World Wilderness Congress giving Indigenous culture a voice in climate crisis conversations [Video]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Land is an integral part of indigenous culture and to show that importance the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation hosted the 12th World Wilderness Congress in the Black Hills.

The World Wilderness Conference started in South Africa in 1976 and has since been held in a different country each year. Its goal is to bring together wilderness advocates from around the world to address the root cause of the environmental crisis.

This year’s event is different because it is also the first indigenous-led conference of its kind. Leaders and organizers say this achievement is a huge step in bringing Indigenous voices and beliefs to the forefront of climate crisis conversations.

“In the Lakota concept, we have something called maka si tomnia which means everything on earth. That includes the four-legged and the winged and the creatures in the ground so we’re very concerned about the wildlife,” Executive Director Phil …