Short Abstract:

This session brings into conversation Indigenous knowledges and practices with the capability approach at the local, trans-Indigenous and global level through reflective presentations by Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and practitioners who advocate for Indigenous philosophies of relationality and living well for informing sustainable human development local and global transformations.

Long Abstract:

Presentation 1 – mabu liyan, mabu buru, mabu ngarrungunil and mabu manjya - Connecting local Indigenous philosophies and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Co-authors: Mandy Yap and Eunice Yu

Abstract

The United Nations announced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, setting the development agenda for all countries till 2030 (UN 2015). The SDGs’ emphasis on inclusive growth, and their preoccupation with balancing environmental and people-centred concerns marks a sea-change in development thinking. Mid way through the introduction of the SDGs provides a timely opportunity to evaluate whether the agenda of inclusive growth have relevance and effect across the diverse circumstances Indigenous peoples are likely to find themselves in. To realise the SDG’s transformative agenda, it is imperative that we ask what Indigenous peoples can contribute to our understanding of and development of indicators to represent and monitor sustainable development across a range of context. This can help inform whether the current trajectories of development pursuits need to be revisited and reimagined. This presentation brings Yawuru’s sustainable development philosophy into conversation with the UN SDGs reporting framework to explore whether Indigenous voices, worldviews and lived realities adequately captured within the national implementation of the global SDG indicator reporting frameworks in Australia. This presentation will describe the collaborative journeys of working with Yawuru families to explore how wellbeing of families, communities and country is sustained over time and across generations.

Keywords: Capability Approach, Indigenous peoples, Wellbeing, Sustainable development, Indigenous philosophy, UN SDGs

Presentation 2 - Integrating Capabilities and Ecosystem Services Approaches to evaluate Indigenous connections with nature in a global biodiversity hotspot of Western Ghats, India

Co-authors: Muniyandi Balasubramanian and Kamaljit Sangha

Abstract

To incorporate Indigenous and local communities connections with nature for policy decision making, we integrate Ecosystem Services (ES) and Capability Approaches to develop a cohesive framework for assisting policy makers to better comprehend nature’s values that are vital for Indigenous/tribal well-being. Sen’s Capability Approach, when applied using the lens of ES, helps to realise well-being from a multi-dimensional perspective. Our proposed framework includes ES in the context of peoples’ capabilities, functionings, utilities, and freedom to access and use natural resources. We further applied this framework to two case studies, tribal communities of Soliga and Kattunayaka located in a global biodiversity hotspot in the Western Ghats of India, to investigate how ES enable people to lead their lives as they want. This study, the first of its kind in India, explains how tribal communities’ well-being is affected by the access and rights to their local forest resources. This study offers a tool for policy makers to appropriately comprehend Indigenous/tribal communities’ connections with their lands, and highlights concerns for mainstreaming them into contemporary economies. An integrated understanding of multi-dimensional aspects of well-being and nature’s values can enhance both Indigenous w

Keywords: CA, IP, Wellbeing, Sustainable development, eco system services

Presentation 3 – The Inclusion of Culture in the Sustainable Development Goals: Some Learnings from Gender and Wellbeing in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

Co-authors: Krushil Watene and Mandy Yap

Abstract

Conversations about wellbeing, development and justice have been ongoing within Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. In particular, movements to reclaim Indigenous philosophies and practices in both, have, for instance, ushered in transformations in health, wellbeing, environmental law, and education. This paper will first map the wellbeing and development terrain to situate discussions as they feature within Gender and Indigenous wellbeing. We then explain some of the Indigenous wellbeing conversations, paying particular attention to understanding the content and context for discussions so far. We then weave within and between the Indigenous wellbeing and Gender and Development scholarship – highlighting some of the differences and shared insights. Finally, we explore what insights and learnings can be garnered from Gender and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals before exploring how Culture can and should be a pillar of Sustainable Development, too. We end by providing one such way forward.

Keywords: Culture, Indigenous peoples, Gender, UN SDG, Indigenous philosophies, Wellbeing