When digital technology innovation enhances Indigenous Peoples’ e-participation in climate change resilience-building: perspectives under the “e-GIS Smart, Inclusive, and, Climate-resilient Indigenous Peoples Landscape and Community Clearing-House Mechanism Solution”

Abstract

Web-based multilingual tools to facilitate communication between Local and Indigenous Communities is an environmental technology approach emerging under the United Nations Biodiversity Global Agenda. To better address present climate resilience-building challenges in the current smart world, this contribution presents innovative avenues leading to the development of the « e-GIS Smart, Inclusive, and, Climate-resilient Indigenous Peoples Landscape and Community Clearing-House Mechanism Solution » which is meant to be used in the mobile-friendly website environment and the e-app environment. This technology policy paper shows that digital GIS, remote sensing products of observation satellites, and smartphone applications products derived from telecommunication satellites can help facilitate Indigenous Peoples’ contribution to climate resilience-building within their territories in terms of biodiversity and within their communities in terms of poverty eradication throughout the implementation of the United Nations Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Global Agenda. The methodology used consists, therefore, of a plural technology interface that promises, among many other benefits, to facilitate Indigenous Peoples’ participation in decision-making processes. This research reminds us of the importance of state responsibility in these matters. It shows the importance of Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the implementation of global instances’ agendas through national reporting. It highlights the key role of Indigenous information decolonization and governance as principles of Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty over Indigenous information. The results of this research are illustrated with case studies, when possible, to show the potential of the Solution to achieve its goals in climate resilience-building in Indigenous Peoples Landscapes and Communities with Indigenous Peoples and the financial support of state governments and inter-governmental institutions. In Canada, the use of the Solution to move forward in the Indigenous Peoples Affairs’ agenda, has the potential, among others, to enhance the expected outcome of the Canadian First Nations Data Governance Strategy (FNDGS) which is adopted as a response to an evolving smart planet to ensure no First Nation is left behind.