Abstract:

This paper articulates the importance of respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples to ensure the protection and preservation of their foods systems, and the value this can add to tackle emerging global challenges. Furthermore, it advocates that lessons learned from Indigenous Peoples’ approach to food will contribute to the resilience and sustainability of other food systems worldwide. In this vein, the paper provides evidence on the sustainability of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems, including the ways in which they have proven resilient over time. The paper also challenges some widely accepted ideas and paradigms about food, food systems, sustainability, biodiversity conservation and territorial management. This is intended. Indeed, reassessment of such paradigms is needed to fully grasp Indigenous Peoples’ views and the possible contributions they can make to food systems’ thinking and approaches.