Indigenous Voices Overlooked in Deep-Sea Mining Governance
Original framing: “‘We Live in One Ocean’: Native Hawaiian Activist Calls for Inclusion in Deep-Sea Mining Decisions” — Inside Climate News
Pacific Islander and Indigenous Oceanic cultures offer holistic, relational understandings of the sea that contrast with the compartmentalized, profit-driven approaches of industrial mining. These perspectives are critical for rethinking ocean governance in ways that honor ecological integrity and cultural sovereignty.
The push for deep-sea mining regulation is not just a technical or economic issue, but a deeply systemic one rooted in colonial legacies and extractive capitalism.
Indigenous voices, such as those of Native Hawaiians, offer a critical counterpoint to the dominant narrative, emphasizing ecological interdependence and cultural sovereignty. By integrating Indigenous knowledge into governance frameworks, we can move toward a more just and sustainable oceanic future. Historical parallels show that without such inclusion, environmental harm and social inequity are inevitable. A cross-cultural, rights-based approach is essential to reimagining ocean governance in the 21st century.