The BBNJ Gets a New "4-Part System" for Indigenous Participation

The 4-part playbook I'm launching at BBNJ to finally fix seat carousels, and the burnout cycle.

Happy Saturday y’all!

After a crazy rollercoaster through UNPFII, World Health Assembly, International Labour Conference, working group on human rights and transnational corporations, Human Rights Council, EMRIP, two weeks off (otherwise I would go insane), and Plastic Treaty negotiations INC 5.2 ending last Friday, I'm gearing up for BBNJ PrepCom 2 starting tomorrow.

Btw, about the Plastic Treaty negotiations….while in the middle of it I wrote a deep dive on how "Text in multilateral negotiations is never just text. It's a weapon, a shield, a map, and a trap all at once." Read here: The Jedi Mind Trick INC 5.2 Chair Used

In between, I've been hosting Zoom calls on four concept notes that are about to be (hopefully) submitted as Conference Room Papers to BBNJ PrepCom 2. Three sets of Zoom consultations. And then waiting for final edits. Today, I’m happy to share that I finally have been able to lock the documents.

Yes, should've been done weeks ago. But when it comes to these consultations, I've learned that as I'm busy, other people are busy too. So it took longer than I wanted. A lot longer.

But here's what's about to hit the table.

The Four-Part Interplay Goes Live

When I started at the BBNJ in the treaty negotiation phase, I didn’t just want to attend BBNJ meetings. I wanted to architect a system that ensures Indigenous Peoples can sustain participation within ocean governance - permanently.

Not another isolated mechanism, but an integrated ecosystem that makes Indigenous erasure impossible.

This is going to do it:

Part 1: Direct Observer Status: Indigenous Peoples get observer status under BBNJ as distinct entities similar to what we’re used to at EMRIP or UNPFII. Not lumped in with civil society or NGOs. This recognizes our unique status and creates direct access to all processes.

Part 2: Indigenous Knowledge Holders as Full Members: Yup, not JUST as observers, or as stakeholders. Full members in subsidiary bodies making actual decisions about ocean governance.

Part 3: The Indigenous Mechanism: A technical body that supplements the work of ALL bodies under BBNJ COP in relation to Indigenous rights and knowledge. Think EMRIP but for systematic influence across every BBNJ decision-making process.

Part 4: The Pipeline System: Continuous funnel that prepares and deploys new Indigenous participants into every level of BBNJ processes. And I’ve been working with the High Seas Alliance on an engagement strategy that’s going to make it magical.

Those concept notes I've been organizing consultations around? They're the blueprint for making this real. Most of it is already in the BBNJ Agreement but we just had to sit down and connect the dots in the constellation of 20+ references to Indigenous Peoples, rights and knowledge in the BBNJ.

The Pipeline in Action

Also.

I've been running monthly stocktaking meetings on ocean-related processes with Indigenous leaders globally.

Every month, experienced Indigenous leaders check-in to download real-time intel to on what’s going on, even for those who've never heard of ISA or plastics treaties.

It’s like an all-hands meeting, and Indigenous reps negotiating in processes like the ISA, Plastics, BBNJ and others to ensure that our work isn’t siloed. No caucus, no “International Indigenous forum on something”, for now an initiative to start the pipeline.

As the world gets more interrelated and complex, we should not be waiting for perfect conditions to just magically appear at the UN. I really think in times of adversity we should be building a better infrastructure while participating in the negotiations.

Why This System (Should) Work

I've worked on creating the Indigenous Peoples seat on the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage. Helped operationalize the LCIPP-FWG. Designed Indigenous participation in the Loss and Damage Fund. And, each time, I learned something crucial: Single mechanisms usuallt get sidelined. They depend on individual relationships and political goodwill.

This interplay we’re rolling out at the BBNJ creates systematic integration at every level.

• Observer status gets us in the room as distinct political entities.

• The mechanism ensures our perspectives reach decision-makers systematically.

• Full membership ensures we're making decisions, not just influencing them.

• The pipeline ensures we never run out of qualified people to fill these roles.

Each part reinforces the others. It's not about getting invited to the table. It's about becoming essential to how the table operates

The consultations were messy. Scheduling around everyone's UN and other commitments. Navigating different time zones and competing priorities.

But that's exactly why this system matters. We can't rely on individual availability or perfect coordination.

Before You Go

One final thought.

We're creating these amazing opportunities for Indigenous Peoples: EMRIP, UNPFII, LCIPP-FWG, now with the Cali Fund, and other processes where new Indigenous mechanisms are emerging.

But what's not emerging is new people.

Down the line, we're going to have all these spaces but lack the people to fill them. Or the stamina to keep up the momentum.

We're building opportunities faster than we're building capacity. Creating mechanisms faster than we're creating expertise.

Which makes what we’re doing at the BBNJ even more important. It’s the first attempt to break that cycle. Instead of hoping the right people will appear, we're systematically developing them. Instead of burning out individuals, we're creating sustainable systems.

Bottom line: I’d like us to stop competing for carousel seats. And start building systematic presence.

At BBNJ PrepCom 2, those concept notes become Conference Room Papers. Hopefully.

See you next week!