Indigenous Sovereignty and Settler Colonialism Dynamics

Indigenous sovereignty refers to the inherent political authority of Indigenous peoples to govern their own societies, lands and resources according to their traditions, laws and worldviews. Settler colonialism is a distinct form of colonialism characterised by the replacement of Indigenous populations with an invasive settler society that seeks permanent land tenure and control. The dynamic between these forces shapes legal frameworks, resource governance, environmental stewardship and cultural resurgence across the globe. Colonial states have imposed property regimes, extractive industries and conservation models that often exclude or marginalise Indigenous perspectives, undermining self-determination and perpetuating socioeconomic inequities. In response, Indigenous nations and communities mobilise strategies of decolonial governance, from asserting treaty obligations and water rights to establishing protected areas under their own jurisdiction. These interventions are informed by relational ontologies that emphasise intergenerational justice, reciprocity with more-than-human beings and collective wellbeing. Emerging research highlights how community-based monitoring, legal challenges and cultural revitalisation converge to resist ongoing dispossession and to rearticulate sovereignty as both a legal and spiritual practice. The global significance of these dynamics lies in their capacity to reshape environmental policy, advance equitable development and uphold Indigenous human rights in the face of expanding resource frontiers and climate imperatives.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Indigenous Sovereignty and Settler Colonialism Dynamics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in indigenous sovereignty and settler colonialism dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Indigenous sovereignty: The inherent right and authority of Indigenous peoples to govern their own affairs, lands and resources according to their laws, values and customs.

Settler colonialism: A form of colonialism characterised by the ongoing displacement of Indigenous populations and the establishment of a permanent settler society for land and resource control.

Meaningful consultation: A collaborative process that recognises Indigenous jurisdiction, addresses institutional power imbalances and ensures equitable participation in decision-making.

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs): Territories conserved and managed under Indigenous governance frameworks to uphold biodiversity, cultural heritage and self-determination.

Sustainable self-determination: An approach to Indigenous governance that integrates environmental stewardship, economic autonomy and cultural continuity for long-term community wellbeing.

References

1. Unchecking the box: Overcoming barriers to meaningful consultation. Environmental Science & Policy (2025).
2. “Our Winters’ Rights”: Challenging Colonial Water Laws. Global Environmental Politics (2019).
3. Can indigenous community-based monitoring act as a tool for sustainable self-determination?. The Extractive Industries and Society (2020).
4. Decolonial conservation: establishing Indigenous Protected Areas for future generations in the face of extractive capitalism. Journal of Political Ecology (2021).