Reviving Culture and Ritual for Conservation of Land, Local Ecosystems and Sacred Natural Sites

For fifteen years, I worked as a community land rights lawyer, supporting local communities and Indigenous Peoples to protect their communal lands against bad faith land grabs by national elites and international investors. Yet over the years, I noticed a disturbing erosion of the intimate, honoring relationships that rural communities have traditionally had with their ancestral lands and local ecosystems. I slowly came to realize that having rights over one’s land is not enough – for true ecological flourishing and community thriving, the spiritual and emotional relationship between people and their lands must be strengthened. After a deep exploration through a Masters' study, I am working on a book project to showcase effective strategies for remembering land-honouring rituals and traditions. This blog describes my learnings and outlines a path forward for more comprehensive land stewardship and protection.