Episode Transcription

Rebuilding the Future with Feminine Values and Indigenous Wisdom

Guest: Osprey Orielle Lake

In this episode of the We Need Act podcast, Osprey Orielle Lake, founder of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) and author of In Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis, shares her insights on climate change, the importance of women’s leadership, Indigenous knowledge, and how communities can take meaningful action.

From Concern to Action

Sara Rego: Osprey, you’ve helped spark a global movement of women taking bold climate action. Could you share a bit about your journey?

Osprey Orielle Lake: Like many people, I was very concerned about the Earth. Scholars talk about a “polycrisis”—climate catastrophe unfolding alongside social and ecological crises. In 2009, I started WECAN because I wanted to do something. I didn’t have a formal background in climate work, but many of us feel compelled to create a future that is healthy, just, and safe for our children and the Earth.

Understanding the Root Causes

Sara Rego: Last year, you published In Our Bones. For listeners who haven’t read it yet, what’s the central message?

Osprey Orielle Lake: The book steps back from immediate climate work to examine the systemic causes of the crises we face—oppression, harmful worldviews, patriarchy, and human disconnection from nature. Understanding these root causes is like diagnosing an illness before prescribing treatment.

I also use storytelling—personal experiences and ancestral histories—to show how these ideologies shape society. Without this understanding, real transformation is difficult.

Society’s Disconnection from Nature

Sara Rego: What do you see as the biggest challenges in society today?

Osprey Orielle Lake: There’s a lot of greed, hyper-individualism, and disconnection from the natural world. Modern society prioritizes wealth and possessions over friendships, creativity, or connection to nature. This lack of belonging often leads to environmental destruction, social imbalance, and even violence.

We need a new worldview—one of reciprocity, care, and recognizing the Earth as a living relative. I call it an animate cosmology.

Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability

Sara Rego: You’ve worked closely with Indigenous communities. What can their knowledge teach us about sustainability and healing?

Osprey Orielle Lake: Indigenous communities steward much of the world’s remaining biodiversity. Their worldview treats humans as relatives to nature. We need to learn from them respectfully, support their rights, and ensure they have decision-making power over their lands.

Their ecological knowledge is deeply rooted in place, guiding how to manage ecosystems sustainably. Supporting Indigenous leadership and integrating their knowledge is essential for climate justice.

Women Leading Climate Solutions

Sara Rego: Women are disproportionately affected by climate change, but also leading solutions. How do you see their role?

Osprey Orielle Lake: Women experience climate impacts first, from resource scarcity to health consequences. But they are also leading solutions in their communities—developing food security, managing water, and advocating for policy change.

Research shows that increasing women’s leadership can directly reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental outcomes. Women’s leadership brings justice, equity, and sustainability to communities and governments alike.

Reconnecting with Ancestral and Local Wisdom

Sara Rego: Modern societies have lost touch with nature. How do we regain that connection?

Osprey Orielle Lake: Remembering our ancestral origins helps. Our bodies are forged from the stars, and our ancestors lived close to the land. Localizing our lives—growing food locally, building strong community ties—helps us reconnect with ecosystems and live more sustainably.

Localization doesn’t mean isolation. It’s about balancing our connection to the land with the realities of a globalized world.

Collective Action and Community Power

Sara Rego: What advice would you give to listeners to inspire action?

Osprey Orielle Lake: Everyone has agency. Even small actions make a difference, especially when done in a community. Find a group working on what you care about and join them. Support Indigenous rights, elevate women’s leadership, and reclaim ancestral knowledge.

We can’t wait for someone else to fix the world. Every contribution adds up to the future we want—a world with healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and meaningful connections.

Key Takeaways

• Climate crises require systemic understanding, not just immediate fixes.

• Disconnection from nature drives social and environmental imbalance.

• Indigenous knowledge offers critical guidance for sustainability.

• Women’s leadership strengthens climate action and promotes justice.

• Local communities and ancestral wisdom are essential for building resilience.

Listen to the full episode of We Need Act with Osprey Orielle Lake to hear her reflections on building a just, regenerative, and climate-resilient future.

Photo: Markus Spiske