The Challenges of Peaceful Coexistence among Pastoralist Communities in Kenya

Written on 07 April 2026.

By Malih Ole Kaunga for Indigenous Debates

British colonial rule disrupted the way of life of Indigenous communities by dispossessing them of their fertile lands, imposing foreign systems of governance, introducing borders and criminalizing their itinerant lifestyles. Today, infrastructure, oil exploration, and conservation in pastoral territories exacerbate conflicts and undermine daily life by failing to respect their territorial rights and self-determination. Experience shows that sustainable peace is achieved through robust community institutions, mutual respect, and the strengthening of autonomy.

Continue Reading

Peace as a living system: Indigenous perspectives from the voice of Leonor Zalabata Torres

Written on 22 March 2026.

BY LAURA GALVIS SANTACRUZ FOR INDIGENOUS DEBATES

Leonor Zalabata Torres is a Colombian Indigenous leader of the Arhuaco people from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. She participated in the 1991 constitutional process and is currently Colombia's permanent representative to the United Nations. She is the first Indigenous woman to hold this position and represent the country on the Security Council. Talking about conflict and peace with Leonor Zalabata means thinking outside of the usual boxes. In her opinion, peace is not a legal armistice or a pact between “parties” but a deeper condition: the stability of life.

Continue Reading

Indigenous Adivasi Youth-Led Peacebuilding Amidst Escalating State-Corporate Developmental Violence in India

Written on 02 April 2026.

By InSAF India & Indian Alliance Paris for Indigenous Debates

As part of Indigenous Peoples worldwide, the many Adivasi communities of central-eastern India continue to draw on their traditional knowledge and cultural heritage to protect their lands, livelihoods and environment – jal, jangal, jameen (water, forest, land). Their stewardship is instrumental in maintaining the delicate balance of the region’s extensive biodiverse forests, even as they rely on this ecosystem for survival and subsistence.

Continue Reading

Joint Statement by CHTC and IWGIA on the Appointment of the Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and Call for Full Implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord

Written on 23 February 2026.

The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) and International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) congratulate the newly elected government of Bangladesh and members of its cabinet. In this important political transition period in Bangladesh, we expect that the new government will work towards advancing inclusive governance, strengthening democratic institutions, and upholding the rights of all communities, including Indigenous Peoples.

Continue Reading