Ironically, governments throughout the world are returning to indigenous ecological perspectives to address climate change—even after those same governments initially sought to destroy indigenous ways of life in the name of progress and industrial modernity. In his article for The Washington Post, Samuel Gilbert identifies some of these practices among indigenous American peoples. He writes:
Certain ancient practices could mitigate the deleterious effects of global warming. From building seaside gardens to water management in desert terrain, these time-honored practices work with the natural world’s rhythms. Some might even hold the key to a more resilient future and a means of building security for both Indigenous communities and other groups disproportionately impacted by climate change.
He adds:
In the field of architecture, Indigenous knowledge and technologies have long been overlooked. Julia Watson’s book “Lo—TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism,” published in 2019, examines Indigenous land management practices that represent a catalogue of sustainable, adaptable and resilient design, from living bridges able to withstand monsoons in northern India to man-made underground streams, called qanats, in what is now Iran.