Research summary
In 2015, United Nations member states adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the 2030 Agenda. The goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Dr. Kelsey Leonard, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Waters, Climate and Sustainability, is using Indigenous methodologies to create a sustainable development assessment framework that will help achieve the agenda.
To date, there has been minimal research engaging Indigenous Peoples to understand how they interpret the SDGs. Leonard and her research team are trying to understand the nexus of water justice and climate action for Indigenous Peoples. They are mapping Indigenous visions for sustainability in North America and around the world to underscore how Indigenous participation and leadership can guide sustainable development policy.