Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Issues

The resilience of the flowers depicted on the box can be compared to Indigenous knowledge. Indigenous people have been dealing with changing climates for centuries through settler colonialim. Their traditions allow them to respond to climate variability, making Indigenous peoples more than qualified to give guidance on the global problem (Whyte 2018). Indigenous women in particular, have a vast knowledge of the importance of water and are the primary protectors. Water has life-giving powers similar to women. Indigenous women carry responsibility for paying respect to and speaking for the water. (McGregor 2009). Indigenous women and their knowledge of the environment has always been around, adapting to changes similar to the flowers displayed on this quillbox. They carry a strong bond with water. Unfortunately, women are more vulnerable to environmental pollution because of their anatomy and physiology (Anderson 2011). The health of these women, unlike the flowers, is not plastic and their safety should not overlooked. Kyle Whyte's full lecture on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Justice can be viewed here.