Chief Oren Lyons speaks about Climate Change

What perspective can Indigenous leadership offer on the global climate crisis? At the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, held at UN Headquarters in 2007, Chief Oren Lyons addresses this question directly, sharing insights on climate change rooted in Indigenous knowledge and tradition. As a respected Indigenous leader, Chief Lyons brings a perspective grounded in generations of relationship with the land, offering an important counterpoint to more conventional scientific and policy-driven approaches to the climate crisis. His remarks at this significant UN forum highlight the growing recognition of Indigenous voices and traditional ecological knowledge as essential contributors to global climate discourse, emphasizing values of long-term stewardship, interconnectedness, and respect for the natural world. This talk adds an important Indigenous perspective to the broader international conversation on climate change, delivered at one of the earliest UN platforms dedicated specifically to Indigenous issues.