Tetra Tech Recognizes International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2021

Tetra Tech is Leading with Science® around the world to support Indigenous peoples through our work and in our communities to develop sustainable, scalable solutions that protect their rights, cultures, and resources and improve their opportunities, environments, and participation in decision-making.

According to the United Nations (UN), more than 476 million Indigenous peoples live in 90 countries across the world, accounting for 6.2 percent of the global population. Tetra Tech joined the UN Global Compact, which supports UN efforts to end extreme poverty, fight inequality, and address climate change. As part of our commitment to the UN Global Compact, we are celebrating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous peoples.

Tetra Tech is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace for all people. Throughout six of the major regions where we work, we employ, train, learn from, and partner with Indigenous peoples in our projects and operations. We aim to build awareness and understanding within our workforce about Indigenous culture, heritage, and issues in the regions where we work and provide sustainable career and business opportunities for Indigenous peoples.

Text over dark blue world map background reads 2.5 billion people depend on Indigenous land.

Africa

Fragile political environments, volatile labor markets, and economic and regulatory uncertainty are among the challenges Indigenous peoples of Africa face. Tetra Tech’s long and diverse work history across Africa provides our clients and their communities with a strong partner that delivers comprehensive solutions. Billions of people around the world are dependent on Indigenous lands, and our work supports land rights throughout regions like Africa for the improvement of land governance and resources, property rights, and resilient livelihoods. In the developing world, approximately 70 percent of land is unregistered, leaving millions of households with limited stability and economic growth. Through projects like the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Integrated Land and Resource Governance and Property Rights and Artisanal Diamond Development, we also are improving land rights for women in tribal communities, helping bridge the gender gap and increase their participation in decision-making.

Text over dark blue world map background reads 70% of the world's Indigenous population lives in Asia.

Asia

For more than 20 years, Tetra Tech has provided sustainable development throughout Asia. We work with communities in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand to develop scalable solutions for their most vulnerable populations. According to Amnesty International, Asia is home to the world’s largest Indigenous population and, like many Indigenous peoples, they face a lack of basic human rights and the exploitation of their natural resources. Our international development services aim to protect Indigenous rights and resources by supporting projects focused on food security, water security, biodiversity conservation, infrastructure, and technology. Our international development experts apply our suite of Tetra Tech Delta technologies to deliver solutions that combine science and engineering to address Indigenous communities' most pressing challenges.

Text over dark blue world map background reads Indigenous communities safeguard 80% of the world's biodiversity.

Australia and New Zealand

Tetra Tech has more than 2,000 employees in 60 offices across Australia and New Zealand providing innovative, technical solutions to our clients. We are focused on integrating diversity and inclusion into the work we do with First Nation communities. Our staff approach their work with authenticity, committing to improve the way we conduct business with First Nation communities through cultural recognition, employment, education, and training opportunities. Additionally, we are honoring First Nation individuals of Asia-Pacific with our Reconciliation Action Plans, which commit to reconciliation through collaboration, mutual respect, and a responsibility to take action. Our action includes practicing Acknowledgment of Country when we are working in or with Indigenous communities. When conducting our property development, water, and industrial and remediation services, we work to educate our clients to protect the biodiversity of this region while honoring culture and heritage.

Text over dark blue world map background reads life expectancy for Indigenous peoples is up to 20 years less than non-Indigenous people.

Canada

With nearly 50 years of experience in the provinces and territories, Tetra Tech has unique capabilities in serving the remote and extreme environments of the Yukon and Northern Territories. A major challenge for Indigenous peoples in remote communities is access to basic resources, such as water, transportation, and infrastructure. For First Nation individuals, this can mean shorter life spans caused by chronic health issues and fewer economic opportunities. Our engineering experts have worked with the White River First Nation community in Beaver Creek, Yukon, and the Na-Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation to establish sustainable resources. Tetra Tech’s projects also provide opportunities and socioeconomic benefits to Indigenous peoples by partnering with them as subcontractors. We hope to move our relationship with this community forward by integrating our dedication to the Indigenous people of Canada into our operations and procurement practices.

Text over dark blue world map background reads Latin America's Indigenous population is 26% less likely to have access to improved sanitation solutions.

Latin America

Latin America has developed into one of the world's most dynamic economies, yet large segments of the region’s population have not benefitted from this growth. Poverty persists and social well-being of Indigenous peoples remains among the lowest in the hemisphere. More than a quarter of the region’s Indigenous populations lack access to improved sanitation solutions. Tetra Tech is actively engaged in this region to provide cutting-edge solutions in food security, environment and forest conservation, governance and community development, land rights, and peacebuilding. These projects also offer operations and maintenance training on industry-leading solutions to Indigenous communities, providing transferrable skills. Our dedicated staff even partnered with Engineers Without Borders USA to help establish clean, reliable sources of water in the rural communities of La Reforma and Las Majadas in Guatemala.

Text over dark blue world map background reads Indigenous peoples account for 15% of the world's extreme poor.

United States

Eradicating poverty in Indigenous communities begins with education and opportunities. Throughout the United States, Tetra Tech works to maximize Indigenous peoples’ meaningful employment and business opportunities on our projects as subcontractors and in field, professional, and management positions. On projects like the Chief Joseph Hatchery for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington or the Meacham Creek Floodplain Restoration for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, we are honored to serve as consultants to design solutions that integrate cultural and spiritual values and practices. Additionally, through our award-winning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program, our staff had the privilege of inspiring Navajo Nation students to pursue STEM-related careers. We hope to continue working with and inspiring the United States’ Indigenous population.

Learn more about our work with Indigenous peoples around the world and join us in celebrating International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.