On Being with Krista Tippett

Katsi Cook — "Women are the First Environment"

74 snips
Apr 24, 2025
Katsi Cook, a Mohawk wise woman and acclaimed midwife, shares her profound insights on the transformative power of birth and the vital role of generational relationships. Her teachings emphasize the significance of indigenous women's wisdom in nurturing culture and resilience. Katsi highlights the concept of 'eldering' for transmitting knowledge and advocates for connection with nature as core to identity. With anecdotes woven throughout, she passionately discusses joy, community, and the reclamation of ancestral practices, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental reproductive health.
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INSIGHT

Women As First Environment

  • Women are considered the first environment, nurturing life from womb to world.
  • This concept bridges ancestral knowledge with environmental reproductive health sciences.
INSIGHT

Eldering as Generational Wealth

  • Eldering transmits generational wealth, notably knowledge rather than material assets.
  • Indigenous women elders embody this transmission through their lived wisdom and community roles.
ANECDOTE

Sarah James' Birthing Song

  • Sarah James sings a birthing song for caribou, expressing deep kinship.
  • Her story illustrates Indigenous ways of integrating environmental and cultural wisdom.
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