Michael Hathaway attends COP 29 climate talks in Azerbaijan

I was delighted to attend the COP 29 climate talks this fall in Azerbaijan. My trip was partially supported by Simon Fraser University (SFU), although they did not sponsor a full delegation this year as they had in previous years. Additional support came from the Center for Indigenous Peoples' Research and Development (CIPRED), based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

This was my first time attending a UN-connected event, and I was struck by the incredible diversity of delegates from nearly 200 countries, all gathered to discuss the planet's climate future. The headline news from COP 29 centered on the Global North’s failure to provide substantial funding—over a trillion dollars—to support climate adaptation measures in the Global South. However, there was much more happening at COP than the mainstream media often captured.

My primary focus was on how COP has become a critical meeting space for Indigenous groups from around the world. I wanted to understand how these groups come together to discuss issues and develop strategies for advocacy and action at national, regional, and global levels.

I spent much of my time at the Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion, located in the “blue zone,” an inner area requiring special credentials, unlike the more accessible “green zone.” Most countries host their own pavilions in the blue zone, where they attempt to showcase their climate initiatives. These pavilions also host numerous panels over the two-week event. Interestingly, these panels were not mere patriotic performances; instead, they often featured substantive discussions with experts from multiple countries addressing critical climate issues.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion was particularly noteworthy for its simultaneous translation between English, Spanish, and Portuguese—a rarity compared to other pavilions, which typically defaulted to their dominant language. One memorable panel featured Kuna speakers from Panama recounting their 1925 victory over the Panamanian army, which led to a significant degree of sovereignty for their communities—a level surpassing what I’ve seen in Canada or the U.S. During the panel, the Kuna speakers addressed an official Panamanian delegate in the audience, thanking him for attending and urging him to ensure greater Kuna representation in future delegations. The delegate’s affirmative response underscored the ongoing dialogue and relationships that many of these participants have cultivated over decades.

The audience at the pavilion was predominantly Indigenous, including representatives from Africa such as the Maasai and the San. The space also encouraged informal interactions, allowing me to connect with delegates like those from the Inuit Circumpolar Council, which links Inuit communities across Canada, the U.S., and Greenland.

I learned that while the United Nations has long been a key space for Indigenous groups to collaborate—notably in achieving the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) now being implemented in Canada and British Columbia—COP has emerged as a vital venue for Indigenous voices. At COP, Indigenous groups from across the globe engage in critical conversations about global dynamics and opportunities for action, making it an invaluable platform for collective strategy and advocacy.