Freedom to Be: Indigenous Perspectives on How Development Models Affect Their Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief
April 24 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am UTC-8
On Wednesday April 24th at 9 a.m. EDT, join the Center for Earth Ethics for “Freedom to Be: Indigenous Perspectives on How the Mainstream Development Model Affects Their Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief,” a conversation about the intersection of Indigenous issues, the concept of freedom of religion or belief, the development paradigm and the ecological crisis. This virtual discussion will feature Indigenous voices who will explore how international Indigenous communities are affected by the same extractionist industries, domination mindset and land removal policies that damage the biosphere as a whole. This conversation will also dive into the sustainable development paradigm and challenge its tendency to elevate economic development and devalue biocultural heritage and Earth-honoring ways of life.
Taily Terena of the Terena Indigenous peoples in Brazil and Yolanda Teran of the Kichwa Nation of Ecuador will join us for this panel. Roberto Múkaro Borrero, Guainía Taíno, strategic advisor to CEE, will moderate. CEE Executive Director Karenna Gore will introduce and close the program.
This conversation is another in the Freedom to Be series that builds on the 2022 report on Indigenous communities by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. This event is a virtual side event to the 2024 United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Dr. Yolanda Teran is from the Indigenous Kichwa Nation of Ecuador. She obtained her doctorate degree at the College of Education at the University of New Mexico, with a concentration in Language, Literacy and Socio-Cultural Studies. In recognition for her educational work done for Indigenous education at local, national and international levels, she achieved two postdoctoral fellowships from 2014 to 2016 under the sponsorship of the University of New Mexico’s Division of Equity and Inclusion and the Native American Studies Department. She is currently researching Indigenous peoples, languages and biodiversity. Her goal is to create awareness among students, teachers and Indigenous communities about international issues that affect Indigenous peoples’ life and rights, and to build a bridge between the community and academia based on mutual respect and understanding.
