Nature Wisdom is an interview series of indigenous wisdom holders around the world to help share their thoughts on what is needed for a more sustainable future and what we can learn from their ancient traditions to live in better balance with nature.
Indigenous communities are one of the most vulnerable groups to climate change as they often live in sensitive ecosystems and already struggle to secure their livelihoods. They account for 15% of the poorest populations globally and their life expectancy is 20 years lower compared to non-indigenous people*. They are highly dependent on their local ecosystems that are increasingly destroyed and affected by climate change.
Indigenous people safeguard 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity!*
Worldbank
Therefore, they play an important role in climate change mitigation. Indigenous people often lead by example with sustainable ways of living, farming, resource use and mindsets. Their unique concepts, values and beliefs that connect them deeply to nature, can be great inspirations for our sustainability work and personal lives, as it has been for me.
Their voices need to be heard and their wisdom passed on before it disappears. Many indigenous cultures and their wisdom are at risk of extinction as they face challenges such as discrimination, land grabbing, missing institutional healthcare, lack of access to legal remedies and the financial means to fight for what belongs to them. Their vulnerability has been reflected in the devastating impact Covid19 has had on their communities.*
The Nature Wisdom interview series seeks to give indigenous tribes a voice and the opportunity to speak up in order to share their important messages with the world.
In the spirit of reciprocity, by sharing their knowledge through the interviews the wisdom holders ask kindly for donations towards their local projects and communities.
Sign up below to receive the videos of the interview series when they are released in January:
Kurikindi
(Golden Hummingbird) was born and raised deep in the Amazon Rainforest of the Ecuador. He is part of the Kichwa tribe and will talk about the concept of Sumac Kawsay, which emphasises the importance of sustaining reciprocal relationship between all living beings.
Izaias and Izabel
Izaias was born and raised to an indigenous Mayan Kaqchikel family, in San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala. He is a ceremonial cacao producer committed to treating it as a sacred food and a medicine whilst respecting earth in all steps of the cacao production. He will talk about how cacao helps to restore the environment, and how it is produced in an agroforestry system where it grows in harmony with other native plants.
Amelia Panduro Sinuiri
Maestra Amaela is 68 years old and part of the Shipibo lineage of Sinuiri, near Pucallpa in Peru. Her Shipibo Name, Ronin Wano, means Mother of the Water (the Anaconda). With only 5 years of age she started her shamanic pathway and working with medicinal plants. Believing that she was raised by plants, she has an inspiring and special relationship to her local ecosystem. Today she is a “maestro de las plantas”, a doula and specialised in baños floridas.
More to be announced soon!
*Worldbank
Home 