Brazilian Indigenous author Ailton Krenak argues that society must reconnect with nature and ancestral knowledge to address today’s environmental crises.
Manuela Andreoni reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Krenak’s book, Ancestral Future, criticizes the over-reliance on technology and calls for a worldview centered on nature.
- He emphasizes that Indigenous ways of living, which prioritize the environment, offer crucial insights for addressing climate change.
- Krenak’s experiences, including the displacement of his family in rural Brazil, fuel his advocacy for strengthening humanity's connection to the natural world.
Key quote:
“He almost literally comes from a different world, and so provides an extraordinarily useful testimony. There are very few human beings in quite that same position, very few writers.”
— Bill McKibben, environmental author and activist.
Why this matters:
In a world obsessed with quick fixes and innovation, Krenak’s message is a reminder that the answers might just be simpler—and closer to home—than we think. His work challenges us to rethink our relationship with the Earth and to see environmental stewardship not as a new-age trend but as a return to a more balanced way of living. Read more: Colonialism, the climate crisis, and the need to center Indigenous voices.
