Decolonizing environmentalism: Addressing ecological and Indigenous colonization through arts-based communication

Geo Takach and Kyera Cook
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Geo Takach: School of Communication and Culture, 8202Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC, Canada
Kyera Cook: 8202Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC, Canada

Environmental Values, 2024, vol. 33, issue 5, 529-549

Abstract: This article seeks to advance connecting the two societal priorities of environmental protection and what has been called ‘Indigenous reconciliation’ through arts-based communication (and particularly arts-based research), to help engage and inspire people towards sustaining a healthy planet and a just society. Through lenses of social justice, decolonizing critique and holistic environmental ideologies, this work explores theoretical and practical, real-world intersections of environmentalist, Indigenous and arts-based imperatives and ways of knowing. The goal is twofold: first, to seek to engage readers in viewing the colonization of the planet and its First Peoples as intimately related, and ultimately, to bring together diverse literatures to suggest ideas, language and a model to foster communication aimed at redressing both of those colonialist evils. To acknowledge this intersection of environmental and Indigenous approaches in arts-based settings, the term ‘environmental conciliation’ is proposed and defined as ‘environmental protection in ways that acknowledge, address, and aim to redress imbalances in power among Indigenous people and non-Indigenous settlers honestly, respectfully, openly, creatively and positively.

Keywords: environmental protection; environmental communication; Indigenous reconciliation; arts-based research; decolonization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envval:v:33:y:2024:i:5:p:529-549

DOI: 10.1177/09632719231224115

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