Sacred Territories Global Initiative

Mission:
Original Peoples led conservation initiative to
protect and revitalize Biocultural Territories key
to a healthy climate and harmonious
relationship with Mother Earth.
We Are At A Critical Crossroad
● Earth has hit irreversible tipping points due to the accelerating
climate crisis and ecosystem collapse

● 1 million species on the brink of extinction

● Indigenous Territories face disproportionate and unprecedented

destruction by extractive industries
Territories of ●
●
80% earth’s remaining biodiversity
95% most threatened biodiversity 2

Original ●
●
36% remaining intact forests 3
77% earth’s forest carbon 4
● 25% world’s land surface, 66% of that
Peoples ●
land is ‘essentially natural’ 1
Are the most at risk
 Proven to be the best guardians of
ecosystems vital to the security of
global food production, fresh water, and
a stable climate, critical to the health of
the planet as a whole 1, 2 . They:

Original ●
●
●
Are experts in animal behavior
Are world-class botanists
Manage their lands sustainably

Peoples ●
●
●
Accurately “read” their environment
Are “eyes and ears of the forest”
See conservation as their collective
responsibility
● Connect to their land is part of identity
● See animals and plants as kin
● Care for nature central to cultures and ways
of life 3
These Territories and
Peoples Are Most at Risk...
To protect the earth and all life,
we must follow Original
Peoples’ ecological knowledge
and defend Sacred Territories
 Alliance Organizations
Fostering an ecosystem of collaborators

The Fountain Le Ciel Foundation One Ancient Future

Restoring global economy of Addressing humanity’s Protecting, preserving, and
reciprocity inspired by Nature, by separation from Nature and from activating Earth’s sacred sites
enabling collaboration to create its true nature. Bridging the network to usher in a new
new economic models based on wisdom of ancestral traditions global consciousness of
original principles of ancient with the know-how and ingenuity ecological sustainability and
cultures to protect and restore of modernity, we adopt a spiritual oneness.
Sacred Territories. systems change approach to
catalysing both individual and
collective transformation.
Sacred Territory Spotlight
 The Black Hills of the Lakota Peoples

Informational Video for the Black Hills Unity Concert Signing of the International Indiginous Peoples
Alliance To Protect Sacred Sites
Four year international gathering focused on educating the
After 4 years of gathering and discussion at the Black Hills Unity
general public on the history of the Black Hills and hosting
Concert, On September 10th, 2017 indiginous and Treaty
community leaders from 12 Lakota, Dakota and Nakota
delegate from around the world gathered in the sacred territory
reservations to present their solutions to social and
of the Black Hills of South Dakota to sign the historic
environmental challenges. The concert featured dozens of
International Indigenous Peoples Alliance To Protect Sacred
internationally recognized musicians, Indigenous Leaders and
Sites (*See slide 15 for full proclamation)
thousands of supporters from all over the globe where in
attendance.
Mandates and
Declarations
 The Four Earth Mandates

Earth Mandate 1: Earth Mandate 2: Earth Mandate 3: Earth Mandate 4:

Grand Council of
Indigenous Spiritual Elders
There is common agreement among
Indigenous Peoples that, for societies to
realign with the Original Instructions,
spiritual authorities of Indigenous
Peoples must be acknowledged and
listened to. We consolidate a Grand
Council of Indigenous Spiritual Elders
with members of all continents with
outstanding spiritual work for their
Peoples and Territories.
Sacred Sites
Helping Mother Earth Heal and Balance
and Protecting Biocultural Sacred Sites.
This Earth Mandate aims to heal and
reactivate Sacred Sites around the
world, helping Mother Earth and Nature
in her recovery of spiritual and
ecological balance.
Houses of Original Intercultural Exchange
Thought
The Houses of Original Thought provide Interfaith (inter-spiritual) and
a space for the sharing of ancestral intercultural dialogue to address the
wisdom. We envision the establishment Doctrine of Discovery and to join
of, as a first phase, thirteen Houses of efforts in demanding the rescinding of
Original Thought within Indigenous Papal Bulls affecting Indigenous
Peoples territories in the Americas and Peoples and Mother Earth. We also
then 13 others in every continent. create spaces for truth and
Community members integrate reconciliation processes in regard to
practices and knowledge about their exploited peoples and regions in
biocultural regions. Mother Earth.
ASSEGaia Declaration For the Protection of Sacred Natural Sites
World Economic Forum at Davos - Jan. 21st, 2020
March 2019, Cauca, Colombia
 INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' ALLIANCE TO PROTECT SACRED SITES
Black Hills, South Dakota - Sept. 10th, 2017

Whereas, we have gathered as Indigenous Elders from the Americas, Asia and Australia in good faith and in prayer to build alliances and strengthen each other
in our mutual paths to self reliance, the revitalization of our unique cultures and Peoples, and the protection of our sacred sites:

● Recognizing the urgent need to work together to engender global respect and promote our inherent rights as Indigenous Peoples, which derive from
our unique societal structures and from our traditional cultures, spiritual traditions, histories, and lifeways, especially our rights to protect and govern
our sacred places and safeguard and practice our traditional knowledge; and
● Acknowledging that respect for, and the practice of, our Peoples traditional knowledge, cultures and spiritual practices contributes to sustainable and
equitable development and proper management and balance of the environment and the physical and spiritual world; and
● Recognizing that we must work together as Indigenous Peoples globally to ensure that our voices are heard in a secular and capitalistically driven
world which is not of our creation.

