Introduction
Like air, sometimes the unseen gives breath and life to what is seen. Air as an invisible substance is hard to measure, hold, and feel, yet the very existence of terrestrial biota depends upon it. The physical worlds we create can similarly depend profoundly on the invisible winds of our human desires, priorities, and values. Our beliefs, our morals, our principles, our words, their meaning—though unable to be held or easily measured—are powerful drivers of the physical worlds we create. For example, if Kwakwaka’wakw People believe that something as small as a clam is equal to them, and is deserving of dignity and respect, then their human-made clam gardens will be designed to benefit both humans and clams equally. In this way our stories drive our behavior which in turn powerfully sculpts the world around us.
The invisible roots of a tree nourish the trunk, branches and leaves we see above ground. Similarly, our symbols, stories, and their underlying value systems are the unseen, underground cultural soil from which our built environments sprout. The intangible languages, songs, priorities and worldviews of Indigenous Nations are blueprints and compasses for how tp live and create. Generally speaking, they were refined over time through trial and error to teach us how to honor and protect the sacred. Based on this large collection of millennial scale food systems, this angle on life has proven successful. Grounded in the truth of the sacredness of the Earth, and how she is deserving of our respect and care, many Indigenous Nations became prosperous both physically and spiritually. This section is dedicated to literature describing those intangible worldviews that sustain, shape and drive the outward manifestation of Indigenous food and land management systems. It is dedicated to the invisible, to literature on the heart, mind, and soul of Indigenous land management sciences.
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Braiding sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants
Tags: Spirituality, Potawatomi, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Land use, Ethnobotany, Stewardship
Bioregion: Great Lakes, Upstate NY, USA
Summmary: The author weaves multiple narratives, from the story of Skywoman's fall to the author's relationships with nature, her career, and motherhood, to portray the relationships between humans and land. The author recounts Indigenous stories, knowledge, and lessons learned to challenge and complement Western Scientific knowledge. Using her botanical knowledge, the struggles of a budding Indigenous scientist making her way, the story of the starving Windigo, a war against an algae-infested pond, and several other tales and allegories, this book teaches us about how the Earth has come to be and the role humans have always played in the stewardship and cultivation of the environment around them.
Implications: Inferring the need for a foundational shift in perspective on plant life, this article frames agriculture through the lens of Indigenous folklore, providing an alternative perspective to the technical view of modern agriculture. The author highlights the values of reciprocity, abundance and gratitude. Rejecting a capitalistic approach to food, plants, and land, this book explores the concept of a gift economy not as a theory, rather as a responsibility that should be adopted to promote sustainability and mutual respect.
Reference: Kimmerer, R. (2013). Braiding sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants. Minneapolis: Milkweed editions.
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Original instructions: Indigenous teachings for a sustainable future
Tags: Stewardship, Indigenous Values, Indigenous Values
Bioregion: Turtle Island (North America)
Summary: This book contains the presentations and voices gathered from more than 20 indigenous leaders across the globe. Through storytelling, this collection of essays examines the role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge when discussing environmental issues and how we may apply these teachings to current global challenges such as climate change, deforestation, and the loss of biodiversity. The source emphasizes the importance of listening to Indigenous teachings to better build a sustainable future.
Implications: This work highlights the essential role of Indigenous knowledge in addressing today’s environmental crises. By centering the voices and teachings of over 20 Indigenous leaders, it underscores the deep ecological understanding rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). The collection suggests that sustainable solutions to climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss require not only scientific innovation but also cultural humility and a willingness to learn from Indigenous worldviews. It calls for a shift toward relational, place-based approaches that value long-standing practices of care, balance, and respect for the Earth.
Reference: Nelson, M. K. (Ed.). (2008). Original instructions: Indigenous teachings for a sustainable future. Simon and Schuster.
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Traditional ecological knowledge: Learning from Indigenous practices for environmental sustainability
Tags: human-nature relationship, indigenous land management
Bioregion: Turtle Island (North America)
Summary: This volume contains essays from 14 different authors and focuses on the value and application of Traditional Ecological Knowledge predominantly in North America. They write about indigenous peoples’ extensive and deep knowledge of local environments and the productive and collaborative relationship with them. The essays show that sustainability was inherent to Indigenous peoples. Unlike Western practice, communities’ land ethics (their philosophy of how they regard the land) focus on the connectedness and reciprocal bond between human and non-human instead of an extractive view of animals and the land. The works describe that Traditional Ecological Knowledge is the foundation for indigenous governance and can “re-root” the world into a more sustainable way of living
Implications: This collection emphasizes that Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) offers vital insights for environmental sustainability by highlighting Indigenous communities’ longstanding, reciprocal relationships with the land. Rooted in deep observation and cultural practice, TEK reflects a land ethic that values interconnectedness between humans and the natural world—contrasting with extractive Western models. The essays argue that sustainability is not a new concept, but one deeply embedded in Indigenous governance and daily life. By recognizing TEK as both a knowledge system and a worldview, this work suggests that re-centering these perspectives can guide more ethical and enduring approaches to global ecological challenges.
Reference: Nelson, M. K., & Shilling, D. (Eds.). (2018). Traditional ecological knowledge: Learning from Indigenous practices for environmental sustainability. Cambridge University Press.
