Ancient, Powerful, and Particularly Feminine: Righting Our Relationship with Mama Earth

Editors’ note: This piece is from Nonprofit Quarterly Magazine’s fall 2024 issue, “Supporting the Youth Climate Justice Movement.”

Nature teaches me about abundance and resilience, even in the midst of a seemingly hopeless time (as the media, with its tendency to glorify scarcity, would have us believe). We are witnessing a shift toward something ancient, powerful, and particularly feminine. This evolution is possible because we are becoming conscious and adapting—learning to hold space in which more expansive relationships can be generated and we can act from shared awareness. We are in a time of deep remembrance, a time when we can cocreate in harmony with nature, hold reverence for spirit, and address the challenges of our rapidly changing world.

On an individual scale, it can feel daunting to challenge entrenched systems. Collectively, more and more of us are turning for guidance to the wisdom of systems that existed long before Western industrial civilizations.

In the summer of 2022, the core of the Ubuntu Climate Initiative, an intergenerational group of Black women from diverse backgrounds, gathered in a quiet town outside of Point Reyes, CA—a scenic place where forests and ocean converge. Mama Earth had called each of us, urging a return to ways of being that foster harmony, balance, and interdependence.

We embraced the word ubuntu—an Nguni Bantu term often translated as “I am because we are”—which conveys the interrelatedness of humans and the cosmos, creator, ancestors, and ecosystems. As our project took shape, rooted in the ubuntu philosophy, it became evident that ubuntu was already deeply embedded in our work and the futures we envisioned.

The concept of ubuntu may seem straightforward—one exists and thrives due to an existing and thriving human and more-than-human ecosystem. Yet in systems built to isolate and decimate our biodiversity for profit, examples of healthy community provisioning, collaboration, and innovative system building are becoming rare. On an individual scale, it can feel daunting to challenge entrenched systems. Collectively, more and more of us are turning for guidance to the wisdom of systems that existed long before Western industrial civilizations. We are taking the time to listen and see our truths reflected in the mirror.

Ubuntu as Art

Nearly two years later, on Earth Day 2024, our Cultural Arts Circle excitedly announced 40 winners for the Ubuntu Climate Initiative’s inaugural Climate Arts and Storytelling Showcase. The showcase was a collaborative project organized by the Ubuntu Climate Initiative in partnership with the media arts center Open Signal. Its purpose was to highlight the artistic expressions of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people across the nation, who are bringing forward cultural practices from the past to sow seeds of climate action in their communities—addressing environmental challenges and promoting collective action for a sustainable future in alignment with the principles of ubuntu. Broadcast on YouTube, the showcase amplified stories of individuals across the United States who are practicing ubuntu in their communities, with special categories for women, returning citizens, elders, and youth.¹ Witnessing so many profound and expansive narratives was incredible; yet I was most inspired by how many young people are fostering solidarity to confront the climate crisis and transform our future.

First place went to Jendaiya Hill, a member of Philly Thrive and an apprentice to the earth, who presented “Right to Thrive.”² Marielle O’Neill, our second-place recipient, used origami and her love of flowers to illustrate the concept of ubuntu in “Ubuntu as Folding Art.”³ Tiaret Aryanna Renee Mitchell, who was awarded our third-place prize, described oneness in a raw spoken-word performance.⁴ Honorable mentions in the youth category include Jai Bazawule, with “Bring Back Ubuntu”;⁵ Gabriela Garcia, who shared her story “I Am Because We Are Community”;⁶ Norah Dunlap, who accompanied her story of our interconnectedness with a time-lapse documentation of her painting, in “Painting Ubuntu”;⁷ Chloe Rockmore and Jordyn Hanes, who partnered in “Ubuntu as Dance”;⁸ and Bobby Baker, who, in “Ubuntu—The Spirit of Milwaukee,” used drone shots to capture the oneness of our urban ecosystems.⁹

Each creation is evidence of us moving toward a healed future in which compassion, joy, and interdependence are celebrated. By being rooted in ubuntu values, we exist in balance with our earth systems in a way that still makes space for our differences and generates an abundance of biodiversity.

