Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature

The Nature of Language and the Language of Nature

Mar 11, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Indigenous champions Jeannette Armstrong, an Okanagan author and ecologist, and Rowen White, a seed keeper and farmer, explore the profound links between language and nature. They emphasize the need to revitalize Indigenous languages as essential vessels of ecological knowledge. The conversation highlights the deep cultural significance of seeds and their connection to identity, while advocating for a shift to adopt Indigenous perspectives in understanding our relationship with the Earth. Reconnecting with ancestral roots is presented as a path toward healing.

32:23

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Episode guests

Rowen White

Jeannette Armstrong

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Quick takeaways

Indigenous languages are crucial for preserving cultural identity and ecological wisdom, highlighting a community's deep connection to their environment.

Revitalizing these languages fosters a sense of belonging and responsibility, empowering future generations to reclaim their heritage and ecological practices.

Deep dives

The Vitality of Indigenous Languages

Indigenous languages are pivotal carriers of cultural knowledge and ecological wisdom, reflecting a deep connection between communities and their environments. These languages are not just means of communication but encapsulate complex relationships with the land, showcasing a worldview that emphasizes kinship and reciprocity. For example, the term 'tamihu' in the Okanagan Silchian language conveys the interconnectedness of all living beings, contrasting sharply with the English notion of 'environment'. This highlights the importance of revitalizing Indigenous languages as a foundational step toward fostering a sustainable relationship with nature.

Intro

3min

The Interconnection of Language, Culture, and Nature

5min

Rooted in Heritage: The Role of Indigenous Seed Keepers

2min

Language and Indigenous Worldviews

15min

Reconnecting with Ancestral Roots through Language and Agriculture

6min

Over 7,000 languages are spoken around the world. Each one reflects a rich ecosystem of ideas - seeds that grow into a multitude of worldviews. Today, many of these immeasurably precious knowledge systems are endangered - often spoken by just a handful of people. We hear from two Indigenous language champions, Jeannette Armstrong and Rowen White. They reflect on the words, stories, songs and ideas that influence our very conception of nature, and our place within it.

This is an episode of Nature’s Genius, a Bioneers podcast series exploring how the sentient symphony of life holds the solutions we need to balance human civilization with living systems. Visit the series page to learn more.

Featuring

Jeannette Armstrong, Ph.D., (Okanagan) is an Indigenous author, teacher, ecologist, and a culture bearer for her Native language. She is also Co-founder of the En'owkin Centre.

Rowen White (Mohawk) is a seed keeper and farmer, and part of the Indigenous Seed Keepers Network. She operates a living seed bank called Sierra Seeds.