With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by United Nations member states in 2015, these Global Goals now inform national and international plans of action for achieving equitable prosperity and well-being in and among nations. In keeping with the objective to “Leave No One Behind,” this conference seeks to examine the location of indigenous peoples in this international framework of development. As such, the conference with the general theme of “INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS” will provide a venue for participants to present and discuss experiences, opportunities, and challenges in the attainment of SDGs in the Cordillera Region of Northern Luzon and other indigenous communities elsewhere in the Philippines and the world. The conference aims to facilitate dialogue and critique among government agencies, non-government organizations, academic institutions, community members and other stakeholders for the achievement of the SDGs.

Among the topics to be covered by the conference are the following:

• Poverty alleviation and food security initiatives in indigenous communities

• Health and well-being in indigenous communities

• Developments in indigenous peoples' education

• Narratives of women and LGBTQ as agents of change in indigenous communities

• Sustainable resource management in indigenous communities

• Inclusive employment schemes and indigenous notions of development

• Indigenous knowledge and economic development

• Reconciling notions of development

• Contributions of the indigenous from the diaspora

• Spirituality and development

• Utilization of science and technology in indigenous communities

• Environmental sustainability and resilience in indigenous communities

• Impact of tourism in indigenous communities

• Conflict resolution in indigenous communities

• Strategic partnerships with, among, and by indigenous communities

• Representation of development aspirations of the indigenous in media, literature, visual arts, and other cultural forms

• Studying the indigenous: Research frameworks and methodologies

For more information about the Sustainable Development Goals, visit the UN website on Sustainable Development Goals here.