Now therefore we declare and proclaim, our peoples:

Article 1: Article 2: Article 3: Article 4:

Hold a unique portion of the gifts of
Creator for the world, and as such
have the right to be free from any
kind of discrimination in the exercise
of our gifts, in particular based on
our unique indigenous origin,
cultural foundation, homelands,
sacred sites, spiritual practices,
identities, and sovereignty in the
education of our youth.
Understand that there is a direct
correlation between mineral
development, the fossil fuel industry
and climate change. These practices
violate Grandmother Earth and
global warming is a direct result of
these practices that we recommend
stop immediately. With this
understanding, the abuse of
Grandmother Earth must stop in
order to preserve Her for our future
generations.
Have the right to clean water for our
families and communities, and the right
to utilize our traditional knowledge
systems regarding the management of
Grandmother Earth to protect these
waters. All governments need to honor
and live up to their responsibilities
regarding recognized treaties and
agreements and be held accountable if
they fail to do so. We offer our
collaboration to restore sacred sites
whenever possible and we demand that
spiritual ancestral authorities be
acknowledged and respected.
Proclaim that the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is a
declaration that should be
implemented by all member States
of the United Nations. UNDRIP is a
basic standard for the protection of
the human rights of Indigenous
Peoples. Therefore, it should be
implemented into domestic law by
each of the member States.
IKWASHENDWNA
“Plan to Save Life”

Territory of Tezhúmake, Colombia

May 15th-20th, 2013

* Extended
Presentation
Model and Phases
 Site Protection and Regeneration Model*

Protected Nucleus
● Limited access: First Nations
Spiritual leaders only
● Biocultural Diversity / Heritage
● Key Ecological “Hot Spots”

SACRED SITE

Self Sustaining Economic Model:

● Open to public
● Regenerative Commerce and
Agriculture
● Cultural and Eco-Tourism and
REGENERATIVE ZONE Education to connect with
Nature, Cultures and Heritage

*Based in the UN International Environmental Regime developed

by the Sacred Territories Initiatives
Resources
 ASSEGaia Declaration: (ASSEGaia: Alliance for the Sacred Sites of Earth Gaia)
Landmark declaration calling for the adoption of an ecocentric model prioritizing the rights
of Nature, protection of Sacred Natural Sites along with the Spiritual Guardians and
indigenous communities protecting, conserving, maintaining, and restoring these sites.
_______________________________________________________________________

Declaration of Indigenous Rights: The United Nations Declaration adopted by

the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 13th. 2007, outlining the
rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world.
_______________________________________________________________________

Links Between Biological and Cultural Diversity: A UNESCO report on

Guiding Documents the efficacy and need for bioculturalism and cultural diversity in sustainable development.
_______________________________________________________________________

Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing: Convention on

Biological Diversity international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from
the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way.
_______________________________________________________________________

Universal Declaration of Rights of Mother Earth: Calls the UN to adopt

it as standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations of the world to recognize
Mother Earth and all beings are entitled to all the inherent rights without distinction of any
kind, such as may be made between organic and inorganic beings, species, origin, use to
human beings, or any other status.
 Original Peoples vs. Indigenous Peoples:
Original Peoples is preferred over Indigenous Peoples, since the
authoritative UN definition of the term “indigenous” refers to
non-dominant, or colonized peoples. Original Peoples, or Original
Nations avoids this stigmatizing and colonialist burden.

Biocultural:
Emphasizes the idea that culture has developed around biological
components and whatever nurtures life: soil, land, wind, and water.

Terms and Definitions Biocultural Heritage:

Contemporarily used by ethno-ecologists such as Toledo, Boege, and
Bassols (2010) to refer to all that native peoples have produced,
reproduced, and preserved in their territories as a result of the beliefs,
knowledge, and practices emerging from their cultures. As used here,
the concept emphasizes the idea that culture has developed around
biological components and whatever nurtures life: soil, land, wind,
and water (Barrera-Bassols 2003).

Sacred:
Something sacred is holy, devoted to a spiritual ceremony, or simply
worthy of awe and respect. An object or place set aside for a
particular purpose can also be sacred.