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By standards of international law, Indigenous Peoples technically own many assets, including land, natural resources, cultural and intellectual property, legal, political and human capital and in some rare cases, financial assets.
But, Indigenous Peoples do not control these assets, nor do they derive any wealth from the revenue generated by indigenous assets, as these are largely controlled and directed by outside interests, be they governments, academic institutions, multinational corporations, or international conservation organizations.
This is a grave problem and indeed a challenge for this century for Indigenous Peoples and to their respective communities; as well to those who are genuinely concerned about Indigenous Peoples issues.
The guiding principal in First People Worldwide Advocacy Program rests on its long term strategy to achieve Indigenous Peoples’ vision of sustainable development for their communities. First Peoples Worldwide campaign initiative has a multi-faceted approach on three inter-related strategies:
- Create a shift in international public opinion and mobilize relevant groups to create a context for Indigenous Peoples issues;
- Campaign for more equitable funding of Indigenous Peoples within international funding mechanisms;
- Campaign for systemic change on navigating policy goals for Indigenous Peoples.
1) First Peoples Worldwide has provided concepts and designs that led to the creation of the World Bank Global Fund for Indigenous Peoples. Its role as the critical catalyst is recognized by its peers in ensuring and accelerating the momentum to secure funding directly to Indigenous Peoples.
2) First Peoples Worldwide has led a successful campaign in the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in a $50 million program created by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to conserve biodiversity in the Amazon Basin.
3) First Peoples Worldwide is continuing its advocacy work in getting congressional hearing on multilateral and bi-lateral agencies to probe into how biodiversity funding is producing poverty thru relocations and evictions of Indigenous Peoples from their lands.
4) First Peoples Worldwide and our partner, Calvert Social Investment Fund, introduced the first Social Investment Screen accompanied by a public awareness campaign that established the first social investment screen that protects the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Through its promotion of shareholder advocacy via the social investment screen First Peoples Worldwide has positively influenced corporate behavior in initiating conversations with corporate community on issues of concern for Indigenous Peoples. To wit, the publication that produced, the RECIPE GUIDEBOOK: Resources/Extractive Companies and Indigenous Peoples Engagement was created in cooperation with Business for Social Responsibility.
First Peoples Worldwide advocacy strategy and campaign initiative is “revolved” around the formation of an institutional structure in U.S. Agency for International Development on Indigenous Peoples. It has contributed to the following recommendations:
 USAID designate a Coordinator for Indigenous Peoples issues;
USAID consult with representatives of Indigenous Peoples organizations;
Ensure that the rights and needs of Indigenous Peoples are effectively addressed in USAID policies, programs and activities;
USAID monitor the design and implementation of such programs and activities which directly or indirectly affect Indigenous Peoples and their communities;
USAID coordinate with other Federal agencies on relevant issues relating to Indigenous Peoples.
1) First Peoples Worldwide is in the process of formulating an advocacy plan for tying communities directly to the policy forums in the case of USAID, WORLD BANK-Global Environmental Facility (GEF) AND IUCN. Its campaign goal is to secure a percentage of biodiversity funding going to protected areas and have it go directly to Indigenous communities.
2) First Peoples Worldwide will continue to build cases through research and political organizing for a campaign for a just and equitable funding of Indigenous Peoples within the World Bank–Global Environmental Facility Funding and US Agency for Development priorities.
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| First Peoples Worldwide · 3307 Bourbon Street · Fredericksburg, VA 22408 · (540) 899-6545 |
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