Although for a great many people, the human impact on the Earth—countless species becoming extinct, pandemics claiming millions of lives, and climate crisis causing worldwide social and environmental upheaval—was not apparent until recently, this is not the case for all people or cultures. For the Indigenous people of the world, radical alteration of the planet, and of life itself, is a story that is many generations long. They have had to adapt, to persevere, and to be courageous and resourceful in the face of genocide and destruction—and their experience has given them a unique understanding of civilizational devastation.

An innovative work of research and reportage, We Are the Middle of Forever places Indigenous voices at the center of conversations about today’s environmental crisis. The book draws on interviews with people from different North American Indigenous cultures and communities, generations, and geographic regions, who share their knowledge and experience, their questions, their observations, and their dreams of maintaining the best relationship possible to all of life. A welcome antidote to the despair arising from the climate crisis, We Are the Middle of Forever brings to the forefront the perspectives of those who have long been attuned to climate change and will be an indispensable aid to those looking for new and different ideas and responses to the challenges we face.

“These testimonies are exact, explicit, essential, clearly from the heart, articulate in their ways. When we finish reading and incorporating each word, we will know how to live. The path we are each called to walk will be clear.”    —Deena Metzger, author of A Rain of Night Birds

“This book proves what many already know to be true, but which many more need to hear: Indigenous people are the heroes of the climate justice movement. The contributors to We Are the Middle of Forever ask us to join them in a march towards a future that has been prophesized—a glittering future of abundance, cooperation, and peace. Whether or not we follow their vision will determine the fate of all.”  —Melanie Yazzie, co-author of The Red Deal: Indigenous Action to Save Our Earth

Affiliations: The book includes interviews with people from a wide range of Nations, all of whom have agreed to take part in events to help promote the book. As a teacher, writer, activist, and speaker of Cherokee descent, Rushworth is well versed in speaking and working with Native Americans across myriad venues. Well established in the media, Jamail will facilitate establishing television interviews on BBC News Night, Al Jazeera English programs, NPR, Democracy Now!, and others.

Unique Perspective: Books about climate change abound, but none from the perspective of a cross-section of Native Americans speaking to the crisis from their own unique perspectives, as well as including voices from the past who were warning of this very crisis half a century ago.

Paperbound Book, 385 Pages.