A recount of a transformative childhood memory where the speaker witnessed an Indigenous rain dance ceremony at the age of three, experiencing a moment of profound impact that challenged their understanding of reality and existence.
Once in a while, a book comes along that changes how we see the world, that re-sets something fundamental in who we are and our capacity to engage with the Web of Life. Braided Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer was one of these: at once poetically beautiful, spiritually inspiring and deeply thought-provoking.
And now Osprey Orielle Lake has written 'The Story is in our Bones: How Worldview and Climate Justice can Remake a World in Crisis'. This is a genuinely beautiful book on every level: full of living mythology, opening doors to how the bones of our language make the world around us, offering other perspective, other ways of being, living stories of where we came from and who we are and who we could be. It's deeply honouring of Indigenous wisdom from around the world, and of the struggle of all those who suffer most and have done least to unleash the poly crisis that is so obviously impacting our world.
The author is an extraordinary person, founder and executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) which was created to accelerate a global women's movement for the protection and defense of the Earth’s diverse ecosystems and communities. She sits on the executive committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature whose goal is to 'transform our human relationship with our planet' and on the steering committee for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is modelled on the Nuclear non-proliferation treaties of the last millennium, and seeks to manage a global transition to safe, renewable and affordable energy for all. In short, she works internationally with grassroots, BIPOC and Indigenous leaders, policymakers, and diverse coalitions to build climate justice, resilient communities, and a just transition to a decentralized, democratized clean-energy future.
This is one of those conversations that dived deep into the heart of what really matters - how we bring ourselves to a place of genuine connection with the Web of Life - in time - and in ways that will create the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible. We could have talked for hours, and I have no doubt we'll come back again, but in the meantime, please enjoy the many layers of being and belonging that Osprey brings to all her work.
Buy the Book 'The Story is in Our Bones'
Osprey's website: https://ospreyoriellelake.earth/
Women's Earth and Climate Action Network International https://actionnetwork.org/groups/wecan-international
Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature https://www.garn.org/
Osprey on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ospreyorielle.lake/
Osprey on GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/137212679-the-story-is-in-our-bones
Osprey on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ospreyoriellelake/
Osprey on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/osprey-orielle-lake-4286bb12/
