Indigenous Wisdom Weaving with Bodhi Patil, Ocean-Climate Solutionist

Welcome back to Planet & Purpose—a bi-weekly LinkedIn Newsletter featuring professional insights and personal experiences from ocean and climate ecopreneurs, investors, and advocates by Daniela V. Fernandez , Founder & CEO of Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA).?

According to an article published in MDPI , Indigenous people represent 5% of the world’s population but, per the United Nations , they actively safeguard 80% of our planet’s remaining biodiversity.

At COP28, arguably the largest and most important global climate conference with approximately 85,000 total attendees, the official Indigenous Peoples Caucus (IPC) only numbered approximately 350 delegates—or a mere 0.4% of attendees—according to Grist .

And while there was a first-ever “thematic” Indigenous Peoples Day, Indigenous Peoples Presidency Roundtable, a roundtable on Indigenous People’s Direct Access to Finance, and the launch of the Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative, this is only a drop in the ocean.?

That’s why I’m pleased to have a young, BIPOC founder and ocean advocate, Bodhi Patil , share how the Indigenous Wisdom Keepers Delegation shaped progress at COP28 and offer his perspective on how ancestral knowledge is informing the climate movement today.

He will also explain his personal connection to the ocean, share his advocacy and entrepreneurial endeavors to heal the ocean, detail his education, and offer insights on advancing your climate career path. ??

Next edition, we will dive into the upcoming Ocean Pitch Challenge with Aurélie Dubois .

Stay tuned!

Daniela: At the young age of 21, Bodhi Patil —a UN-recognized, BIPOC, GenZ, ocean-climate solutionist—has already founded and is CEO of InnerLight,?is co-creator of Parley for the Oceans ' Ocean Uprise (OU), is an SOA Young Ocean Leader and Grantee, and more.?

Welcome to Planet & Purpose, Bodhi!

Bodhi: Thank you for the opportunity and introduction, Daniela! It’s my pleasure to share my advocacy for our shared ‘Moana’—or ocean.?

Daniela: You’re very welcome! First and foremost, why are you so passionate about the ocean?

Bodhi: I was raised near five oceans across five continents! And while I’m a multiracial Canadian-American dual citizen with traditional Indian, Chinese, and Scottish ancestry, like you, I come from the deep blue.

A leading scientific hypothesis is that life on Earth originated from deep ocean hydrothermal vents and that the deep sea enabled the evolution of complex organisms.?

These scientific findings are backed by the Hawaiian ‘Kumulipo’ creation chant in which the coral polyp—or ‘ko'a’—is our origins.?

Water covers the majority of our planet and flows through our cells. Earth is 70% water as are humans, and I do not think that is a coincidence. Many Indigenous cultures hold that ‘water is life’—or ‘Mní Wi?óni’ in Lakota—and humanity is responsible for protecting, honoring, and respecting water.

Daniela: It’s fascinating how you weave together contemporary science and ancient knowledge! Is that the mission of the Indigenous Wisdom Keepers Delegation?

Bodhi: The Indigenous Wisdom Keepers Delegation is an ancestrally rooted community of 13 traditional knowledge keepers from 6 continents who share a sacred identity: ‘We are Nature’.?

Nature is a sacred wildscape that lives within our hearts and minds. It forms a home for biodiversity and the human race, so putting Nature first is paramount to our species' survival.?

The Wisdom Keepers are dedicated to restoring planetary well-being. We believe in transcending extractive value systems and re-discovering regenerative values to accelerate the just transition to a world free of fossil fuels.

Daniela: You recently became the youngest official member of the Indigenous Wisdom Keepers Delegation for COP28. How did that come about?

Bodhi: In 2022, I was fortunate to attend COP27 alongside other members of the SOA community. While there, I met Sister Whaia (FIRE)—a sonic weaver, sound healer, musician, artist, water protector, and whale guardian. We eventually became close friends due to our shared ocean values.?

Our relationship opened the door to an ocean of possibilities and transformation in my life.?

Last year, after a thorough review from a global council of elders, I was invited to join her and the others as an Indigenous Wisdom Keeper for COP28.

Daniela: I’m happy SOA helped you make this connection! With your intersectional perspective, what ancient knowledge did you share across COP28 speaking engagements?

Bodhi: A key message I was honored to share is the need for long-term sustainability planning, a concept evident across Indigenous cultures and centuries-old knowledge systems.

