Nia Tero 2022 Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 11
INTRODUCTION
Today, we're working with 271 Indigenous
Peoples whose combined territories stretch
across over 128 million hectares. Each and
every one of these cultures are unique, and
the fact that they’re here sustaining dominion
over vast land and seascapes is absolutely
remarkable. Why? Their territories, rich in
ecological and natural resources, are coveted
by nation-states and by industry.
Over five years, we’ve witnessed a sea
change in the activism and self-determination
of Indigenous Peoples’ efforts to revitalize
their cultures, languages, and territorial
control. Nia Tero plays an important part
in supporting this progress—through both
financial and technical support, we uplift
Indigenous partners by telling their stories,
advocating for policy shifts, and securing the
health of their Peoples and their places.
Our 2022 grantmaking increased 28% to $17.5
million, with over 90% directly contributed
to Indigenous partners for the protection
and security of their traditional homelands.
Our policy team played an important
role in the Convention on Biodiversity’s
acknowledgement that the rights of
Indigenous Peoples must be front and center
in efforts to protect global biodiversity.
And our Storytelling team collaborated
with Indigenous Fellows and Indigenous
Storytellers across multiple cultures to
highlight the deep reciprocal connection and
relationships between Indigenous Peoples
and their homelands through compelling
podcasts and videos.
The 2022 annual report will give you the
flavor of our work and of our progress,
none of which could have been accomplished
without determined and strong Indigenous
and non-Indigenous partners. At the same
time, we must also acknowledge that
Indigenous Peoples continue to be assaulted
by invasions into their territories across the
entirety of Earth. Governments, which often
look the other way or actively participate in
these invasions, so often envision Indigenous
Peoples as obstacles to “economic progress”
and barriers to “more productive” uses of
lands and waters.
The potential to learn from Indigenous
Peoples on how to treat the living Earth
makes the work of Nia Tero and of our
partners exceptionally urgent and important.
Fortunately, we are prepared for this
battle, and we are indebted to our partners,
Indigenous and non-Indigenous, for their
encouragement and support.
Peter Seligmann
CEO
THRIVING PEOPLES. THRIVING PLACES.
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