Our Stories Carry Wisdom Across Generations

The rich stories that emerged from our showcase confirmed the deep and intentional listening required if we want to right our relationship with Mama Earth. These stories prompted me to reach out to a few of the youth who received prizes from the showcase to better understand if and how they were weaving Afro-Indigenous values into their day-to-day practices as change agents. I had insightful conversations with Hill, based in Philadelphia, PA; Mitchell, based in Silver Spring, MD, and New York City, NY; Baker, a high school student in Milwaukee, WI; and Anbiya Oshun Smith, a Los Angeles, CA, native (and an honorable mention in the women’s category, with “Answering the Call: Stories and Creations Inspired by Mama Nature”¹⁰)—giving a diverse range of perspectives from folks under 30 across the country.

The need to prioritize making space for stillness in order to receive wisdoms from our elders and ancestors who have been drowned out by dominant harmful narratives, came up over and over again in the conversations. “We should lean into practices like praying and meditation to receive guidance from our ancestors on how to tend to ourselves and the land,” said Smith, when asked how ancestral practices can inform climate activism.¹¹ She also emphasized the importance of stories in our relationship with nature:

There are so many tales and origin stories. These stories help us see plants as living things we are in relationships with, relationships we have cultivated for years. As we implement our Indigenous and African roots and ways of connecting with nature, we bring as much guidance from our elders and as much collaboration as possible as we grow.¹²

These stories resonate with us even when we are not immediately conscious of the ways in which we are developing our awareness. I connected with Mitchell, who emphasized the value of elders’ roles in teaching more sustainable ways of being. “I would always listen to my elders. My parents were surrounded by their peers, who were Black elders from the South, who have rich stories of nature, ancestry, and resilience.”¹³ The elders in her life passed on their respect for Mama Earth and her lessons: “In nature, when I wasn’t surrounded by elders, I would be outside in my backyard—there’s a stream, creeks, animals, an entire ecosystem. So I’d always just be outside, listening.”¹⁴

Being young can be challenging when there is so much to learn in life, but it’s a gift to view age-old challenges with a fresh perspective. “If we’re really going to move through this period of time with grace,” said Hill, “we need to weave the wisdom of the elders and children and the youth and all middle-aged adults together. That’s what we offer as young people, a very unfiltered relationship with the earth and ourselves and with each other.”¹⁵

Learning to Listen

We can’t change systems without changing our consciousness. This will require the slow and intentional work of listening to our spirits, to each other, and most important, to Mama Earth, who calls us to open our hearts. Mitchell shared her perspective on why listening is necessary for us to grow: “The first step of understanding is always to deeply listen. Listening is like letting go of ego and seeing what is calling and what there is to learn.”¹⁶

Mitchell continued with a story of a friend who expressed feeling like a visitor in nature. “How can you feel like a visitor in your own home?” Mitchell asked her friend, and explained to me that the biggest disconnect for most is that we don’t know how to listen to and sit with Mama Earth.¹⁷

This isn’t surprising, given how our cities are intentionally structured (politically, economically, and physically) to disconnect us from each other and nature. Hill shared her perspective that “ubuntu is the truth that we are all cells of the same earth body. A cell that is cancerous is one that is not maturing—maturity means the cell understands its best purpose within the body.”¹⁸ She continued:

When we zoom out [from] our planet, many cancerous cells are contributing to the state of things; but there are also many ways to show up as one individual, one cell within the body that reverberates healing and alignment with the greater body we’re part of. When I think of ubuntu, it’s the recognition that my heart beating is part of the same heart we all share. I might forget that, but that’s the truth.¹⁹

And Smith asked, “We have so many options to expand, but are we listening to what the planet wants, what our souls want?”²⁰ For Smith, it means ”slowing down and working at a pace that feels true to who we are and reflects how we connect to nature and how we are listening to our ancestors and working in a way that is easeful.”²¹

Metamorphosis occurs when we are able to shed old layers and attachments to ways of being that no longer serve us. Mama Earth’s voice must have a seat at the table when making decisions that will serve everyone in the long term.

