Exploring the Lived Meaning of Ecological Stewardship among Indigenous Communities in a Climate-Affected Region of the Arctic Boreal Forest
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Abstract
Environmental sustainability remains a critical area of research, with Indigenous ecological knowledge increasingly recognized for its unique contributions to long-term ecosystem balance. However, limited attention has been given to the lived, spiritual, and cultural experiences that shape how Indigenous communities practice environmental stewardship. Despite numerous studies documenting Indigenous conservation practices, little is known about how these communities experience and assign meaning to their ecological roles, leading to the central research question: How do Indigenous people perceive and live their responsibility in maintaining ecological balance? This study uses a descriptive phenomenological approach to explore how Indigenous individuals experience their connection to the environment through traditional practices. The analysis reveals that environmental stewardship is experienced as a sacred and ancestral responsibility, characterized by reciprocal relationships with nature and embodied acts of cultural resistance. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 Indigenous participants selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was conducted using eidetic reduction to extract the essential meanings of participants’ narratives. Four major themes emerged: ancestral eco-spiritual awareness, embodied ecological resistance, rhythms of reciprocity, and identity negotiation amid environmental change. These themes underscore how ecological care is not merely a set of behaviors but a meaningful life practice grounded in spiritual and cultural continuity. The findings offer deeper insight into Indigenous environmental engagement and call for sustainability policies that are rooted in cultural and spiritual frameworks. Future research may benefit from expanding phenomenological inquiries across diverse Indigenous communities to further explore the intersection of spirituality, identity, and ecological resilience.
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