Given everything happening across the world, it is increasingly easy to get overwhelmed. Overwhelm can lead to paralysis, which prevents people from relieving the overwhelm. For this reason, my primary focus in these troubled times is on finding out how we can keep moving forward– and how Indigenous people can lead the way.
The first task is to determine where we are right now.
According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, in their 2026 update to the Doomsday Clock, it is 85 seconds to midnight.[1] This statement reflects rapidly escalating risks in the areas of nuclear proliferation, climate change, biosecurity, disruptive technologies, and the rise of authoritarian nationalism across the world. In the entire history of the Doomsday Clock, including through the height of the Cold War, this is “the closest it has ever been to catastrophe”.[2]
While this may be frightening, it is important to know that if you are feeling alarmed, you are not alone, and you are not wrong to feel that way.
Where might Indigenous peoples fit in this global turmoil?
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists highlighted that the underlying cause of the rising risk is a “failure of leadership”.[3]
Perhaps in this case, one person’s failure can be another person’s opportunity.
What would it mean to lead in these times?
In his speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20, 2026, Prime Minister Carney provided some helpful guidance for navigating the turmoil:
“it means naming reality. Stop invoking rules-based international order as though it still functions as advertised. Call it what it is – a system of intensifying great power rivalry, where the most powerful pursue their interests, using economic integration as coercion.
…
It means building what we claim to believe in, rather than waiting for the old order to be restored. It means creating institutions and agreements that function as described. And it means reducing the leverage that enables coercion – that’s building a strong domestic economy. It should be every government’s immediate priority.”[4]
As the Prime Minister put it, now is the time for “variable geometry”, which means building “different coalitions for different issues based on common values and interests”.[5]
The Prime Minister called the “middle powers” to action (I believe this should include Indigenous peoples as well):
“the middle powers must act together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.
But I’d also say that great powers, great powers can afford for now to go it alone. They have the market size, the military capacity and the leverage to dictate terms. Middle powers do not.
But when we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we negotiate from weakness. We accept what’s offered. We compete with each other to be the most accommodating.
This is not sovereignty. It’s the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination. In a world of great power rivalry, the countries in between have a choice – compete with each other for favour, or to combine to create a third path with impact.”[6]
In sum, leadership in these times should involve the following:
- Resisting imperialism and speaking the unvarnished truth about unfairness in the state-dominated world order
- Defending what we believe in, acting with integrity, and asserting good values
- Building a new system with a focus on strong, values-based relationships
- Looking out for each other, and banding together to defend the vulnerable from imperial predators
While most states are just starting to figure this out, Indigenous peoples have been actively leading in all these ways for generations. Indigenous peoples are thus incredibly well-positioned to play to our long-established and well-honed strengths to lead the way forward.
Of course, there is a deep irony about states decrying imperial bullying when it happens to them, while they continue to regularly ignore and suppress Indigenous peoples when we call them out for doing it to us. But there is leverage available in Prime Minister Carney’s words:
“It means acting consistently, applying the same standards to allies and rivals. When middle powers criticize economic intimidation from one direction, but stay silent when it comes from another, we are keeping the sign in the window.”[7]
Now that states’ hypocrisy and failures of leadership are under this new level of scrutiny, Indigenous peoples may have more leverage to hold states to a higher standard than ever before.
The way forward should be Indigenous-led.
Overall, Indigenous peoples have a tremendous opportunity to play a leadership role in these troubled times by bringing relationship-focused and values-based solutions to the table. Indigenous peoples can help fill the leadership gap, and can impact what the “third path” will look like.
To me, this is a very exciting way to think about moving forward, and I’m eager to connect with folks who want to explore this further and do something different together!
Zachary Biech
zacharybiech@sakastewstrategies.ca
[1] Science and Security Board, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, “It is now 85 seconds to midnight; 2026 Doomsday Clock Statement”, ed. John Mecklin at p. 4, online: <https://thebulletin.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-Doomsday-Clock-Statement.pdf>.
[2] Ibid at p. 2.
[3] Ibid at p. 2.
[4] World Economic Forum, “Davos 2026: Special address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada”, January 20, 2026, online: <https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/davos-2026-special-address-by-mark-carney-prime-minister-of-canada/>.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.