Building the Commons

Commoning enables lifeways and collective action that are in alignment with African Indigenous worldviews and cultural beliefs, such as an emphasis on communal use of resources, interdependence among people, reverence for nature, and an ethics of collective responsibility that actions be in accordance with the planet’s wellbeing.²² Historically, humans fostered collectiveness as a means of survival and to generate joy. Although there are still communities around the world that practice commoning on a similar scale as in the past, smaller scale commoning such as community gardens, craft circles, swaps, potlucks, and block parties are some of the more usual forms that we see today.

Baker shared how his family has practiced commoning in Milwaukee since he was a kid—from community gardens to community safety. “My mom and dad were both active in the community. They ran a big campaign against violence, especially in the early 2000s.”²³ Baker also recalled other forms of organizing:

I have an aunt who ran a community garden, so I’ve always been outside doing things like that. When I was younger, it was like every day we were going to the garden or knocking on doors, telling people about “Stop the Violence.” Those are some of my best memories—making new friends, being outside in my community, and growing as a person.²⁴

Commoning can also look different on a more personal level. Smith shared how curating space is an important part of her practice of commoning:

As someone who has a lot of different interests and is a multidimensional creator, creating spaces is an integral part of my purpose. I utilize my heart, expansiveness, resources, and connections to build upon who we already are. This supports existing connections and community building, so the tribe can have an easier time locating and building with each other.²⁵

That perspective highlights the core of why we common—to create spaces that allow each community member to actualize their purpose and strengths and be in constant communication with the overall group to see where these different skills generate synergy.

Mitchell shared a saying with me: “Reconnect to your body, reconnect to your mind, reconnect to your spirit.”²⁶ Regarding her practice of commoning, she explained how her art has always focused on “having a sacred, safe, healing, and meditative space for Black and Brown folks to come in and reclaim their body on their own terms in order to reconnect to it.”²⁷

There is a connection between curating space for healing and curating space for building. In order to grow sustainably, we must take the time to weed out areas that are constricting resources. If a plant is not maintained, it will eventually stop fruiting. In our current climate movement, scaling and generating a unified voice has been particularly challenging. I believe that is because even in progressive spaces, we are still moving in a patriarchal fashion that prioritizes productivity and a hyper focus on time-oriented goals, which has led to many of us feeling burned out.

We are living in a patriarchal system that prioritizes power, profit, and a hypercompetitive culture that overvalues individualism. We can bring back balance by leaning into feminine ways of organizing, building, and creating space for the reality we want to build. This looks like going from individualism, which leaves us little space to build relationships, to communal societies that recognize our interdependence.

And we cannot simply say we must address climate change by some arbitrary date; we must explicitly craft a plan of action that addresses how we will hold space for healing on the individual scale, so we can move from a place of trust when creating alternatives to the existing systems.

It Starts with Us

Being 26, I’m considered part of the generation known for things like silent quitting, setting boundaries, and refusing to accept cultural practices that no longer serve the needs of rapidly developing communities. There was a time when I found great solace in being outside and in water; but the need to sustain in a fast-paced society meant less and less time outside and more time trying to fit myself into the box of a perfect activist—one who, at the core, further perpetuated patriarchal and colonial ways of living. There were times when I leaned heavily into my masculine energy in order to grind, opting for long hours at my computer doing tasks that left me drained and devoid of hope instead of connecting to the creative outlets that make me who I am.

Our world exists in a delicate balance, and Mama Earth will restore balance by any means necessary. We must work together with awareness and love to create a new song that will tell our story of adaptation, transformation, and how we righted our relationship with Mama Earth to the generations that follow.In 2020, when COVID-19 forced the world to pause, many of us had time to reconsider our priorities. My journey began to bend and wind when I decided it was essential to work in an environment that would allow me to uplift and focus on using my gifts as a creative to bring light to the issues in my community. I was just a small node in the greater mycelium, shifting from a time- and number-obsessed culture to one that desired space and breath. So, while moving through the constructs of Father Time, I decided to also prioritize levity with Mama Earth and step into the feminine embodiment of creativity and nurturing ideas to fruition. While this could be chalked up to just the typical rebellious nature of youth, I’m not alone in believing that we are generating radical shifts in the world. While every generation has its crises, ours and future generations are facing higher stakes.

