A Journey Through Poetry & Renewal
We are often reminded how chaotic life can be. It’s easy to feel disconnected from our natural world — a world full of daily routines, the pressures of work and other distractions that allow us to feel distant from the Earth beneath our feet. Reconnecting with the land is like rediscovering links that connect us to our Mother Earth — not just physically but emotionally and spiritually.
Through this rootedness, we find strength — a strength that reminds us that we are capable of more than we think. Our ancestors and knowledge keepers provide the wisdom needed to carry us through, ensuring that future generations stay connected to the land, to each other, and to the spirit of resilience that has been passed down.
In quiet moments, poetry has a way of capturing everything that needs to be expressed. In these delicate pauses, we find the most suitable language as an invitation to take a step back, breathe and feel our feelings.
Courtney Wynne invites us on a journey back to Mother Nature, where roots run deep and reconnect with the timeless rhythms of the natural world by reconnecting , resulting in a sense of renewal. The following poems are gentle reminders that we are part of the Earth’s endless cycle and in tune with the world around us.
Permission
Courtney Wynne
There was a time that I thought I knew, Knew how to reconnect with nature Sating all those blue berrier Gathering that birchbark, Howah she’s real traditional
Lay down by tobacco.
Action,
No thought,
Thoughtless action,
Give before you take.
Take from who?
Creator?
Yes?
No.
Taking from creation, Creation with a spirit. A being.
Permission asked?
No.
I walked into their home,
Took from them.
My relatives, My family,
Please forgive me?
I'm trying to remember my way back home.
I asked Nature for permission to walk their lands, And the Trees swayed, Inviting me to dance
I asked Nature for permission to join their community, And the Birds chirped, Cheerfully greeting me
I asked Nature for permission to enjoy their presence, And the Winds carried Mother Earth's white blanket twirling in the air, Telling me to come play
I asked Nature for permission to accompany them, And the Waters remained calm, Saying "Let us be peaceful together"
I asked Nature to help me remember my way back home, And the Rocks echoed the laughter of children and voices of the ancestors, Guiding me with stories of our original instructions
I asked Nature permission to come back home, They opened their arms and embraced me,
The setting Sun shining through the Trees whispered "You're just in time"
Credit: Katie Tebiscon
Meghan Young | ICA Youth Zine Vol. 1
“Our identities as Indigenous peoples are inextricably tied to the lands, waters, and ecosystems we come from. As the climate crisis continues to worsen, our communities are experiencing increasingly dramatic changes that disrupt our life ways and our rights. ”
We Will Always Be Here
Judy Devine | ICA Youth Zine Vol. 2
On this night, in early summer of May,
approaching my Birthday, we left to travel
hours back home after a long, loving,
Welcoming day under the canopy filled of
other Onkwehonwe
this was medicine, this was ceremony, this
was resiliency, this was sovereignty, this
was holding space with our rightful
ancestral arts by handpokes at a time.
For that I am thankful.
& Grandmother Moon saw it through
Together, the children planted seeds of hope, tended to the earth with care, and sang songs of gratitude to the elements. “Nature is our home; we must protect it.”
Adalia Niebergall, Excerpt from ICA Youth Zine Vol. 2
Back to Being
Courtney Wynne
i want to go back
Back to being
With the purpose of life to be alive
May the grass be your arms I want to feel your embrace
Hands and feet, Deep in the Earth let them be the roots connecting us all
Fresh air from the four winds,
Is the scent I want to wear
Oceans and lakes,
Be what cleanse me inside and out
The trunk of a tree,
You're always there to support me
Rock and flower,
Your free spirits are what I desire
Let humility Be the medicine that heal
Back to being
Art is a Tool of Change
ICA’s Youth Leaders Zine is a publication for Indigenous youth to amplify their voices, stories and perspectives regarding climate change and environmental justice. It serves as a platform to share experiences, knowledge and solutions to the climate crisis. It features articles, poetry, and other content that reflects the intersection of climate change with Indigenous rights, culture and traditional ecological knowledge.
Ready to check out more inspiring work from Indigenous youth? Click the cover images to dive into these three zines!
Join Us in Making an Impact
From World Water Day to Earth Day, we are hosting a campaign that reconnects us to our grassroots with Mother Nature, as well as our tradition, culture and knowledge.
Through this campaign, our goal is to grow that same connection, using different forms of art and inspiration from nature for a deeper appreciation for the Earth. As we continue to share and celebrate the love we have for the lands, waters and people, we must remember to take a step back and feel the profound bond that we share with the planet and keep inspiring others that as the caretakers of the lands, we must continue to work together. Not against each other.
Together, we can ensure that resources flow where they are needed most, empowering Indigenous leadership and community-led solutions.
Donate Today: Your contribution directly funds Indigenous-led climate justice initiatives. Every dollar is an act of solidarity – a commitment to protecting what is sacred.
Spread the Word: Share this campaign with your networks. Raise awareness about the urgent need to protect our waters.
Stay Engaged: Follow Indigenous-led organizations and activists. Support policies that protect water and Indigenous land rights.
From World Water Day to Earth Day, let’s do more than acknowledge the problem: let’s act. Together, we can ensure that resources flow where they are needed most, empowering Indigenous leadership and community-led solutions.
Shout out to all supporters! Every dollar you donate directly funds Indigenous-led initiatives, and Patagonia is matching donations for this campaign. The more we give, the closer we get to reaching our goal! Let’s do this!
Join us. Take a stand. Donate today. When we protect the waters, we protect our future.
