N/a’an ku sê Foundation Reflects on Royal Invitation and Global Conservation Dialogue

Marlice van Vuuren and San Elder #Oma /Kunta to Meet King Charles III.

Windhoek, Namibia – The N/a’an ku sê Foundation is proud to announce that co-founder Marlice van Vuuren and respected San elder #Oma /Kunta represented Namibia at the prestigious Harmony Summit on Indigenous Knowledge and Conservation, hosted by The King’s Foundation at Highgrove House and Gardens, the private residence of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, on the 7 July 2025 earlier this month in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.

A special send-off ceremony was held at Hosea Kutako International Airport on Friday, 4 July at 11h00, where learners from the N/a’an ku sê Schools gathered to celebrate this historic journey. A proud moment for the Foundation. A proud moment for Namibia.

The Harmony Summit brought together Indigenous elders, environmental visionaries, and global conservation leaders to explore how traditional knowledge can guide a more sustainable future. Delegates included representatives of First Nations from Canada, Aboriginal Australians, and tribal leaders from India — and now, proudly, Namibia.

Marlice van Vuuren: A Voice for Conservation and Indigenous Knowledge

“Receiving the invitation to attend the Harmony Summit was an incredible honour,” says Marlice van Vuuren. “It is not just recognition of my work, but of the N/a’an ku sê Foundation and Namibia’s broader conservation efforts. I feel a deep responsibility to represent our country and share the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge into conservation.”

Marlice highlighted Namibia’s role as a global leader in community-led conservation. “Our work shows how local communities have invaluable insights into sustainable living. These insights can significantly contribute to global strategies addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.”

Meeting King Charles III is especially meaningful for Marlice and the Foundation. “It symbolizes recognition of our mission and gives us the opportunity to further build partnerships that benefit not just wildlife and landscapes, but also the communities who share them.”

This occasion builds on a longstanding connection with the British royal family — in 2019, Dr Rudie van Vuuren was received by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in recognition of N/a’an ku sê’s role in the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. Now, six years later, another chapter unfolds, reinforcing Namibia’s global conservation voice.

“For Namibians, this is a proud moment. It reminds us that our voices matter and that our country is setting an example the world is noticing,” Marlice adds.

#Oma /Kunta: Sharing the Spirit of the San People with the World

Representing the Ju|’hoan people of Namibia, San elder #Oma /Kunta brought with him the ancient wisdom of a people who have lived in harmony with nature for millennia.

“I am very proud to be chosen to attend the summit and to represent my people,” he says. “I am not a chief, but an elder. It was an honour to go on behalf of our Chief, Bobo, and to represent the San traditions of Namibia.”

Although time at the summit will be limited, #Oma /Kunta plans to share that he still lives according to San traditions — using Indigenous medicine, foraging food from the bush, and respecting the land. “I want people to understand that nature must be respected. We are part of it. The bushmen live with nature, not against it. That is the way we have always lived, and it is the way we protect the Earth.”

His message to the youth of Namibia, especially young San children, is heartfelt: “Keep your language and your traditions alive. Be proud of who you are and where you come from. This is where life comes from.”

This moment is not only a highlight in the Foundation’s journey but a beacon of hope for all who believe in the power of Indigenous knowledge and the importance of inclusive, community-based conservation.