Aligning visions for global change

Lyla June is an Indigenous musician, scholar, and community organiser of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences across the globe towards personal, collective, and ecological healing. We were privileged to have heard her speak on a live stream at the Peace & Justice conference this year.

28.07.2024 | By Lyndsay Jensen | Pictures: Lyla June’s website

Lyla June is an Indigenous musician, scholar, and community organiser of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences across the globe towards personal, collective, and ecological healing. We were privileged to have heard her speak on a live stream at the Peace & Justice conference this year at our partner school, DNS Tvind. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford, graduate work in Indigenous Pedagogy, and the traditional worldview she grew up with to inform her music, perspectives and solutions. She recently finished her PhD on the ways in which pre-colonial Indigenous Nations shaped large regions of Turtle Island (aka the Americas) to produce abundant food systems for humans and non-humans.

Her research highlights the severe consequences of colonialism, which include not only the loss of land but also the erosion of cultural practices and community cohesion. June emphasises how colonial structures have imposed systems that undermine indigenous knowledge and values, leading to widespread disenfranchisement.

A key aspect of June’s work is her exploration of the intrinsic connections between indigenous peoples and their lands. She advocates for a revival of traditional ecological knowledge, arguing that such wisdom offers crucial insights into sustainable living and environmental management. By reconnecting with these age-old practices, indigenous communities can both reclaim their cultural heritage and address modern environmental challenges.

June’s activism extends beyond academia. She actively engages in efforts to promote Indigenous rights and environmental justice, working to integrate Indigenous perspectives into broader discussions about land management and policy-making. Her work focuses on the importance of recognising and valuing Indigenous contributions to understanding and addressing colonialism’s impacts.

Through her multifaceted approach, Layla June not only honours her heritage but also inspires a broader dialogue about the need for systemic change. Her contributions highlight how deeply intertwined cultural, environmental, and social issues are and how addressing these interconnected challenges can lead to a more equitable and sustainable future.

We are deeply impressed with Lyla June’s narratives that resonate with our own values of the interconnectedness between social justice and environmental awareness. The programmes we run support our students to engage themselves in supporting communities and to participate in grassroots activism, applying what they have learned in real-world contexts to contribute to positive change. Lyla June’s work on reviving traditional ecological knowledge aligns closely with our emphasis on environmental stewardship and sustainability, in particular, our made-for-purpose Nature Now programme.