Verbena Fields in Northern California is an emerging model of what decolonizing land via Traditional Ecological Knowledge can look like, supported by partnerships between Native and non-Native communities.
Indigenous communities and partners are combining ancient knowledge with modern technology to revitalize food systems and self-determined economies in the face of ever-increasing climate pressures.
鈥淲ild Coast communities are using the courts to fight for the right to determine what happens in their territory and strengthening their hand in a country heavily marred by colonialism.鈥
鈥淔or 16 disquieting days, Sassia and I felt like we were chasing liberty鈥攂ut whose, was the daily question. It never seemed like it was ours, or that of others obstructed from the American Dream. Not the Nez Perce鈥檚, for sure.鈥
鈥淢aybe people are indeed loving places and species to death, but since BIPOC are largely disconnected from the organized outdoors, it鈥檚 white people who are spreading this toxic form of tough love.鈥
The authors, who are taking part in COP26 this week, discuss ways to support Indigenous communities and their allies in healing the planet and moving forward to a post-oil future.
In their new book, authors Rupa Marya and Raj Patel explore how capitalism and colonialism have caused sickness and how Indigenous knowledge can offer healing.