Weaving Indigenous and Western science: Robin Wall Kimmerer’s vision for healing our relationship with nature

Each week, One Earth is proud to feature a Climate Hero from around the globe, working to create a world where humanity and nature can thrive together.

On a crisp December evening in Omaha, Nebraska, where the Missouri River winds through the ancestral lands of the Umoⁿhoⁿ people, a gathering took place that brought together ancient wisdom and modern science. 

The Kiewit Luminarium became the setting for a transformative evening led by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Potawatomi botanist, MacArthur Fellow, and celebrated author of Braiding Sweetgrass. Against the backdrop of these storied lands, Kimmerer invited the audience to imagine a future guided by reciprocity and reverence for nature.

Illuminated under the glow of the moon and local leaders

Sitting snug together, the audience was illuminated under the gentle glow of artist Luke Jerram’s monumental 3D installation, “Moon.” The seven-meter-wide sculpture, featuring NASA’s detailed imagery of the lunar surface, bathed the space in silvery light, evoking the timeless image of people gathered around for a nighttime story. A fitting symbol for the evening’s reflections between art, science, and ancestral knowledge.

The event began with a heartfelt prayer and welcome from Dr. Rudi Mitchell, an elder of the Omaha Tribe and the great-great-great grandson of Chief Big Elk. Dr. Mitchell, shared words of blessing and gratitude. His invocation, grounded in the traditions of the Omaha people, honored Kimmerer’s visit as a member of another Indigenous community. Dr. Mitchell’s words set a reverent tone for the dialogue to follow, connecting the audience to the land and its deep history.

Moderating the discussion was Dr. Siobhan Wescott, distinguished Professor of American Indian Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Director of the Nebraska HEALING Project. Dr. Siobhan has long advocated for health equity from Indigenous peoples. Her thoughtful questions intertwined the health of people, culture, and environment, enriching the conversation with her deep commitment to the well-being of all.

The Earth is asking for our help—when turtles become climate refugees

Kimmerer began her talk with a story of the snapping turtles at Cranberry Lake Biological Station, where she teaches each summer. She described how one mother turtle clambered up a steep bluff, determined to lay her eggs in the camp’s sand volleyball court—a moment of joy and wonder for the students who gathered to watch. Yet, in the following days, more turtles kept arriving, moving ever closer to the camp and its human inhabitants.

The turtles, she explained, were responding to rising water levels that had flooded their usual nesting sites. With nowhere else to go, these ancient creatures sought higher ground, their powerful instinct to protect future generations guiding them to this unlikely refuge. 

“The turtles had become climate refugees,” Kimmerer reflected, drawing a parallel between their plight and the larger crisis facing the Earth. “Their presence is a message. The Earth itself is in distress, asking for our attention.”

The story of the turtles became a metaphor for the evening’s theme: the urgent need to care for the planet as our kin.

Rediscovering ourselves as nature

For Kimmerer, reconnection with nature begins with seeing the natural world not as resources to be exploited but as relatives to be cherished. “What was so dangerous about our languages that they needed to be eradicated?” Dr. Siobhan Wescott asked. The answer, Kimmerer explained, lies in the worldview embedded in Indigenous languages, where land and other species are described as brethren, not commodities.

She challenged the audience to rethink human exceptionalism, advocating instead for “kin-centered equality.” “We are all interdependent,” she declared. “No one species is more important than another.” This philosophy is central to the Rights-of-Nature movement, which seeks to recognize ecosystems and species as legal persons, ensuring they have a voice in decisions affecting their survival.

Kimmerer’s reflections extended to how this perspective could reshape our ethics and actions. She described the moral imperative of reciprocity, where humans honor their relationship with the Earth by giving back. “The Earth has given us everything,” she said. “What will we give in return?”

Interweaving Indigenous and Western science to solve today’s challenges

“Science is a powerful tool for addressing climate change,” Kimmerer said, “but it’s not the only one.” As both a trained scientist and a keeper of Indigenous knowledge, she embodies the concept of “two-eyed seeing”—using the strengths of both Indigenous and Western scientific worldviews. 

Kimmerer’s work at the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment seeks to bridge these perspectives, showing how the wisdom of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) can guide us in addressing two of the greatest crises of our time: climate change and biodiversity loss.

The Western scientific approach often focuses on measurements, predictions, and technologies to mitigate environmental damage. While this has value, Kimmerer emphasized that Indigenous knowledge brings something deeper: a relational understanding of the land. TEK teaches us that the health of ecosystems depends on balance, respect, and unity. “The Earth doesn’t need us to dominate her,” Kimmerer explained. “She needs us to listen, learn, and act as humble partners.”

“The Earth doesn’t need us to dominate her. She needs us to listen, learn, and act as humble partners.”

Kimmerer described how Indigenous practices—such as controlled burns, sustainable harvests, and seed saving—have stewarded biodiversity for millennia. Including these efforts in the environmental sciences, she noted, would not merely be about conservation but about healing relationships: with the land, with species under threat, and with each other. “Biodiversity is not just a measure of life,” Kimmerer said. “It’s a measure of harmony, and Indigenous knowledge shows us how to cultivate that harmony.”

Blending Western science with Indigenous wisdom offers a more holistic path forward. Where one relies on data and analysis, the other brings centuries of lived experience and a worldview that centers care and interconnectedness. “We don’t need to choose between them,” Kimmerer said. “We need them both.”

Kimmerer’s message was clear: solving our planet’s and society’s biggest challenges requires more than innovation—it requires transformation. By learning from Indigenous knowledge and recognizing our role as caretakers rather than conquerors, humanity can restore balance to the Earth. “We are change-makers and Earth-shapers,” she reminded the audience. “Our survival depends on recognizing that we are not separate from nature—we are nature.”

The teachings of Braiding Sweetgrass

Kimmerer’s bestselling book, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, has inspired millions to reevaluate their relationship with the Earth. Structured as a ceremonial braid, the book weaves together stories of Indigenous ways of knowing, scientific discoveries, and personal reflections. “It’s an invitation to celebrate the gifts of the Earth,” Kimmerer said.

One of the book’s most enduring lessons comes from the story of Skywoman, who fell to Earth and worked with the animals to create a home on Turtle Island (North America). Unlike the Genesis story, which casts humans as exiles from Eden, Skywoman’s tale emphasizes collaboration, generosity, and gratitude. “Creation stories guide our ethics,” Kimmerer explained. “Are we in charge, or are we co-creators of abundance?”

The book also highlights the deep connections between people and plants, drawing on the symbiosis that defines a healthy relationship with the land. Kimmerer explained that each plant offers a lesson, whether it is resilience, generosity, or the importance of balance. These teachings inspire readers to see nature not as separate from humanity but as an extension of our shared existence.

A new way to flourish as one: The Serviceberry

In her newest work, The Serviceberry, Kimmerer explores what the natural world can teach us about abundance, reciprocity, and the value of relationships. Observing how serviceberry trees offer their fruit freely to birds, animals, and people, she invites readers to rethink an economy built on competition and scarcity. “Serviceberries show us another model,” she writes, “where wealth comes from the quality of our relationships, not the illusion of self-sufficiency.”

Through the serviceberry’s example, Kimmerer reminds us that all flourishing is mutual. By giving without hoarding, the tree ensures its seeds are spread, nourishing its community and securing its own survival—a lesson we would do well to embrace.

Seeds of change: Indigenous knowledge in action

Kimmerer’s work is not confined to philosophy; it is deeply practical. From promoting biodiversity to advancing food sovereignty, she highlighted examples of Indigenous knowledge driving solutions. She shared stories of Indigenous communities restoring prairie ecosystems, preserving heirloom seeds, and building resilient food systems. “Food security comes from biodiversity,” she emphasized, pointing out that monoculture agriculture undermines both ecological and cultural resilience.

She also discussed her role in mentoring young Indigenous scientists who are navigating the tension between Western scientific training and traditional ecological knowledge. “How do you stay resilient in the face of attempts to erase your knowledge?” she asked. Her answer: by fostering a sense of belonging and pride in cultural heritage, while building bridges between worldviews.

A Moonshot for the future

At the close of the evening, Kimmerer returned to the luminous moon above. When asked about her vision for the future, she shared a powerful “moonshot”: the toppling of the pyramid of human exceptionalism. “My moonshot is for a kin-centered equality that recognizes the personhood of all beings,” she said. This vision includes extending legal rights to ecosystems, as the Maori have done for the Whanganui River in New Zealand, and fostering a culture that honors the interconnectedness of all life.

Beneath the glowing “Moon” installation, her words resonated with a profound sense of urgency and hope. “Every choice we make has planetary consequences,” Kimmerer reminded the audience. “Let us act as though the future depends on it—because it does.” By embracing Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and a spirit of reciprocity, we can co-create a more just and sustainable world.

Learn more about the inspiring work of Robin Wall Kimmerer.

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