The Ărramăt Photovoice and Indigenous Languages Exhibition

What can we learn from Indigenous Peoples about the interconnections between biodiversity, health, and well-being?

The Ărramăt Indigenous Languages Photovoice Project provides an opportunity for Indigenous organizations and individuals from the Ărramăt family to share their perspectives on the interconnections between biodiversity, health, and well-being, through a photo exhibition. Between 2022 and 2024, more than 65 Indigenous-Led Place-Based Projects were funded in 28 countries and involved more than 80 Indigenous languages. This breadth and depth of the work occurring on diverse issues of food sovereignty, justice, youth livelihoods, contaminants, wildlife health, medicines, and climate change are powerful examples of the opportunities and challenges facing Indigenous Peoples in the context of the Global Biodiversity Framework and Action Plan (Article 8j) and the Decade on Indigenous Languages.

There are four dimensions of the project:

• Share your Stories on Biodiversity-Health and Well-being. The intention of this project and exhibitions is to raise awareness in global policy forums about one or both of the following: Challenges facing Indigenous Peoples around the world in respect of the loss of biodiversity and adverse impacts on health and well-being. Successful Indigenous leadership and stewardship of biodiversity, health, and well-being that provides holistic benefits for people and nature.

• Elevate Indigenous Languages. Each photo includes text and audio elements: A cultural concept or term (similar to Ărramăt) in an Indigenous language that reflects how biodiversity-health and well-being are interconnected. A short story or description of what is happening in the photo. An audio-experience of Indigenous Peoples and connections of Mother Earth.

• Learning within our Project Team: We are posting the photos as an online exhibition on our Ărramăt Project website to facilitate dialogue and learning among our Team members about the work being carried out through our project.

• Inform Global Policy-Circles: The project debuted at the First Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Other Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity Related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (SB8J-1) in Panama City on October 29, 2025. We intend to take it to more events hosted by UNESCO or the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Click on the images below to see the Photovoice Exhibition!

About the Project: The Ărramăt Project is focused on researching the interconnections between biodiversity and Indigenous health and well-being. It is led by a Team of Indigenous organizations, governments, university researchers, and other resource people from Canada and globally. The project works to strengthen Indigenous voices and capacities to document their knowledge about the importance of the whole environment (including biodiversity) to the health and well-being of their communities. The outcomes of the research will support Indigenous leaders who want to be heard by local-national-global governments and organizations and address current problems of environment and human health. Together, the Ărramăt Project is working to develop a strong voice for protecting the environment in ways that benefit Indigenous Peoples. 

This curated exhibition showcases 23 photographs from Indigenous-Led Place-Based Projects (ILPBPs) implemented across the seven socio-cultural regions and represented in the Ărramăt Project. These images depict the interconnections between biodiversity, health, and well-being as understood through Indigenous Knowledge systems. Accompanying each photo are descriptions, cultural concepts, music, or short stories in Indigenous languages—some with audio recordings such as drumming, music, or narration—highlighting the role of language in expressing relationships between people and the land.

Positioned within the context of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (particularly Article 8(j) and the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032), this exhibition aims to spark dialogue about the importance of Indigenous-Led approaches to nurturing biodiversity conservation and health and well-being. Through photographic, linguistic, and narrative expression, the event illustrates how Indigenous Peoples are leading holistic, grounded responses to today’s ecological and social challenges.