20,000 delegates and participants from 160 nations attended the 10th World Water Forum, the largest international meeting in the water sector co-hosted by the World Water Council and, for the 2024 edition, by the Republic of Indonesia on the island of Bali.
SD-WISHEES was seen to be present at the Forum, organising a workshop on“Extreme water events and indigenous peoples: how ancestral knowledge can support climate adaptation measures” at the Water 4 All pavilion. The workshop attracted an audience of around 20 people, ranging from people in UN agencies, partners of Water 4 All including funding agencies, and members of HR2W with an interest in indigenous peoples and how they are affected by extreme hydroclimatic events.
The event was heralded by a song and drum performance from Tekaherha Logan Lazore, of the wolf clan from the Haudenosaunee territory of Akwesasne located on the northern border of Canada and the United States, and followed by the short SD-WISHEES introductory video. The speakers included the coordination team of SD-WISHEES, a keynote from IHE Delft, stories from indigenous leaders from Canada and Nepal, and an introduction to innovation pathways and ancestral knowledge from UNESCO and PRIMA, also a member of SD-WISHEES.
“Our workshop created awareness about the link between extreme climate events and their effects on the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, using real-life and personal stories to highlight the impacts, and considering some of the ancestral knowledge that can be used to find nature-based solutions.” Amanda Loeffen, Human Right 2 Water (UK), coordination team of SD-WISHEES
At the opening of the workshop, it was touching to listen the sound of the drum and the song which the Mohawk Community of Akwesasne (Canada) dedicate to water: “We love our waters , our water is fresh, our water is precious, our water is a treasure.” In many indigenous communities and cultures around the world – some represented at the World Water Forum – Water is considered sacred. For these peoples, water is not just a resource, it is a key aspect of their cultural identity” Jessica Amadio, Water Research Institute (Italy), coordination team of SD-WISHEES
The outcomes of the Forum can be found at the link 10th World Water Forum 2024 – Outcomes
