Recent Actions

IMPAC5 Congress in Vancouver

Hinano Murphy gave a Keynote Speech on the Voice of the Ocean, attended by 1500+ congress participants. At the same congress, Frank Murphy organized a symposium with indigenous leaders from across the Pacific including Dan Hikuro, a Senior Lecturer in Māori Studies at the University of Auckland; Tamatoa Bambridge, an anthropologist and research director at the French CNRS; Aulani Wilhelm, former Senior Vice-President Conservation International and Assistant Director for Ocean Conservation, Climate and Equity at the White House; Frank Brown, the Heiltsuk Nation Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University; and Diane Brown GwaaGanad, knowledge keeper and youngest Haida language speaker and Ts'aahl clan matriarch, Haida Nation.

International Seabed Authority (ISA) Meetings

March 2023, July 2023, & July 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica
The ISA is developing regulations for seabed mining in the Pacific Ocean, but has never considered the views of indigenous people. Hinano and Frank were invited to be part of a group of indigenous leaders from around the Pacific to present their views to the assembly. This participation brought the Voice of the Ocean to bear on one of the most important issues of our time and successfully introduced the Rights of the Ocean concept and concerns about cultural heritage into the discussions on regulations.

Indigenous Leaders Petition

Tetiaroa Society, through its Blue Climate Initiative, brought together indigenous leaders from 49 countries and 71 indigenous groups to sign a petition calling for a moratorium on deep sea mining. The presentation of this petition at a meeting of the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica had - and is continuing to have - a significant impact on the deliberations. Working on this petition was an invaluable opportunity for us to build a powerful network of indigenous communities across the Pacific.

Hui pū 'ia nā leo o Moananuiākea

This was a 3-day workshop in Hawaii, hosted by Maui Nui Makai Network and sponsored by the Pew Charities, that brought together 35 people from 18 Pacific islands to discuss their relationship to the ocean and the future of the ocean. The workshop resulted in agreement that the people of Oceania are all related and share the same connection to the ocean and the rest of the natural world. 

There was also agreement and a strong commitment that now is the time for them to join together to assert their historical and cultural ties to the Pacific Ocean and protect it in the face of seabed mining and other extractive activities.

Hōʻeu Nā Pilina - in Hawaii

This symposium was organized by the Polynesian Voyaging Society to discuss relationships across Oceania and between science and traditional knowledge. Hinano and Frank were there to represent Tetiaroa Society and present the Voice of the Ocean project where it received excellent support and developed important partnerships.

Wild 12 Congress in South Dakota

At a congress with a large participation of indigenous people from around the world, Hinano represented indigenous people from the Pacific in discussing the importance of ocean conservation. Hinano did a plenary talk on the Voice of the Ocean and participated in a panel discussion on ocean stewardship. The two main takeaway points from this congress were: The future of the planet needs the guidance of indigenous leaders to bring people back into a relationship with nature that involves respect and stewardship for all of the natural world. The Rights of Nature movement has come into the mainstream. It is time to begin to bring indigenous people of the Pacific together to coordinate for the rights of the Pacific Ocean.