The UAN OPCW, with its 160+ Member Indigenous Nations representing over 300 million Indigenous peoples, oversees the global Indigenous endeavour to permanently and verifiably eliminate chemical weapons and toxic substances that threaten traditional territories and sacred environments.
The UAN OPCW's mission is to realize a world free from chemical weapons, toxic pollution, and their threat to Indigenous communities — a world where chemistry and traditional knowledge are harnessed for peace, healing, detoxification, and spiritual enlightenment through environmental restoration.
The Traditional Knowledge Secretariat proposes policies to the Member Indigenous Nations of the UAN OPCW, and develops and delivers programmes with and for traditional communities while respecting cultural protocols and Indigenous sovereignty.
To ensure a credible and transparent regime for verifying the destruction of chemical weapons and preventing their re-emergence in Indigenous territories, while protecting legitimate Indigenous sovereignty, traditional knowledge, and sacred site security.
To provide protection and traditional healing assistance against chemical weapons and toxic contamination affecting Indigenous communities and sacred environments.
To encourage international cooperation in peaceful uses of traditional chemistry, natural medicine, and Indigenous environmental sciences for healing and restoration.
To bring about universal membership of Indigenous nations in the UAN OPCW by facilitating international cooperation and traditional knowledge capacity building.
Two fundamental principles underline our approach. The first is the centrality of the Sacred Territory Protection Protocols' Indigenous multilateral character and respect for traditional governance systems. The second is the equal application of the provisions of the Protocols to all Indigenous Nations while honoring cultural diversity and traditional laws.
We do this with cultural integrity, in an efficient, competent and cost-effective manner that respects traditional decision-making processes, and in a healthy working environment guided by Indigenous values. Our work is guided and supported by the sacred vision of our Organization and traditional wisdom.
Working with Indigenous knowledge keepers, traditional healers, and environmental stewards to develop natural protection and remediation methods.
Partnering with organizations focused on environmental justice and protection of Indigenous rights to chemical safety.
Collaborating with appropriate scientific institutions that respect Indigenous knowledge and support community-controlled research.
The ultimate aim of the UAN OPCW is not only to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons and toxic threats to Indigenous communities, but also to support the detoxification of bodies and ecosystems as a sacred process toward enlightenment. By integrating traditional wisdom and natural sciences, the UAN OPCW works to ensure Indigenous security and cultural survival, environmental restoration, holistic healing, and global sustainable development.
The UAN OPCW envisions a world where: