Acknowledging the Past and Looking to the Future at WILD12

12th World Wilderness Congress (WILD12) held in He Sápa

The 12th World Wilderness Congress (WILD12) convened in Rapid City, South Dakota or He Sápa (the Black Hills), the sacred territory of the Oceti Sakowin (Lakota People), at the end of August. Hosted by the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council, directed by Phil Two Eagle, and organized by WILD Foundation, this powerful event drew wilderness professionals and indigenous leaders from around the world to discuss global wilderness topics. NWSA was honored to attend and we are excited to share our recap and takeaways from WILD12.

The main stage at WILD12

As we’ve shared, NWSA opted to participate in WILD12 in lieu of hosting a National Wilderness Workshop this year with a goal of gaining a global perspective to inform future National Wilderness Workshop topics. We were pleased to help seven diverse individuals attend WILD12 through a partnership with WILD Foundation. Read about them and their goals for the Congress.

So, what did we learn and what happened in South Dakota? Indigenous perspectives on wilderness were a main focus of WILD12. Difficult but important conversations were had as we worked to build cross-cultural trust and relationships. Acknowledgements and reparations of past injustices to indigenous peoples are essential steps in building a strong foundation for co-stewardship and unity in our collective efforts to care for not just wild places, but the Earth as a whole, including its human and non-human inhabitants. WILD12 provided a good canvas by bringing a range of indigenous leaders, scholars, and wilderness practitioners together to listen, share, and initiate this journey.

Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Pipe and Bundle, opened the event with a prayer and a welcome, expressing a need for unity in the face of unprecedented challenges to Earth and humanity. This same message was shared by many other elders and leaders throughout the week. The plenary spanned the first two days of the Congress. Each day opened with prayer, ceremony, and story followed by back-to-back speakers on topics ranging from indigenous wilderness conservation and mobilizing wilderness stewards to conservation of oceans and polar regions, and the sovereign wild. Mid-week, participants had the option to visit Bear Butte or Wind Cave to experience and learn about the significance of these sites to the Lakota People.

Symposium sessions spanned two days at the end of the week with jam-packed tracks dedicated to: relationships through reconciliation and stewardship; methods and approaches for wilderness management; campaigning for cultural, social, and ecological landscapes; collaboration, partnership, and community conservation; rewilding, restoring, and connecting social and ecological systems; storytelling, mentorship, and youth voices; values, meaning, and relevance of wilderness; global indigenous perspectives; and an Oceti Sakowin Oyate track. A Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus was held alongside the Symposium, providing a place for indigenous attendees to share stories, reflections, and perspectives on what actions are most important at this time. There were also opportunities to attend contact sessions on the resolutions to be voted on at the closing of the Congress (more on this in the next paragraph). The Creekside Singers kept the energy going throughout the week with their drumbeats and singing on stage during the plenary and echoing through walls during the symposium sessions. It was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Snapshots from NWSA's Stewardship Social in downtown Rapid City

In addition to a full schedule, there were photo exhibits, film screenings, evening events, artwork, and traditional performances throughout the week. NWSA hosted a Stewardship Social in downtown Rapid City one evening, drawing a fun crowd for free quesadillas and great conversations. The NWSA booth in the Expo section of the Congress was a nice respite from the busy schedule and a good place for one-on-one connections. We are incredibly grateful to the access pass winners and Board members who helped to staff our booth amidst a very tight event schedule!

WILD12 Resolutions

The final day of WILD12 was dedicated to Resolutions. Resolutions are a main focus of the World Wilderness Congress, developed to provide the public with a direct and concrete instrument for setting the global environmental agenda. All Congress participants, also called delegates, are invited to comment and vote on existing resolutions and may submit new resolutions for consideration. Passed resolutions are incorporated into the global environmental agenda and can be adopted by individual organizations.

Access the Resolutions from Wild12

Building on WILD12 at the National Wilderness Workshop

There is a lot of momentum to build from as we work with Society for Wilderness Stewardship to plan the next National Wilderness Workshop on the heels of this impactful gathering. Working together is essential to reaching our collective stewardship goals and NWSA is committed to broadening our stewardship circle through intentional engagement of indigenous and diverse communities. Stay tuned for updates as we plan the next National Wilderness Workshop. If you have ideas or topics you’d like to see included, you can submit your comments HERE.

NWSA Board Member, Jeff Randa, at the NWSA booth.