The answer to climate change must start with the internal healing of humanity…

By Amanda Appasamy, 1st year MDP student

One of the highlights of my placement at the International Institute for Sustainable Development was having the honour to attend and volunteer as a note taker at the Onjisay Aki “A Changing Earth” Summit -an International climate change summit at Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba.

Ceremony representing the Eagle and Condor prophecy

The summit gathered Indigenous Knowledge keepers and environmental leaders from the International community to share Indigenous ancestral and scientific knowledge; whereby an international call to action was created to address the climate change crisis and to initiate a path of healing for all peoples, animals and the earth. 

This spiritual gathering of Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge keepers represents the fulfillment of the Eagle and the Condor Prophecy; the Eagle representing the people of the North and the Condor, the people of the South coming together in unity and collaboration to renew relationships with the earth.

The spiritual and ceremonial aspects of this conference have definitely transformed and changed my perspective on the solutions to climate change. I have associated the cause of climate change crisis and environmental destruction to greed, corruption and power. However, what was said at this conference is that the very decision makers that are responsible for climate change, are our relatives.

Hence, the answer lies in healing humanity first. As expressed by Paul K. Chappell, the Peace Leadership Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation during the summit, “No other species on the planet suffer from the range of mental health issues that humans have”, “In order to heal the earth, we need to feed the world’s spiritual needs.”

Humanity is indeed hurting and suffering. The answer to climate change lies within our inner selves. We can achieve this by building united communities and alliances with Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples whilst respecting Indigenous ancestral knowledge. This powerful and unique spiritual experience has definitely ignited my hopes and inspired me to continue with the fight for an inclusive and just society.   

Peruvian knowledge keepers assisting the Thunderbird nest building ceremony representing the re-establishment of the human alliance with nature