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Honoring Indigenous Sacred Places and Spirit in Environmental Health
Tag: Stewardship
Bioregion: Global
Summary: The article focuses on the intrinsic connection between Sacred Places, environmental degradation, and loss of traditional and spiritual Knowledge. Indigenous Sacred Places are spaces of connection; they are the culmination of ties to ancestral homelands, knowledge systems, and spiritual practices – and they are in danger. The author explains how these spaces and sites have been lost and are continually diminishing due to acts of violence and the destruction of natural environments. Historically, Indigenous Perspectives have been dismissed in academic discourse surrounding environmental health. As such, the author concludes by urging for greater awareness of Indigenous traditional knowledges and calling for increased support to protect and preserve Sacred Places.
Implications: This article underscores the vital link between Indigenous Sacred Places and environmental health, emphasizing that these sites are not just physical locations but spiritual and cultural anchors tied to ancestral knowledge and identity. The degradation and destruction of these places threaten both ecological well-being and the survival of traditional knowledge systems. By highlighting how Indigenous perspectives have long been excluded from environmental discourse, the piece calls for a shift in academic and policy frameworks to recognize the sacredness of land and the need for its protection. It advocates for honoring Indigenous worldviews and increasing support for the preservation of these vital spaces as a core component of environmental justice.
Reference: Cloud, Q. Y., & Redvers, N. (2023). Honoring Indigenous Sacred Places and Spirit in Environmental Health. Environmental Health Insights, 17, 11786302231157507.
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Indigenous perceptions of the human–nature relationship
Tags: human-nature relationship, Indigenous land management
Bioregion: Chihuahua, Mexico
Summary: The author describes how Indigenous peoples view themselves as just one part of an extended ecological family with the natural world that share ancestry and origins. This human-nature conceptualization leads to land management practices that enhance and preserve the ecosystem. For indigenous peoples, life exists when all natural elements of an ecosystem are respected as kin.
Implications: This work highlights the Indigenous worldview that sees humans as part of an extended ecological family, sharing origins with all elements of the natural world. This relational understanding fosters a deep sense of respect and responsibility toward the environment, where land management is rooted in care, reciprocity, and kinship rather than control or domination. By treating all parts of the ecosystem as living relatives, Indigenous practices promote sustainability and ecological balance. The piece suggests that embracing this perspective can lead to more ethical and effective approaches to environmental stewardship.
Reference: Salmón, E. (2000). Kincentric ecology: Indigenous perceptions of the human–nature relationship. Ecological applications, 10(5), 1327-1332.
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Indigenous Traditions and Ecology: the Interbeing of Cosmology and Community
Tags: Values, Ethics
Bioregion: Global
Summary: The book highlights how Indigenous beliefs and practices of spiritual equilibrium with the Cosmos shapes sustainable practices and environmental stewardship – rooted in the belief that all life is interconnected. It also highlights the impact of colonization on Indigenous lands and traditions while advocating for a return to Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Ultimately, the work suggests that Indigenous wisdom offers valuable insights for addressing current environmental challenges.
Implications: This work emphasizes that Indigenous traditions of spiritual and ecological interconnection form the foundation for sustainable living and environmental care. By centering the belief that all life is interconnected, it shows how Indigenous cosmologies guide practices that maintain balance within ecosystems and communities. The book also addresses the disruptive effects of colonization on these traditions and lands, underscoring the need to restore and respect Traditional Ecological Knowledge. It argues that Indigenous wisdom offers powerful, time-tested frameworks for confronting today’s environmental crises through a lens of relational responsibility and collective well-being.
Reference: Grim, J. A. (2001). Indigenous Traditions and Ecology: the Interbeing of Cosmology and Community. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
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Indigenous knowledge systems and Alaska Native ways of knowing
Tags: Alaska Natives, Indigenous knowledge systems, Indigenous education
Bioregion: Alaska
Summary: This article discusses Indigenous systems of knowledge and the importance of introducing cultural knowledge and skills into "immigrant" aka settler colonial education systems, to create a more holistic, inclusive, and relevant education experience for Native students. The authors argue that the knowledge base from which the immigrant education system is built needs to be expanded to include Indigenous knowledge. The article examines and compares how Indigenous knowledge and Western knowledge differ and the potential for collaboration between the two through methods such as place-based education, using elders as a source of knowledge in the formal education system, or learning how to explain mathematic and scientific concepts within the broader context of the environment and world to facilitate understanding for Native students. The authors also discuss the contemporary significance of Indigenous knowledge and recent policy and education efforts that have taken place throughout Alaska.
Implications: These pieces emphasize the critical role of Indigenous Knowledge and practices in addressing growing environmental issues. Indigenous wisdom grants insights into sustainable living, environmental stewardship, and holistic education approaches. They highlight the interconnected relationships of human and nature, the need to protect Sacred sites, and the importance of incorporating Traditional Knowledge into modern academic discourse. Recognizing and applying these perspectives could lead to more effective, and inclusive, solutions for environmental conservation.
Reference: Barnhardt, R., & Oscar Kawagley, A. (2005). Indigenous knowledge systems and Alaska Native ways of knowing. Anthropology & education quarterly, 36(1), 8-23.