An inclusive approach ensures that the next generation plays an active role in shaping solutions to global challenges.
Five years ago, a young Māori woman found herself teaching English to Japanese kindergarteners in Iizuka, a cozy city in southern Japan. Despite the intimidating language gap, Shiloh Babbington fostered connections in the town that she hopes will last a lifetime. This teaching experience taught her an important lesson - there is no reason that linguistic and cultural barriers should stop communities from cooperating on missions that they believe in.
Fast forward to 2024, Babbington serves as a policy analyst in New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries and co-lead for the Indigenous Research Network (IRN). The IRN looks to build scientific capacity in Indigenous communities, ensure their perspectives are weighed appropriately by governments, provide immersive idea-exchange experiences, and ensure that Indigenous talents are provided pathways into eminent institutions.
It is an ambitious program to which Babbington is more than willing to dedicate her career towards. She credits her experiences at APEC as indispensable to achieving these goals. Babbington shares, "Of the 39 IRN members, 17 signed up after participating in one of my workshops or networking with me during the Forum."
Inside the workshop: Fostering inclusive dialogue
Babington is the facilitator for the New Zealad-led APEC The Power of Inclusivity workshop, co-sponsored by Australia, the United States, Canada and Peru. The workshop aims to gather emerging community leaders to "share their perspectives on how Indigenous-led measures can reduce the impact of climate change on food systems."
Babbington prides herself on running an interactive workshop at APEC Perú. She puts policymakers through their paces, encouraging them to think critically about the role of Indigenous youth in agricultural practices.
The lessons that she hopes participants take away from the workshop are clear: "I want to prove that young people belong in government and to stress the enormous disconnect between young Indigenous leaders' efforts in agricultural innovation and the recognition they receive from the outside world," she said.
As an example, she highlights the underappreciated work of Elina Figueroa, a young Chilean agronomist working to increase the cultivation of local crops over imported common crops to promote biodiversity and increase variety in the diet of young Chileans.
Indigenous perspectives on climate challenges
The work of these young Indigenous leaders to prove the inextricable connection between environmental and personal health shows how local knowledge can provide innovative, at-scale solutions to the climate crisis. For example, the Andean practice of ridged furrows to manage risk and maximize yields can be adapted for large-scale, climate-resilient agriculture. Similarly, traditional fire management techniques used by Indigenous Australians are now being integrated into national bushfire prevention strategies.
By blending these time-tested approaches with modern agriscience, Indigenous youth can lead efforts in their community as subject matter experts. By including these voices in climate change efforts, APEC honors traditional custodians while opening new pathways for expansive sustainable agricultural practices.
The efforts to include Indigenous voices within APEC signify a broader commitment to ensuring that economic growth is equitable and inclusive. By fostering dialogue that elevates Indigenous perspectives, APEC aims to create policies that recognize and empower these communities within the global economy.
Diverse voices: Making an impact
While Babbington considers APEC the peak of her career and the "ideal incubator" for exchanging Indigenous views, she believes that more can be done to encourage participants to take advantage of the transnational opportunity that APEC presents.
"It is essential for governance professionals to take advantage of the face-to-face interactions of international fora like APEC as a unique opportunity for high-impact collaboration," Babbington quipped. "You're in the same room, in the same environment; make use of being together."
Thanks to its highly interactive structure and uplifting of young Indigenous perspectives, Babbington believes the Power of Inclusivity workshop can shape the long-term decision-making processes of APEC economies in the agricultural sector. She believes that by integrating diverse voices into scientific expertise and "including youth in decision-making," APEC economies will develop comprehensive and effective environmental and agricultural policies to maintain food security and decrease carbon emissions.
Looking ahead
There is no doubt in Shiloh Babbington's mind that she wants to continue her work with APEC: "It's the most empowered I've ever felt, the peak of my career," she said.
She plans to build upon the ideas presented in Peru and hopes to see an increase the number of participants in Korea in 2025.
