3 Tips for Connecting With Indigenous Culture From a Land-Based Perspective

We can learn a lot about ourselves, our culture, and our history from the land. Land holds memories. It can represent home, ancestry, and sacred values. If you’re looking to continue connecting to your culture or if you’re connecting with it for the first time, learning about the land is a great place to start.

What better way to connect with the indigenous culture than to learn about your roots and the roots of all the people who came before you?

We know just how important it is to have a meaningful connection with your culture and that’s why we’re so invested in helping others connect with their culture in all kinds of unique ways.

The key to connecting with indigenous culture from a land-based perspective is to learn everything there is to know about the land -- it’s history, it’s characteristics, the plants, the animals, and the people who live there. Fully understanding the land is the key to connecting with indigenous culture in this way.

Today, let’s talk about three tips for connecting with indigenous culture by learning about the land.

 

Familiarize Yourself With The Treaty Territory

First learn which treaty territory you actually reside on. You might live on the traditional land of your tribe or you might actually be on the lands of another Nation.

Learn about and acknowledge which Nation the land belongs to so that you can have a full scope of its history. This will allow you to understand how that history relates to your personal journey.

Understanding this perspective also cultivates respect for the land you reside on.

Learn About The Nature And Wildlife Of The Land

Secondly, you should familiarize yourself with the plants, animals, water systems, climates, and any other components of the natural world that surrounds you.

Traditional indigenous teachings are often land-based, which means that ways of knowing and doing are rooted in these life systems.Culture is often defined by the natural world -- what medicines we use, what ceremonies we participate, and how we live and interact on that land.

Understanding the natural world of the land you reside on will help you connect to fundamental indigenous teachings native to your specific location.

Explore Original Creation Stories

Indigenous culture is tied to land through mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual understandings. It’s important to learn about and appreciate the stories that are native to your land. Stories are deeply tied to who we are and can help us understand each other.

These stories can also help you understand the ways in which the Creator provided land to Indigenous people to live on and sustain. The more you understand the sacredness of the land you inhabit, the closer you should feel to your indigenous roots.


Land is truly important and sacred to indigenous culture, so understanding the land you live on can be a powerful way to connect with your indigenous culture.

The more you learn, the more connected you will feel to your culture simply by existing on land that is so important to the Creator, your ancestors, your loved ones, and all the living creatures who inhabit it.

Embracing a land-based perspective is just one of the many ways that you can connect with indigenous culture.

No matter how you choose to connect, getting started is the most important step. I hope that learning about the land helps you wherever you are on your journey.