Event Reflection: Indigenous Populations and Peacebuilding
On February 6th, 2025 The Bahá’i Chair for World Peace hosted a webinar lecture discussing Indigenous populations and peacebuilding Dr. Michael Orona shared his thoughts and beliefs on supporting Indigenous populations.
He touched on several topics such as addressing the past, addressing global inequality, Indigenous women at the forefront of change and the potential for sustainable change.
When addressing the past he spoke on the dispossession of lands, forced assimilation and cultural erasure that have inflicted intergenerational trauma around the world.
Governments that collaborate with indigenous people are more likely to create sustainability solutions which offer greater benefits to global communities. The problem lies in that indigenous people haven't been included in board rooms and global summits where decisions that impact them are made.
Orona highlights that greater collaboration is essential to foster a more inclusive society where indigenous people can freely reach their full potential. The main takeaway from this lecture was to promote the inclusion of indigenous peoples in the implementation process of policies and strategies, conflict resolution, peacebuilding and gender equality.
To watch Dr. Orona’s full lecture click the link below.
About the Author:
Nina-Abbie Temisan Omatsola is an undergraduate student working as a research intern with the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace. She is pursuing a dual major in Psychology and Theatre at the University of Maryland-College Park. Her interests include quality education for all.
