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New From the Native Resilience project
Holding the World in balance
This anthology of stories, poetry, and creative works was produced by students, authors and storytellers who participated in the Native Resilience and All Climate is Local projects between 2022 and 2026. Together, these works offer powerful reflections on climate, community, responsibility, and the enduring value of Indigenous knowledge and lifeways.
Ebook Coming Soon
This book will be available as an open-access ebook on the PressBooks website during summer 2026. Printed physical copies will be available during early fall 2026. To be notified when the ebook or printed editions are available, sign up for email updates below.
Cover photo by tylee nez
Full Description
Climate change is happening all around the world, but the way we experience it is different from place to place and culture to culture. For Indigenous peoples whose lands, sovereignty, cultures, and traditions are deeply interconnected with the environment, some of these changes—things like increased temperatures, droughts, floods, heatwaves, and wildfires—are particularly impactful. Yet Tribal Nations are not only experiencing these impacts, they are also exercising leadership in climate action, governance, and adaptation.
Stories about what climate change looks like in real life and how we might adapt and respond help us understand how the world is changing, why these changes matter, and how we can all be better caretakers of the places where we live. Holding the World in Balance, Indigenous stories of climate, care and continuance, is an anthology of stories, poetry, and creative works produced by students, authors and storytellers who participated in the Native Resilience and All Climate is Local projects between 2022 and 2026. Together, these works offer powerful reflections on climate, community, responsibility, and the enduring value of Indigenous knowledge and lifeways.
This book features writing and artwork from Robin Smuda, Gina McGuire, Shecota Nez, Mary Cathleen “Cathy” Wilson, Andra Hawk-Valdez, tylee nez, Derek Gonzalez, and Cherish Grassrope. Foreword by Michael Durglo Jr; edited by Mary Cathleen Wilson and Kelsey Fitzgerald.
“Indigenous peoples have something powerful to offer this moment — not because our knowledge is new, but because it is old, tested, and still alive. Our stories remind the world that resilience is not only the ability to endure. Resilience is the ability to return to relationship. It is the ability to carry teachings forward. It is the ability to protect what is sacred while adapting to what is changing. It is the ability to act with love for those who are not yet born.”
- Michael Durglo Jr, Foreword
Contact
For more information about this publication, please contact Native Resilience Communication Coordinator Kelsey Fitzgerald, kelsey.fitzgerald@dri.edu.