Climate Wisdom Based on Indigenous Knowledge
Written by: Neve Bonura-Learnard
Edited by: Nithya Rao, Beatrice Bos
As climate disasters become more frequent and intense, communities around the world are looking for better ways to adapt and recover. In many places, Indigenous peoples have been doing exactly that for generations. Their knowledge goes beyond cultural heritage: it is practical, tested, and increasingly recognized as essential for surviving climate change.
Indigenous knowledge systems are based on deep relationships with the land, water, and ecosystems. These are not one-size-fits-all solutions but flexible, place-based ways of living that have kept communities alive through droughts, floods, and fires long before modern science was involved. Journalist Joseph Lee remarks that “indigenous knowledge has never been set in stone,” and highlights how it is about constant evolution (Vox, 2023).
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How Science is Catching Up
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, indigenous knowledge improves how communities adapt to climate threats. It plays a role in food security, biodiversity conservation, and disaster recovery. Research shows that indigenous-managed lands contain some of the richest biodiversity on the planet.
A 2021 study found that indigenous territories in the Amazon experience far less deforestation than surrounding areas. In Australia and Canada, fire management rooted in indigenous practices have reduced the damage caused by wildfires. These are working models that much inspiration can be pulled from.
Created by Tehatsistahawi (Tsista) Kennedy based on youth input at a workshop in Canadian Climate Institute held in October 2020.
Real-World Examples of Indigenous Climate Resilience:
Fire Management in Australia
For thousands of years, Aboriginal communities have practiced cultural burning. These small, controlled burns are done with intimate knowledge of local plant cycles and wind patterns. They reduce fuel loads and encourage regrowth of native species. “This fire has really shaken the country up,” said Victor Steffensen, an Indigenous fire practitioner. “People want to see better management of the landscape” (Time Magazine, 2020). After years of being ignored, Australian fire agencies are now partnering with indigenous leaders to reintroduce these techniques.
Restoring Wetlands in the US
In northern Idaho, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has been restoring wetlands using traditional knowledge passed down through oral history. Their focus is not just on flood control, but on reviving native food systems and restoring balance to the ecosystem.
This effort attempts to blend old practices with modern science, creating a model of long-term, community-led resilience. Wetland plants that were once nearly extinct in the region are now returning.
Farming the Old Way in the Himalayas
In the Indian Himalayas, villagers use terraced farming, seed diversity, and rainwater harvesting. These systems protected many communities during the deadly 2013 floods, while newer, more modern developments collapsed. Researchers studying these regions warn that rapid urbanization is pushing out traditional knowledge. Preserving it, they say, could be key to surviving future disasters.
Designing with Nature in Mind
Architect and author Julia Watson has spent years documenting Indigenous design systems in her book Lo-TEK. She highlights examples like floating farms in Bangladesh, raised fields in the Amazon, and water-harvesting systems in Kenya. “These systems are high-performance technologies,” Watson says. “They just happen to be indigenous.” She argues that nature-based solutions are often more sustainable than the high-tech answers proposed by global architects and engineers.
Respect and Inclusion
Including indigenous knowledge in climate policy could be a matter of survival in our changing world. But that inclusion must be done with care. Indigenous communities often say they are tired of being studied without being heard. “We don’t have to overcomplicate these ideas,” says Joseph Lee. “Just listen to people who have been doing the work for generations—or get out of their way”.The United Nations has acknowledged this too. In a 2022 briefing, the UNFCCC stated that indigenous worldviews offer “unique, holistic perspectives” that center a relationship with nature and responsibility to future generations. These perspectives, they noted, should guide the way forward. If we are serious about facing climate change, it is time to stop treating this wisdom as something exotic, and start treating it as essential.