The WHO hosted a significant two-day Dialogue at the University of Ottawa on October 1-2, 2025, bringing together Indigenous Elders, community leaders, researchers, policy-makers, and UN representatives to advance Indigenous-led engagement in global health and biodiversity governance.

This event marked a crucial step in co-developing WHO’s forthcoming Framework on Indigenous Knowledge, Biodiversity, and Health, emphasizing trust, partnership, and co-creation, especially during the 10th anniversary of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The Dialogue coincided with Canada’s 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report, focusing on truth-telling, reparative justice, and respectful engagement with Indigenous communities.

A key focus of the event was WHO’s Global Traditional Medicine Centre, which aims to integrate ancestral wisdom with modern science, reaffirming Indigenous Peoples as rights-holders and emphasizing respect, reciprocity, and free prior and informed consent (FPIC) in co-design efforts.

Dr. Geetha Krishnan from WHO explained that the Centre supports Indigenous leadership by focusing on biodiversity and traditional knowledge, fostering respect and reciprocity in collaboration.

Discussions highlighted the inseparability of health, biodiversity, and territory in Indigenous perspectives, emphasizing Indigenous data sovereignty, intergenerational and gender equity, and cultural safety.

High-level Indigenous leaders underscored core pillars such as trust, reciprocity, FPIC, equity, and a holistic understanding of health rooted in Indigenous rights and worldviews.

Outcomes from the Dialogue will inform the draft WHO Framework, which will be shared with Indigenous Peoples across seven regions at upcoming international meetings, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) in Panama and the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in India.

The event contributed to the creation of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j), a historic step that centers Indigenous leadership in biodiversity efforts and policy.

Elder Claudette Commanda emphasized the importance of protecting Indigenous knowledge from misappropriation, while WHO representatives highlighted support for Indigenous leadership in co-developing the Framework.