Vol. 16 No. 1 (2017)

This issue of the Fourth World Journal reflects on the global crises that have exposed the fragility of modern states and underscores the enduring wisdom of the world’s original nations. While the state system—barely four centuries old—struggles to address the intertwined emergencies of climate change, pandemics, and inequality, Indigenous nations have sustained human life for millennia through deep ecological knowledge, balanced social systems, and adaptive cultural practices. As environmental degradation and social unrest intensify, the journal calls for renewed reliance on ancestral knowledge and genuine partnerships between states and Indigenous nations to craft solutions rooted in sustainability and equity.

Through diverse contributions, this volume highlights both the obstacles and the opportunities in achieving that balance. From analyses of systemic racism and corporate accountability to studies on environmental justice and Indigenous health, the authors argue that self-determination, territorial integrity, and cultural vitality are essential not only for Indigenous survival but for humanity’s collective resilience. The issue ultimately insists that Indigenous nations must be recognized as equal partners in defining a sustainable and just future for the planet.