Environmentalist and activist Winona LaDuke offered her words of wisdom to an eager crowd in Freeman Auditorium on Tuesday night. Using her varied career, education and personal experiences, she discussed topics such as climate change, politics and sustainability.

As part of the Student Programming Association’s Distinguished Speaker Series, the free lecture invited any curious student or faculty member to listen to her speak.


As a native Ojibwe woman living on their reservation in Minnesota, LaDuke became heavily involved in protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016. She also ran for Vice President in 1996 and 2000 with fellow activist Ralph Nader. This blend of experiences and roles has shaped her role in activism and given her knowledge of both local and national government.

LaDuke recounted her own college education to relate to the crowd of young students. Even as an environmentalist and activist, her economics education still shapes her beliefs. She discussed the importance of growing a local economy that best suits the environment and its inhabitants.

She began her lecture by discussing two possible paths the nation could take in combatting climate change: the scorched path and the green path. While the scorched path is more tread, it leads to more destruction. The green path is less traveled, but leads to a cleaner and greener future.


She asked the crowd to think about what their hometowns might look like in fifty years. She then explained how a series of choices will determine the answer. She used realistic and specific examples of how climate change continues to harm the nation and how it must change. Her authentic and approachable candor made her presentation easy to follow, even for those unfamiliar with the topic.

“We need [environmental] solutions that work for America,” she explained in her lecture. While she gave an honest portrayal of climate change, she was still optimistic for the “new economy.”

With a very hands-on and concrete approach to environmentalism, she shared how the country must change to combat and survive climate change. She outlined change that must occur on national, regional and local levels.

“Figure out what you buy and where you buy it from,” She offered in advice for students. As a hemp farmer, LaDuke said that the country must rework their textile industry in local economies. For students, questioning the carbon footprint of their favorite clothing brands is imperative. She offered the same advice for food; obtaining food from local sources is both healthier and better for the environment.

Her experiences in her own fuel-deprived community led her to consider sustainable energy sources. She showed solar panels installed in her community that were cheaper to operate and more sustainable than traditional heating systems.

Her talk instilled the belief that no person is too small or unimportant to treat the Earth with respect. “Everyone has a gift,” she told the crowd. As students, they must use this gift wisely.

“We’ve violated our covenant with nature,” she concluded. Her talk reminded students to question what they learn, be an active community member and gain an understanding of the corporations they support.

Image courtesy of Honor the Earth