Decolonising Peacebuilding: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Sustainable Peace

ABSTRACT

This article explores the transformative potential of Indigenous knowledge systems in peacebuilding, offering a decolonial alternative to Western‐centric paradigms. Drawing on case studies from the Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Diné (Navajo) Nation, and the Sami of Sápmi, this work advances how Indigenous principles of interconnectedness, reciprocity, and harmony with nature can address the root causes of conflict and foster sustainable peace. The article critiques the limitations of liberal peacebuilding, including its neglect of cultural and spiritual dimensions and its perpetuation of colonial power dynamics. It also examines challenges such as appropriation, scalability, and structural resistance, offering recommendations for centring Indigenous voices, building ethical partnerships, and advocating for systemic change. The article compares three colonial setups: bicultural treaty state, federal hegemon, and multi‐state green extractivist complex, arguing that decolonial peacebuilding demands context‐specific strategies and a pluriversal peace must originate from within these specificities rather than from above them.