Mother earth kinship: Centering indigenous worldviews to address the Anthropocene and rethink the ethics of human-to-nature connectedness

Abstract

European-derived perspectives that position humanity as having dominion over Nature drive ecological crises and erode interrelatedness between human communities and natural ecosystems. In contrast, Indigenous worldviews recognize kincentric ecology, emphasizing reciprocal relationships between people and the Natural World. By centering these worldviews, we illuminate gaps in scientific literature on understanding, measuring, and cultivating nature connectedness that are central to Indigenous embodied understanding and practice. We then propose an ethical framework for respective collaborative exchange, grounded in relational accountability, that acknowledges the rights and responsibilities inherent in human relationships with land. By rethinking the ethics of human-to-nature relationships, we highlight how Indigenous Knowledges offer critical guidance to address the Anthropocene and foster sustainable, reciprocal ways of living with the Earth.