Seeking More Indigenous Wisdom at COP15

I have been frustrated by the lack of media coverage of the international COP15 biodiversity conference which is drawing to a close in Montreal. The decisions of these representatives of the nearly 200 countries present, along with the United Nations, is of utmost importance, yet we have heard so little in the way of substantive reporting since the first couple of days while the temper tantrums of a man/boy billionaire are endlessly front and centre in the news cycle.

This morning CBC Radio's The Current devoted the program to COP15 and it was excellent -- please seek it out as a podcast if you didn't hear it. I was so impressed and moved by Matt Galloway's interview with two Indigenous women from what we call Canada who are in Montreal. Valérie Courtois is director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative; and Dolcy Meness, a land guardian from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, near Maniwaki, Que.

Valierie Courtois 

Dolcy is in her early twenties while Valerie had years of experience as a forester before her current role. Both spoke articulately and with passion about the wisdom that Indigenous people bring to conversations about preserving biodiversity based on thousands of years on the land, living respectfully and sustainably alongside other creatures. They both expressed hope for the future as the effects of centuries of colonialism and genocide are addressed and that wisdom is nurtured and recognizes once again.

As I listened in my study I glanced over to a photograph in my study and realized it would be my "outside in" image for this day in Advent. When we lived in Sudbury I was asked to have a black and white photo taken for the "rogue's gallery" of past ministers in the board room. Only one photographer in the city still did black and white portraits, so off I went. While in the studio I looked around at images on the walls and was captivated by one of an Indigenous man. The face spoke to me of the verses in the King James Verson of the prophet Isaiah which were eventually associated with the crucified Christ: 

 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:3-4

 When I asked the photographer about it he told me that he'd paid this well known local street person to sit for him, and I ended up purchasing the image for my study. There were so many Indigenous people who had migrated into Sudbury from their traditional homes and were often in desparate circumstances. 

This photo is such a contrast to the strength and joy expressed in the faces of the women interviewed today. 

Through the generations White culture, including Christian churches, has withheld esteem from Indigenous peoples and we are now realizing what folly that has been. We have despised Creation, crucifying the land, plundering it as an inanimate source of wealth rather than listening to our own scriptures about respect or to those who understood it far better than we ever have. 

Perhaps we are at a turning point where we can humbly receive the lessons we need to learn. The hope and wisdom of Indigenous peoples is vital, all around Turtle Island. 

Liz Côté and Dolcy Meness admit that they love their work, which most of the time consists of being outside, in the woods.PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / DELPHINE JUNG

Here is the link to today's The Current program

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-63-the-current/clip/15955403-cop15-montreal-efforts-save-planets-declining-biodiversity