First Peoples voices on climate change at the national level

Abstract Traditional knowledge of First Nations Peoples intersects with climate change. This paper discusses ongoing dialogue between First Nations peoples and Western scientists in Australia about climate change. First Nations and their People have stressed to Western scientists that Country is in distress and traditional knowledge is key to mitigating the impacts of climate change. Traditional knowledge and traditional knowledge methods used to read land and seascapes are intrinsically linked to climate by First Nations peoples and embedded in cultural practice passed down and entrusted across generations. Articles 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples identifies that all risks that threaten the continuation of cultural practice and obligation to maintain, strengthen and protect cultural knowledge infringe peoples’ right to exist. Based on the recognition of these rights, our most recent dialogue, the National First Peoples Gathering on Climate Change held in Cairns in 2021, investigated whether building connections with and among First Nations peoples and Western scientists had the potential to acknowledge and respect both knowledge systems for the benefit of all. Four key practices were applied to build a culturally safe space at the Gathering: (i) Indigenous governance; (ii) Cultural protocols and co-design; (iii) Deeply respectful partnerships for weaving knowledge; and (iv) Indigenous networks. Building connections among First Nations Peoples proved highly empowering. There was evidence that First Nations Peoples found the Gathering useful for synthesising and elevating a shared agenda woven across knowledge systems. Different perspectives shared on the impacts of climate change on people and Country, such as marine heatwaves, sea-level changes and other impacts built a mutual understanding, acknowledgement, and respect, thereby building useability of both knowledge systems. Learnings from the Gathering— including two-way learning, learning by scientists about how to support First Peoples, learning from Elders—are practical outcomes that First Peoples are sharing with communities. Several risks were also identified including: differing intergroup opinions about priorities, difficulty in understanding technical complexities, and in some instances, rejection of the worth of Western science. However, the Gathering allowed a space for creativity and recognition that climate justice is founded on respect and recognition for First Nations Peoples’ leadership and cultural authority.