***

Through the Ubuntu Climate Initiative, young people are catalyzing cultural shifts and fostering solidarity in the fight against climate change. Our stories, actions, and creativity are illuminating a path forward—a path that centers on the power of community, deep listening, and embracing our interconnectedness. As with mycelium in nature, the diversity we bring to our environment ultimately harmonizes us as a collective.

Cultural reparations are critical for living in a restorative and balanced future. Youth climate activists are embodying the way. We understand that we can no longer view nature as a means to an end. Our natural resources must be revered as sacred—a part of us and a part of all. Our world exists in a delicate balance, and Mama Earth will restore balance by any means necessary. We must work together with awareness and love to create a new song that will tell our story of adaptation, transformation, and how we righted our relationship with Mama Earth to the generations that follow.

Notes

1. See Ubuntu Climate Initiative, playlists page, YouTube, accessed September 5, 2024, youtube.com/@UbuntuClimateInitiative/playlists.
2. Jendaiya Hill, “Right to Thrive (Inseparable Oneness),” Ubuntu Climate Initiative, YouTube video, 9 , 47 sec., May 12, 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v.
3. Marielle O’Neill, “Ubuntu as Folding Art,” Ubuntu Climate Initiative, May 12, 2024, YouTube Video, 5:35, youtu.be/4BJx6cobqpk?si=ukoTlzfBy88B-h2J.
4. Tiaret Aryanna Renee Mitchell, “Oness,” Ubuntu Climate Initiative, YouTube video, 5 , 33 sec., May 12, 2024, youtu.be/Ea6DrYTeEyo?si=L2O1sKPwy3UF7vX7.
5. Jai Bazawule, “Bring Back Ubuntu,” Ubuntu Climate Initiative, YouTube video, 43 , May 10, 2024, youtu.be/GI-f3Qupr64?si=5GM4yxPuJYK1hTBD.
6. Gabriela Garcia, “I Am Because We Are Community,” Ubuntu Climate Initiative, YouTube video, 1 , 55 sec., May 12, 2024, youtu.be/wNuxtJBa7os?si=Fq5_pUrUM3-n8xL2.
7. Norah Dunlap, “Painting Ubuntu,” Ubuntu Climate Initiative, YouTube video, 2 , 59 sec., May 12, 2024, youtu.be/OUE4l7Y8ook?si=CRSz3E6VHTdlu0JP.
8. Chloe Rockmore and Jordyn Hanes, “Ubuntu as Dance,” Ubuntu Climate Initiative, YouTube video, 2 , 18 sec., May 12, 2024, youtu.be/YRABOdvN1uo?si=tw0laIRjFOMDxYAz.
9. Bobby Baker, “Ubuntu—The Spirit of Milwaukee,” Ubuntu Climate Initiative, YouTube video, 1 , 29 sec., May 10, 2024, youtu.be/Mv02BJDGddU?si=qBOzXu5cIQVui1Lk.
10. Anbiya Oshun Smith, “Answering the Call: Stories and Creations Inspired by Mama Nature,” YouTube video, 7 min., 37 sec., May 10, 2024, youtube.com/watch?v=n-6pqhXEy2o.
11. Author interview with Anbiya Oshun Smith, May 31, 2024.
12. Ibid.
13. Author interview with Tiaret Aryanna Renee Mitchell, June 14, 2024.
14. Ibid.
15. Author interview with Jendaiya Hill, June 12, 2024.
16. Author interview with Mitchell.
17. Ibid.
18. Author interview with Hill.
19. Ibid.
20. Author interview with Smith.
21. Ibid.
22. See, for example, Jessica Silber-Byrne, “The Commons: More than just resources,” School for Environment and Sustainability, February 5, 2024, umich.edu/news/commons-more-just-resources.
23. Author interview with Bobby Baker, June 6, 2024.
24. Ibid.
25. Author interview with Smith.
26. Author interview with Mitchell.
27. Ibid.