In August 2019, the I.P.C.C. issued a report saying, "Agricultural practices that include indigenous and local knowledge can contribute to overcoming the combined challenges of climate change, food security, biodiversity conservation, and combating desertification and land degradation." This insight came as no surprise to the tangata whenua, or first people, of Aotearoa New Zealand, who have more than 700 years of experience living in harmony with their natural resources. In this moving and confronting talk, Mananui Ramsden shares the legacy of knowledge carried by his people, along with a powerful vision for how we can live together on this planet. Mananui Ramsden's mountain is Te Ahu Pātiki (Mount Herbert), his river is Koukourārata, his hapū is Kāti Huikai and his tribe is Ngāi Tahu. He is the world's first ever council-appointed advisor on indigenous land management.

For hundreds of years, Māori have strategically tended, harvested and protected food resources around Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) in Canterbury. As kaitohutohu tikanga whenua (cultural land management advisor), Mananui’s role involves educating the people who own and work on the 350 farms in the Selwyn Waihora water zone about these indigenous conservation practices—mahinga kai values—such as the protection of water quality and Māori archaeological sites.

Ramsden hopes his work with Environment Canterbury's conservation strategy for Te Waihora will demonstrate to other regions how indigenous voices can be incorporated into resource management and even become a template. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx