How can Indigenous knowledge systems, rooted in oral traditions, deep relationships with the Earth, and community-led action be used to communicate effectively on climate change? On October 28, 2025, Dr. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, an Indigenous climate journalist and scholar from Samoa, moderated a conversation with Dr. Ihirangi Heke, an expert on health and the environment of Māori descent, and Rahiem Eleazer, the Environmental Liaison for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Drawing from distinct Indigenous communities and histories, the speakers explored how their cultural traditions and worldviews guide their approaches to addressing climate issues within their own communities and in collaboration with others.
The discussion emphasized that Indigenous communities hold deep environmental knowledge developed over millennia, which must be meaningfully integrated into modern climate action. The speakers highlighted the importance of preserving not only Indigenous knowledge but also the interpretive “codex” – the cultural and contextual understanding essential to interpreting this wisdom accurately, and protecting it from misrepresentation in the age of AI. The session concluded with a collective call for collaboration to address climate change grounded in respect, trust, and shared responsibility.