“We are part of the ocean, the ocean is part of us.”

On #IndigenousPeoplesDay, listen to Johnson Jament from India as he explained why and how we amplify the voices, rights, priorities of Indigenous Peoples when it comes to the ocean.

“We are culturally connected to the ocean… our language has thousands of words connected to the ocean,” shared Johnson Jament, Director of Blue Green Coastal Resources – India.

He was speaking at an SDG media event at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference which featured Vaturogo Seniloli from Fiji’s Nasomo Ra Marama Handicrafts, and was moderated by Dianna Pizarro of The World Bank.

Watch the full session which highlighted key challenges and best practices: https://lnkd.in/gC8UJ4ER

27 million Indigenous Peoples rely on the ocean for their identity, livelihoods, and food and nutrition security. Yet, despite their deep connection, dependence, and traditional knowledge, they remain underrepresented in the global blue economy and marine policy.