Inclusion, Equality, and Empowerment to Achieve Sustainable Development: Realities of Indigenous Peoples

From the perspective of indigenous peoples, inclusion and empowerment entail legal recognition of their distinct identities; security of tenure of their lands, territories and resources; peace in their territory and enjoyment of the right to self-governance including their customs, traditions, cultures, and livelihoods linked to sustainable resource management practices. The last is based on a holistic approach to the reciprocal relations between human beings and nature. These are at the core of indigenous peoples’ dignity, wellbeing, collective survival and development which they have been asserting and defending for centuries.