Experiencing environmental crime: An indigenous perspective

"Indigenous people are frequently victimized or criminalized by environmental crime such as wild-life trafficking, illegal mining, land grabbing and deforestation. They resist ecological impositions that destroy their habitats through environmental activism. Reports on the killings and even incarcerations of indigenous activists continue to rise around the world. While such communities are considered to be the most socio-economically marginalized people, they are not passive subjects of exploitation.

The panel will comprise a discussion between Resilience Fellows 2022 who work with indigenous communities that are resisting or impacted by various forms of environmental crime in Uganda, India and Colombia. Covering three continents, the panel will highlight the risks that indigenous defenders face, their experiences of environmental crimes and the importance of incorporating indigenous values and knowledge in making decisions for the environment.

Guiding questions for discussion: • How would you differentiate threats to the environment and indigenous people from organized crime as opposed to other threats such as public and private projects related to agriculture, corporate mining and hydroelectric projects? (Experts) • How does organized crime impact the lives and rights of indigenous communities that you work with? (Fellows) • What are some of the major risks and challenges of indigenous activists in working against organized crime? (Fellows) • Lessons of resilience or resilient strategies of indigenous communities to organized crime? (Fellows)"