“All relevant institutions [must] actively promote wilderness policy that acknowledges that nature is multi-dimensional, transcending the material and physical realms; and use language that honors the rights and roles of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Systems, natural and custom
‘These birds don’t care about the laws you make or the borders you draw. They need to migrate, procreate, and raise their young.’ —Angutekaraq Estelle Thomson
‘Mother Earth, she doesn’t need humans to help save her. … It’s a question about whether or not if we humans are going to survive and be here,’ Ilarion Merculieff, Unangax̂ (Aleut), told delegates at the World Wilderness Congress last weekend.
Attendees encouraged to advance legal claims in defense of all life on Earth. “There is no time to equivocate,” says Ponca Nation environmental justice leader.
“Either we face a lot of chaos, global disasters, tears from our relatives’ eyes … or we come together [and] unite as people of the world,” Arvol Looking Horse said.