It is not every day that you get to meet a lifelong hero. My heart skipped a beat when I had the opportunity to spend time with Siila Watt-Cloutier at a Women in Climate leadership retreat in July.
Siila is a world-renowned advocate for the Inuit and the Arctic. Her political career started in the mid-90s when she was the Canadian president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), which represents the interests of Inuit in Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. When in this position, she played a critical role in the negotiation of the Stockholm Convention, which banned persistent organic pollutants, including DDT. Siila’s communication skills were key to this success. She effectively made the case that these toxic chemicals were accumulating in marine mammals and in the bodies of Inuit people who rely on those mammals, making it impossible for women to safely breastfeed their babies.
It was in the early 2000s when I became familiar with Siila. At that time, she was the International Chair of the ICC. I was vice president of communications at Earthjustice.I clearly remember the day Martin Wagner, director of international law at Earthjustice, told me he had found a client for an international human rights petition on climate change—a case he had been envisioning with colleagues from the Center for International Environmental Law.
That client was Siila.
The communications team was excited to be working on a case that was making the connection between climate change and people. In the 2000s, the polar bear was the symbol of climate change. The narrative centred on an issue occurring far away that was affecting wildlife, not humans. The international human rights petition to the United Nations was successful and set a precedent that is still having an impact today. Consider the more than 2,700 legal challenges related to climate change, the young people in the United States, Canada, and other countries who have taken their governments to court for violating their right to a future. Most recently, the International Court of Justice delivered its first ruling on climate change, making clear it is an issue of human rights and that fossil fuels are at the root of the problem.
Little did we know at the time that The Right to Be Cold would not only represent a successful legal strategy but also generate a shift in the very way people viewed the issue of climate change and their place in it. The Right to Be Cold changed the narrative along with public opinion. There is still a long way to go to get people on board with action, but consider that now most people around the world are aware of climate change and its impact on us.
So where do we go from here? Fortunately, Siila recently launched a new podcast series, A Radical Act of Hope, where she shares insights from her journey through life, politics, and advocacy. Her wisdom seems to be just what the world needs, once again.
I was immediately hooked and binge-listened to the four episodes. There are many great takeaways for climate communicators. Below are some highlights, but I recommend diving into the podcast so you can hear directly from Siila and other Indigenous women she brings into the conversation.
Recommendations for Climate Communicators
It’s all about connection and interconnections.
Climate change is complex. It touches on every aspect of life. Part of why it gets ignored is that in the current media and social media environment, the focus is often on simple causation. Immigration is often positioned as the problem, rather than unsustainable and unjust global policies and markets. Elevating the connections we have to one another and to places we care about is key in climate communications.
Communicate from the heart.
It is hard to ignore the voices of people impacted by climate change. Unfortunately, climate impacts are worsening and affecting everyone. Stories of struggles and resilience, how we feel about the challenge, our efforts to overcome it, and what brings us hope: These are all important ingredients needed to motivate action.
Take people on a journey.
From toxic chemicals to climate change, Siila brings people with her. She shows us her world, what is shifting, and why it matters. She also doesn’t shy away from talking about the tough stuff. It is part of her story because it illustrates that hope and authenticity are qualities you cultivate through your daily actions.
Take time to build trust.
Given negative experiences between the Inuit and environmental groups in the past, Siila didn’t immediately say “yes” to being the client for the human rights petition. She invited the lawyers to her home so they could spend time getting to know one another and the Arctic. She took the idea to the ICC, but when it gained no traction, Siila collaborated with two students to share the idea across the region, eventually gathering 62 people to join her on the petition. Genuine relationship building is core to Siila and her impact.
Listen to Indigenous knowledge.
There is so much to learn from Siila and other Indigenous knowledge keepers regarding hope, strength, survival, and resilience. At a time when the world feels upside down, from climate change to conflicts, A Radical Act of Hope offers a fresh perspective on navigating chaos by drawing from wisdom gathered since time immemorial.
Cara Pike is Re.Climate’s Senior Advisor and the founder and executive director of Climate Access, a non-profit focused on building political and public support for climate action. Cara is a pioneer and leading thinker in climate communications. She regularly advises government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
