Settler Colonialism

Climate change is a global phenomenon which impacts different people unevenly (Vinyeta and Lynn, 2013). Research suggests that public beliefs on climate change vary significantly (Taylor et al., 2014), and different people view the risks associated with climate change differently. Addressing public perceptions of climate-change risk can be challenging, due to the socio-cultural construction of risk and its multi-dimensional complexity (Etkin and Ho, 2007). Thus, differing perspectives on climate change and associated risks must be understood within specific contexts of climate change—and within interconnected socioeconomic and cultural settings (Jardine et al., 2009).

Indigenous peoples are expected to be among the communities most heavily

However, this paper will look at the problem from the perspective of Indigenous governance dealing with the impacts of climate change. In this respect, the proposed paper will use the “settler colonial” framework and the concept of “logic of elimination” (Wolfe, 2006). Wolf asserts that “settler colonialism is inherently eliminatory but not invariably genocidal”. He further argues that Native peoples obstructed European settlers’ access to and appropriation of their land. Wolf brings this issue under the spotlight while stating that “contests for land” could essentially be “contests for life” for Indigenous peoples. In Wolf’s views, the European settlers’ primary motive for elimination of Indigenous peoples is access to the Native territory and not necessarily genocidal. While looking at Indigenous governance dealing with climate change, the “legal and juridical sovereignty” of Native peoples is instrumental in maintaining their unique political and cultural communities. Keeping in view environmental problems, tribal governments have the “inherent and statutory right” to implement their own environmental standards to protect Indigenous peoples and their natural resources in culturally appropriate ways (Ranco and Suagee, 2007). Therefore, Indigenous peoples have the right to shape their future according to their needs, concerns and