الشعوب الأصلية

Indigenous Peoples' food systems are an area of work of particular relevance to FAO’s mandate, rooted in the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular the UN Decade of Action to deliver the Global Goals, the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition, the Sustainable Food Systems Framework, the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and its outcomes, the UN Decade on Indigenous Languages (2022-2032) and the Decade on Family Farming (2019-2028). The Indigenous Peoples Unit is leading FAOs work on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems by supporting the coordination of the Coalition on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems, supporting knowledge co-creation through the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems, and profiling Indigenous Peoples’ food systems.

The Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems – Find out more 

The Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems is a knowledge platform that brings together Indigenous and non-indigenous scientists, knowledge-holders, and experts to establish a knowledge-dialogue in order to generate evidence on the sustainability and resilience of Indigenous Peoples' food systems. The Global-Hub informs policy discussions and research agendas on food security, biodiversity and climate change at local, national and regional level; ensuring that Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge and rights are at the center and that their food systems are valued and protected. By working horizontally and vertically in knowledge sharing, the Global-Hub supports the well-being of Indigenous Peoples, the preservation of their ancestral territorial management practices, and their food systems that have feed them for centuries while preserving most of the remaining terrestrial biodiversity in the planet.

UN Food Systems Summit and Indigenous Peoples

In close coordination with Indigenous Peoples, the UNPFII, The Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems, UN agencies and FAO Members; FAO and partners worked to ensure the meaningful participation and influence of Indigenous Peoples in the UNFSS. Through various activities including:

The Coalition on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems

In 2021, Indigenous Peoples and seven FAO Members - Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, and Spain - joined forces to create a Coalition on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems in the frame of the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS). The Coalition aims to further ensure the understanding, respect, recognition, inclusion, and protection of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems, whilst proving evidence on their “game-changing and systemic” aspects. The Coalition is the result of intense advocacy work from the delegation of Indigenous Peoples with support from the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems. The Scientific Group of the UNFSS and FAO Members recognized Indigenous Peoples’ food systems as game-changers. 

Available in English, Spanish

The White/Wiphala Paper on Indigenous Peoples' food systems

FAO, 2021 Available in English & Spanish

The White/Wiphala paper on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems is the result of collective work by Indigenous and non-indigenous knowledge-holders, scientists, and experts. The White/Wiphala Paper compile 60 contributions from 39 organizations and 11 individuals, Indigenous and non-indigenous, from 6 socio-cultural regions. This final version of the White/Wiphala paper has been coordinated by the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems and edited by a Technical Editorial Committee, and summarizes the main points received.

The combined efforts undertaken in publishing the White/Wiphala paper and presenting it through knowledge exchanges resulted in a significant recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems in the work and publications of the Scientific Group of the UN Food Systems Summit.

High-level Expert Seminar on North American Indigenous Peoples' food systems, towards the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit 

FAO’s Indigenous Peoples Unit, the FAO Liaison Office for North America, and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) organized the Expert Seminar will provide a high-level platform for North American experts to present and discuss the critical importance and contributions of North American Indigenous Peoples’ food systems in relation to the primary objectives of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. | Find out more

Introductory meetings with North American Indigenous People’s on food systems 

FAO’s Indigenous Peoples Unit, the FAO Liaison Office for North America, and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) hosted eight introductory brainstorming sessions in 2020 with Indigenous Peoples partners aimed to revitalize, sustain and protect adequate access to nutritional, culturally appropriate foods, and clean waters. These meetings aimed to expand and strengthen dialogues with North American Indigenous Peoples across Canada and the United States of America, to understand their food system priorities and share information about ongoing global dialogues.| Find out more

The Expert Seminar on Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Peoples’ Fisheries in the Arctic Region – Find out more | Final declaration

The Expert Seminar on Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous People's Fisheries in the Arctic Region took place in FAO Rome on September 23-24, 2019. It brought together more than 40 Indigenous Peoples' experts, fishers, researchers and other stakeholders from the region to share perspectives and exchange experiences on traditional knowledge and elements that could guide and support Indigenous Peoples' fisheries policy.

The High-Level Seminar on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems | Final report

The first High-Level Expert Seminar on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems took place in FAO Headquarters the 7 – 9 November 2018. It brought together more than 200 participants, out of which 23 country delegations and 70 speakers from more than 40 countries, 22 Indigenous Peoples and 20 universities and research centers. The Expert Seminar presented fieldwork and research of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems from different parts of the world, looking at informing the global debate on sustainability and climate resilience in the context of the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Decade of Action of Nutrition