Indigenous Wisdom: Webcams and videos

By Nina Tyler, part of the January 20, 2025 project to highlight the vital connection between indigenous peoples and environmental solutions, showcasing various initiatives, organizations, and leaders advocating for sustainable practices rooted in traditional knowledge.

The earth is our greatest teacher, its rhythms and cycles a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things. 

 

as i walk through the forest, i feel the pulse of life beneath my feet, a heartbeat that echoes my own. we modern humans have lost touch with this primal wisdom, spending too much time staring at screens and not enough listening to the whispers of nature. but when we quiet our minds and tune into the earth's frequencies, something magical happens. we begin to see ourselves not as separate individuals but as part of a vast web of life. every rock, every stream, every tree becomes a mirror reflecting back our own inherent worth and connectedness. this realization can be both humbling and empowering. it reminds us that everything we do has consequences - for ourselves, for future generations, for all living beings - which can be daunting in today's fast-paced world where instant gratification often takes precedence over long-term sustainability. yet it also gives us hope because if each one of us is capable of affecting change in some way - whether through personal choices or collective action - then together we have incredible power to shape a better future. so let's choose to listen more deeply to nature's wisdom in these turbulent times... let her rhythms guide us towards harmony with herself and within ourselves.

 Resources

Webcams and recorded videos offer views of natural areas that may be of interest to or connected with indigenous communities. Here are a few examples:

2. Algonquin Park Cam in Whitney, Canada: This webcam provides views of a park that has historical and cultural significance for indigenous peoples of the area[2].

3. Waikoloa Village in Hawaii: indigenous areas with rich Native Hawaiian heritage[3].

4. Saipan Beach Cam in the Northern Mariana Islands: This recording offers insights into traditional practices and views of an area with Chamorro and Carolinian indigenous populations[4].

5. Red Rock Cam in Sedona, Arizona: While not explicitly an indigenous area, Sedona has significant cultural importance to several Native American tribes[5].

7. At Kakadu in Australia, Aboriginal leaders stopped uranium mining and protected a World Heritage Site[7].

9. Devils Tower in Wyoming, Lakota leaders developed a plan to discourage climbing[9]. 

10. Native Hawaiians stopped U.S. Navy bombardment of sacred Kaho‘olawe island after 50 years, and are now restoring it spiritually and ecologically as a cultural refuge[10]. (Recorded video)

11. Mauna Kea, Big Island, Hawaii, also known as Mauna O Wakea, or Mountain of the Sky Father, Mauna Kea, the White Mountain is an important cultural site for Hawaiians, symbolic of the umbilical cord of Hawaiʻi, connecting the land to the heavens, where gods dwell. Mauna Kea is home to many native species, including the Mauna Kea Silversword and the Palila. It is also home to many telescopes that have helped astronomers understand the universe, which has led to conflict between the needs of astronomers and the cultural significance of the mountain[11]. 

12. Oak Flat. Sacred to Western Apache and other Indigenous people, the beautiful lands of Oak Flat,  Arizona are also home to species like ocelots and endangered Arizona hedgehog cacti. It is also a disputed area, due to a multinational mining conglomerate. The US Supreme Court is due to review the court case[12].

13. The Amazon rainforest is often called the lungs of the planet because it absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen. The Sacred Headwaters region in Ecuador and Peru is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. It's home to over 500,000 Indigenous people from more than 20 nationalities[13]. (Interactive recorded video)

14. Mt. Shasta in California. The Winnemem are fighting a U.S. government plan to raise the height of nearby Shasta Dam, a threat to the river, sacred tribal lands, and salmon[14].

15.  The Ukok Plateau, located in the Altai Republic of Russia, is a sacred site where shaman Maria Amanchina actively campaigns to safeguard the land from development, particularly against plans for a gas pipeline that could damage the region's fragile ecosystem and important cultural heritage; this area is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique natural beauty and ancient burial mounds[15]. 

16.  In Papua New Guinea, mine runoff and chemicals are now polluting the sacred Ramu River[16].

17.  In the tar sands region of Alberta, Canada, polluted water results deformed fish and lethal cancers in indigenous communities[17].

18. The Gudangi, along the McArthur River in Australia’s Northern Territory were disrupted when a huge zinc deposit was discovered, but Aboriginal leaders are battling for the river[18].

It's important to note that many indigenous lands are not publicly showcased through webcams, often to protect privacy and sacred sites. However, some indigenous communities are using technology like drones and cameras for land management and protection. For example, the A'i Cofán in Ecuador use drones and trap cameras to monitor their territory in the Amazon rain forest[1].


Citations:
[1] https://amazonfrontlines.org/chronicles/surveillance-tech-helps-indigenous-groups-protect-the-amazon/
[2] https://www.earthcam.com/search/ft_search.php?term=Algonquin+Park+Cam+in+Whitney%252C+Canada
[3] https://youtu.be/2-e9AOc4Co4?si=K_RZOJtcXgVQkhg0 (Recorded video)
[4] https://youtu.be/pOX79qTsKKg?si=EU0NdJpdbDpshK0g (Recorded video)
[5] https://www.earthcam.com/search/ft_search.php?term=sedona
[6] https://www.earthcam.com
[7] https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/webcams/kakadu-national-park_australia_8155759
[8] https://explore.org/livecams
[9] https://www.nps.gov/media/webcam/view.htm?id=353840EE-9D49-67A6-C3D2292B5251E4DD
[10] https://youtu.be/r3WVHbPuCDs?si=XvRU0dqs7GD4LiRK (Recorded video)
[11] https://www.usgs.gov/media/webcams/mk2cam-mauna-loas-summit-and-northeast-rift-zone-mauna-kea
[12] https://youtu.be/Zh68xOn0B_8?si=ls4u3OmjPbxC5xwN (Recorded video)
[13] https://www.conservation.org/stories/virtual-reality/amazon-under-the-canopy (Interactive recorded video)
[14] https://youtu.be/kNP-xTMXJ3M?si=NvQ5Lc_ybSkQCX6f (Recorded video)
[15] https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/768/
[16] https://youtu.be/nsBbcqdtRq0?si=i62FxlzyOaTdpF6z (Recorded video)
[17] https://youtu.be/GRuV6eOqp6Q?si=Cnlyj1Z4CBjrgxYD (Recorded video)
[18] https://youtu.be/nWqn2SgaMcg?si=bw5Y4QH1RUmCQFUR (Recorded video)

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nina tyler is a singer-songwriter and spiritual seeker who's been on a winding path from punk rock to mindfulness. she's passionate about exploring the intersections of nature, activism, and personal growth.