“Paying respect to the Land”: Futures-making through Land-based education in the face of climate change

Abstract

An ancient mode of learning, Land-based education holds great potential for youth learning in the face of climate change through increased understanding of the Land as it changes due to warming temperatures, strengthening of Indigenous ontological systems and Land relations, and ultimately contributing to informed decision-making about the Land. Despite these possibilities, Land-based camps have not been robustly studied for their impacts on youth climate learning and visions for the future. Through research with youth in Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, this paper traces how Land-based camps emphasize the importance of “paying respect to the Land” as a key climate response, one that is a collective and community endeavour. Sharing how Land-based camps foster Dene knowledge and language, enable youth contributions to community thriving, and provide spiritual connections with the Land, youth participants describe how Land-based education provides an integrative response to climate change.