In today’s world, the term “environmental stewardship” has become heavily integrated into common language. We often hear about different approaches to protecting our lands, preserving our natural resources and ensuring that future generations will have the same access to these resources. The reach of this idea is so far and deep that it has become a global movement. 

But this philosophy is not new. It has existed long before modern climate change started to impact our lives. Indigenous Peoples across the world have been living and implementing these practices since time immemorial. The survival of their cultures has always been inextricable to how their people would care and co-exist with the land. 

At Trees, Water & People we’re privileged to be engaged with Indigenous communities who share this story and resilience strategies. The deep connection these communities have to the land is remarkable in the ways they’ve been able to pass down critical knowledge of the land from one generation to another. From understanding changes in seasonal weather patterns to analyzing how landscapes react to natural disturbances, Indigenous communities have always been grounded with the land. 

Today, our joint efforts with tribes in land stewardship are imperative. The challenges around climate and development continue to be more persistent and devastating to many vulnerable ecosystems. Our collaborative work is developing new solutions that recapture centuries-old Indigenous practices of stewardship and combining it with new tactical methods of western science that can boost resilience and longevity towards a shifting climate. 

From Central America to the United States, Indigenous Peoples are practicing environmental stewardship everyday. It’s deeply rooted in their languages, songs and foods. So next time a business or organization or even a radio ad mentions “environmental stewardship”, remember that it’s about more than just abstractly protecting land or singular financial investments. It’s also about preserving cultures and ensuring our Indigenous communities’ methods and ways of life are being respected and upheld.