"Healing Land, Healing Communities", UN side event, New York
The 90-minute panel will take place on 22 April at the UN Church Center in New York.
The session is convened by members of the Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network, Reference Group of the World Council of Churches (WCC), with moderation by Lori Ransom, Indigenous Peoples consultant for the WCC. The United Church of Christ, National Ministries (USA), is cosponsoring the event.
At its core, the panel aims to elevate Indigenous theological frameworks within global discourse on human health, while showcasing Indigenous spiritual knowledge as central to addressing the impacts of climate change, land dispossession, and community well-being.
Three distinguished Indigenous leaders will present their perspectives, each addressing critical intersections of land, health, and human dignity.
Patricia StandTal Clarke will introduce the concept of “land medicine,” emphasizing the intrinsic relationship between human health and the natural world. Drawing from Indigenous traditions, she will highlight how connection to land is not only spiritual but also physical and communal.
Bariture Awi Inuba Awi will focus on the urgent situation facing Indigenous children in Ogoni, Nigeria. His intervention will shed light on systemic injustices, including child labor, trafficking, and lack of access to education. He will argue that the protection of Indigenous children is fundamental to the survival and future of Indigenous communities.
Hana Kirreh will address the health crisis affecting Indigenous Palestinian women, framing it as an issue of bodily sovereignty and cultural survival. Her presentation will explore systemic barriers to healthcare, the psychological toll of displacement, and the intergenerational trauma caused by conflict.
The session will conclude with an interactive question-and-answer segment, encouraging dialogue between participants and speakers.
By centering Indigenous knowledge systems, “Healing Land, Healing Communities” aims to challenge dominant narratives and offer transformative pathways toward justice, reconciliation, and sustainable well-being worldwide.
Download the "Indigenous Spiritualities, Land Rights, and Climate Justice report"
WCC Book Talks: Indigenous perspectives
