Mother Earth Is Our Elder: A Northern Indigenous Perspective on the Climate Crisis

by Katłı̨̀à

A Globe and Mail Bestseller

Award-winning Dene activist and writer Katłı̨̀ą teaches us Indigenous ways to protect and learn from Mother Earth.

The Dene in Canada’s Northwest Territories have lived alongside nature for many generations. From battling environmental racism on the front lines of historical environmental protests to living a balanced life through effective individual and collective governance, the Dene have long protected Mother Earth from destruction through their intricate knowledge systems, natural laws, and age-old principles.

Now more than ever, institutions and citizens alike are seeking out and relying on the resilience of Indigenous knowledge systems to help solve the climate crisis. This book brings together a diverse group of Dene Elders and knowledge carriers on the subject of climate change to answer the calls for help. Adhering proudly to these responsibilities and values, Katłı̨̀ą writes a Dene manifesto fit to address the state of emergency we’re in.

With evidence of how this all works for the Dene people, we see how it might work for us all. This generous, pragmatic, and hopeful book shows us how to find coexistence with Mother Earth and embrace the wisdom of our local Indigenous communities.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Native American, Canada, Audiobook, Adult

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2026

About the author

Katłı̨̀à (Catherine Lafferty) is a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in Somba K'e (Yellowknife), Northwest Territories, Canada. She is a storyteller and Indigenous rights activist. Katłı̨̀à's debut memoir, Northern Wildflower, was a top-selling book in the Northwest Territories and her subsequent novels Land-Water-Sky / Ndè-Ti-Yat'a, This House Is Not a Home and Firekeeper all won a NorthWords NWT book of the year awards.

Reviews

[Katie Perkins]

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook!
There were a lot of things that I liked about this book, but ultimately some of it didn't hit quite right for me. I think Lafferty does a great job with narrating it, and I love to hear an author read their own audiobook. The book as a whole felt a bit disconnected--I liked all of the pieces and stories individually, but it was hard sometimes to see the connections between different parts. I do think the messaging of the book is important, but I'm not sure it fully lives up to what it was trying to do

[Ella]

My library book was overdue!!! I will finish this when I get it back!!!!

[Selina Young]

While this book didn’t offer the hope I was looking for, it did emphasize what I’ve spent years thinking about- Indigenous ways of knowing and being are needed for human survival on Mother Earth.

Really liked the authors narration, stories and teachings shared in this book. The focus on community, land and animal relatives from a Dene perspective is important.

Loved thinking about abolishing money - can you imagine? I wish there were more IPCA’s.

I’m grateful Elders, community members and this author trusted us enough to share this book. Received with gratitude. Nanâskomôwin

[Jean-Pierre Mottl]

The book has some interesting perspectives and tells of many aspects of indigenous life in the north affected by climate change. But otherwise I felt the blame was just dished out on a racial basis (white people, men). I’m sure a lot of (white) people also affected by the climate and who had never profited or have any responsibility for the situation would not agree. But that’s why racial explanations are always too easy.

[Jenn Yee]

4.5

[Lisa]

This is a climate change must read from an Indigenous (specifically Dene) perspective, geographically focused on the North of Canada (though applicable broadly everywhere). The author writes truthfully, honestly, and in an incredibly accessible way, making this both interesting and inspiring. Information is presented as various personal stories and teachings from a variety of elders, Indigenous community members, and the author herself. The messaging is clear and important, and we all need to read and listen and act before it's too late. I appreciated listening to the audiobook, narrated by the author, for the expert pronounciations, and I felt listening to the author added a meaningful personal connection to the information and stories. I highly recommend this to everyone!

Thank you to Libro.fm and McClelland & Stewart for the Audiobook Listening Copy.

[Kim Senécal]

A book that offers hope through the biocentric philosophy, wisdom, and resilience of the Dene—but that is also heartbreaking, as their voices continue to be ignored when they should be guiding us. “When discussing caribou in meetings, Elders have been known to save a seat for them—so that they have a voice at the table, too.” The day we all embrace this mindset, the world will be a much better place.

[JXR]

The environmental discussion aspects are interesting and insightful. sometimes it strays away to loosely connected topics later on, though, and those topics don't quite work. 4 stars. tysm for the E-ARC.

[Lottie C]

5⭐️

Fully agree with the arguments made in this book. The only way we will survive the climate crisis is by using tried and tested methods—one’s that Indigenous people the world over have used for tens of thousands for years.

[Valerie]

DNF about 50% of the way through

[Christine Babic]

Excellent book. At times hard to listen and a little frightening but I suppose that’s the point.