This week on STPT, Danielle Holland is joined by Inuit leader and activist and one of the world’s most recognized environmental, climate change and human rights advocate, Siila Watt-Cloutier (she/her). Watt-Cloutier was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy work in showing the impact global climate change has on human rights and is author of The Right to Be Cold: One Woman's Story of Protecting Her Culture, the Arctic, and the Whole Planet.   

Siila Watt-Cloutier sums up her work by saying: “I do nothing more than remind the world that the Arctic is not a barren land devoid of life but a rich and majestic land that has supported our resilient culture for millennia.  Even though small in number and living far from the corridors of power, it appears that the wisdom of the land strikes a universal chord on a planet where many are searching for sustainability.” 

Siila and Danielle dive into conversation, addressing the context of historical trauma in relation to residential schools, finding imaginative solutions within Indigenous culture and knowledge, and the intertwined connection of human and planet trauma. Take pause this week. Rest and listen to the creative wisdom and inspired leadership of Siila Watt-Cloutier. 

Climate change is a human rights issue, and the Revolution begins with personal transformation. At the speed of empathy. At the speed of trust.

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Watt-Cloutier is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and the recipient of the Aboriginal Achievement Award, the UN Champion of the Earth Award, the Norwegian Sophie Prize, the Jack P. Blaney award for Dialogue, and the Right Livelihood Award. Watt-Cloutier gave a TEDx Talk in 2016 titled “Human Trauma and Climate Trauma as One." Siila Watt-Cloutier works tirelessly on transforming public opinion into public policy. Experienced in working with global decision-makers, Watt-Cloutier offers a new model for 21st century leadership. She speaks with passion and urgency on the issues of today — the environment, the economy, foreign policy, global health, and sustainability — not as separate concerns, but as a deeply interconnected whole. At a time when people are seeking solutions, direction, and a sense of hope, this global leader provides a big picture of where we are and where we’re headed.