Alnoor Ladha defines 'native people' as the original inhabitants of a geographical region who have evolved with, and are intrinsically connected to, their ancestral lands over millennia. He emphasizes that native people possess a deep spiritual and symbiotic relationship with their environment, cultivating a profound knowledge of local ecosystems, medicinal practices, and sustainable living derived from centuries of direct experience. For Ladha, recognizing and respecting the wisdom of native people is crucial for fostering ecological stewardship and social justice, as their ways of life often embody principles of interdependence, reciprocity, and balance with the natural world. He argues that native communities are not relics of the past but dynamic societies with vital contributions to contemporary global challenges, especially in the face of climate change and environmental degradation.

See also: indigenous peoples, first nations, social change, mother earth, natural world