prevalent. For decades, the water supplied to many First Nations communities has been contaminated, hard to access, or at risk due to faulty treatment systems. The Canadian government has taken some steps to address the water crisis but far too many First Nations communities continue to face a daily struggle to access safe, clean drinking water. Ms. Padulo will highlight her innovative work on this issue, and her broader work championing the meaningful participation and leadership of Indigenous peoples on environmental policies and implementation.

For additional information on these issues see "Make it Safe: Canada's Obligation to End the First Nations Water Crisis," a report published by Human Rights Watch after conducting research in First Nations communities in Ontario in 2015-16. Groups involved with this initial research released on World Water Day 2019 a draft guide on the human right to water for First Nations communities. When finalized, the guide will provide advocates with additional frameworks and tools from which to ground their advocacy work on this critical human rights issue. In addition to the Canada-focused reports, the International Labor Organization (ILO) published a 2017 report, "Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change: From Victims to Change Agents through Decent Work," emphasizing that Indigenous peoples are essential to the success of policies and measures directed towards mitigatin and adapting to climate change, especially their sustainable economic model and traditional knowledge. 

Join us in welcoming Kathleen Padulo for this important and timely discussion. RSVP today!