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From 23 to 27 September 2025, 157 Indigenous representatives and allies gathered in North Sumatra, Indonesia, for the fifth annual Indigenous Knowledge and Peoples of Asia (IKPA) Conference. Hosted by PEREMPUAN AMAN, an alliance of Indigenous Women in Indonesia, the conference created a space where Indigenous Women’s experiences, knowledge and visions took the spotlight.
Since 2019, the IKPA Conference has gathered AIPP’s members and partners to assess the realities and trends of Indigenous Peoples in environmental governance, showcase Indigenous Peoples-led solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and strengthen alliance among Indigenous Men, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and our allies and partners for collective action and solidarity.
This year’s gathering was the largest to date and unique in its focus: centering the voices, leadership and power of Indigenous Women. This focus is not symbolic but essential. Indigenous Women, including Girls and Women with Disabilities, Youth and Elders, have long been the knowledge keepers, land defenders and community organizers at the heart of the Indigenous Peoples’ movement. Yet their voices are often the least heard. Centering women in this gathering reclaimed that space of leadership.
We came from many different mountains, islands, rivers, oceans and forests, carrying our stories, our struggles and the hopes of generations. Most were women – guardians of land, knowledge and community.
Over the five days, we met, talked, listened, shared, laughed, cried, sang, danced, celebrated and commemorated. The conference illuminated the connections between environmental crises and human rights and development challenges. Through women’s voices, leadership and collective wisdom, the gathering became a space of reflection, resistance and hope. This report summarizes some of the key messages from the conference and highlights the conference outcome – an Indigenous Women’s declaration.
For more information about the IKPA Conference and its report, please contact:
- Lakpa Nuri Sherpa – lakpa@aippnet.org
- Pirawan Wongnithisathaporn – pirawan@aippnet.org
- Prem Singh Tharu – prem@aippnet.org
