Beyond Fires & Floods: Pt 1 (ep 366)
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In this opening segment of a three-day gathering at UBC's Museum of Anthropology, host Rick Harp and co-convenor Candice Collison introduce a powerful panel of Indigenous journalists and scholars convened to explore climate change narratives through the lens of Indigenous knowledge, history, and resilience. The discussion centers on reframing climate change not as a sudden crisis, but as a continuation of centuries-long patterns of environmental adaptation and colonial disruption. Panelists including Mark Trahant, Tanya Talaga, Paul C. Sequoias, and Judy Cushone share personal and ancestral stories that illustrate how Indigenous communities have long navigated environmental shifts—through migration, spiritual teachings, and land stewardship—while emphasizing that current climate impacts are deeply intertwined with colonialism, resource extraction, and systemic neglect. The conversation challenges mainstream media’s tendency toward apocalyptic framing, advocating instead for storytelling that honors continuity, intergenerational wisdom, and the ongoing capacity of Indigenous peoples to lead in climate solutions. The episode closes with a sobering yet hopeful reflection on the costs of inaction and the urgent need for systemic change.
Climate change is not new to Indigenous peoples—it’s part of a long arc of adaptation and resilience spanning thousands of years.
Mainstream media often frames climate events as isolated disasters, but Indigenous narratives emphasize continuity, cyclical change, and deep historical context.
Colonialism and resource extraction are root causes of current climate vulnerabilities, not just environmental phenomena.
Indigenous knowledge systems—like controlled burns, language revitalization, and traditional ecological practices—are essential to climate resilience.
Communities are already being displaced by storms and flooding, yet many lack the resources or political will to plan for long-term relocation.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction: A Gathering of Indigenous Voices on Climate Storytelling
“This evening is about journalism as if the climate mattered. It's also about journalism as if Indigenous peoples mattered.”
Mark Trahant: The Long Arc of Indigenous Resilience
“The idea of having dramatic climate impact on our way of life is something that's been a part of our history for 10,000 years.”
Tanya Talaga: From Apocalypse to Agency
“We are going to come back to Indigenous knowledge. It's going to be circular.”
Paul C. Sequoias: Visual Archives and Living Memory
Paul C. Sequoias uses photography from the 'People of the Watershed' exhibition to show dramatic environmental changes over a single lifetime. He contrasts loss with revival—such as controlled burns and buffalo reintroduction—highlighting that Indigenous communities are not just victims but active agents of renewal.
Judy Cushone: Oral Traditions and Climate Change
“We don't want that role as a keeper of the land to die with us.”
“Colonialism's got a big gaping hole it can't govern.”
“This evening is about journalism as if the climate mattered. It's also about journalism as if Indigenous peoples mattered.”
“We don't want that role as a keeper of the land to die with us.”
Host
Guests
Tanya Talaga
person
Mark Trahant
person
Judy Cushone
person
Rick Harp
person
Candice Collison
person
Paul C. Sequoias
person
Museum of Anthropology
organization
Taos Pueblo
other
Blue Lake
other
Permafrost
other
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