The Story is in our Bones: Rewilding Ourselves with author and activist Osprey Orielle Lake
May 22, 2024
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Author and activist Osprey Orielle Lake discusses her book 'The Story is in our Bones', delving into Indigenous wisdom, climate justice, and the urgent need for systemic change. She shares childhood encounters with Indigenous ceremonies, explores time through stars, and emphasizes the importance of a just transition for environmental justice. A powerful episode on rewilding ourselves and reshaping our worldviews for a sustainable future.
Recognizing the rights of nature through legal personhood can reshape societal norms and protect the planet.
Reviving origin stories helps reconnect with roots, reshape worldviews, and foster responsibility towards the Earth.
Indigenous wisdom on living sustainably offers valuable insights for prioritizing environmental protection and sustainability.
Deep dives
The Importance of Recognizing Nature's Rights
Recognizing the rights of nature is a crucial step in reshaping our societal norms and protecting our planet. The Rights of Nature movement, which grants legal personhood to rivers and other natural entities, aims to shift the current view of nature as mere property to one of reverence and protection.
Reviving Origin Stories for a Deeper Connection to the Earth
The revival of origin stories from around the world serves as a powerful tool to reconnect with our roots and reshape our worldview. By embracing and sharing these stories regularly, we can deepen our understanding of our place in the web of life, fostering a sense of responsibility and respect for the Earth.
The Influence of Indigenous Wisdom on Climate Justice
Indigenous communities hold profound wisdom on living in harmony with nature, exemplified by viewing the river as a living ancestor. Collaborating with Indigenous peoples can offer invaluable insights and practices that prioritize environmental protection and sustainability.
Transforming Legal Systems Through Rights of Nature
The Rights of Nature movement, advocating for the legal rights of natural entities, presents a transformative approach to shifting environmental laws from viewing land as property to recognizing nature's intrinsic rights. Success stories from countries like Ecuador and Spain highlight the practical impact of these legal frameworks.
Deepening the Connection Between Humans and Nature
Embracing the concept of Rights of Nature and honoring our interconnectedness with the natural world can lead to profound shifts in how we interact with our environment. By acknowledging nature's inherent rights and personhood, we can foster a culture of conservation, respect, and stewardship for the Earth.
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.