Reindeer grazing in a snowy field

Wayfinders Circle

A circle of global Indigenous leaders committed to Earth

What we know

80%

of the world's biodiversity occurs on Indigenous held territories

25%

of the Earth surface is managed by Indigenous Peoples

5%

A new way to relate to each other and to Earth

Why it's important

Through a joint effort between the Pawanka Fund, the Council of Spiritual Elders, and Nia Tero, the Wayfinders Circle was launched as a network dedicated to unleashing the transformative potential of Indigenous lifeways, inspiring all people to reimagine development, conservation, and the way they relate to each other and to Mother Earth.

The Wayfinders Circle is a global network dedicated to unleashing the transformative potential of Indigenous lifeways, inspiring all people to reimagine development, conservation, and the way they relate to each other and to Mother Earth.

Wayfinding has been a way of life shared by the vast majority of Indigenous Peoples. Today, in a time of unprecedented global change, these wayfinding skills and practices are more important than ever. Reciprocal relations with community, deep connection with Mother Earth, and guardianship of traditional lands and waters are forms of ancestral knowledge that are transmitted from one generation to the next. This wayfinding wisdom is a key to survival as well as resilience as we struggle to maintain Indigenous Peoples’ identity and self-determination.