Living in Vancouver for university, I learned the Seventh Generation Principle of Turtle Island’s (North America) ancient Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people. Essentially, decisions made today should form a healthy world seven generations into the future.

Similarly, in Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu (New Zealand), Indigenous Māori people make 100-year conservation plans. Five symbolic wooden pillars of one ‘waka’ (canoe) represent planning for the planet and community’s well-being across five generations of your ‘whanau’ (family). In so doing, they embody? ‘Me mahi pai koe hei tipuna a apopo’ (being good ancestors).

Daniela: That synchronicity spanning geographies is so compelling. How can this Indigenous generational wisdom, from stewardship to sustainability planning, inform contemporary ocean-climate efforts?

Bodhi: Historically, voyaging/wayfinding from island to island helped Indigenous people across the Polynesian Triangle pass down principles like rāhui (prohibiting human activity to preserve or restore a depleted resource). Today, this Polynesian concept has been applied to inform large-scale marine protected areas (MPAs) and coral stewardship initiatives (such as the Coral Reef Breakthrough announced at COP28).

Also at COP28, inspired by the Seventh Generation and waka concepts, we requested the creation of a $10 million climate justice fund to address young people’s needs over the next 100 years. Humanity must paddle toward a future of ocean-climate justice guided by our ancestors.?

Readers can learn more about my experience at COP28 on Linkedin.

Daniela: I appreciated your insightful blog post and encourage everyone to read more! Moving along, can you share how you champion young people’s ocean-climate space involvement?

Bodhi: I fiercely advocate for intergenerational collaboration, cooperation, and co-creation in the ocean/climate space. We need young planetary advocates in C-suites and on advisory boards.

I’ve personally served on youth climate advisory councils or as a youth ambassador for World Ocean Day , Symbrosia , Sankari Studios , Coral Morphologic , Oceanic Global , and more.

I’m also Head of Impact for OnDeck Fisheries AI , a startup whose AI-powered software makes fisheries more sustainable. We have had the honor of receiving support from SOA’s Grants Program over the years and through the Leadership for Climate-Resilient Fisheries Fellowship. Right now, we’re consciously hiring students to help scale the company!

Daniela: You’ve already accomplished so much as a young ocean advocate! We should also take a moment to dive into the first organization you founded—InnerLight.

Bodhi: In 2016, at just 14 years old, I was struggling with climate anxiety and depression. It was then that I founded my first social enterprise, InnerLight.

Empowered by a Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots Grant, InnerLight helps develop young people’s resilience by focusing on the intersection of climate, mental health, and well-being (see more here).

InnerLight supports the health of ocean-climate guardians by helping them develop tools and techniques for a strong body, calm mind, and vibrant spirit. To improve planetary well-being, we advance ocean literacy and wellness education. Recently, I had the opportunity to coauthor a chapter on ‘Community Engagement’ for an academic textbook, Oceans and Human Health: Opportunities and Impacts.

Daniela: Speaking of academia, what educational path did you pursue or are you pursuing?

Bodhi: Currently, I am in my third year of my Bachelor of Arts and Master of Management Dual Degree (B+MM) program, majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a specialty in Climate Action from The University of British Columbia (UBC).

In addition to laying a foundation in oceanography and climate justice, I’m building on my entrepreneurial skills in accounting, organizational behavior, and team building.

The metaphor I use is that through my Master of Management, I’m building my ‘coral reef’. The healthier it is, the wider variety of ‘fish’ and ‘biodiversity’ (clients, mentors, and partners) I’ll attract.?

From the polyp origin stories to this career metaphor, can you tell I’m obsessed with coral?

Daniela: That’s a perfect transition to offering career guidance. What resources would you recommend to any readers interested in charting a course like yours?

Bodhi: First and foremost, Ocean Uprise (that I mentioned earlier) offers impactful ocean internships for young people across the planet! Over the past three years, our youth-led literacy workshops and events have reached 43,000 people worldwide.

Additionally, the Tom's of Maine Incubator Program provides funding, mentorship, and support to selected BIPOC activists across impact areas. I had the honor of joining the 2023 Cohort last year alongside some incredible young changemakers.

Lastly, I suggest checking out the Green Jobs Board and Work On Climate for great career resources and job listings in the sustainability space. As the blue economy continues expanding, young people can embrace the ocean of possibilities within the marine conservation sector.

Daniela: Fantastic recommendations! Between Ocean Uprise, InnerLight, and your varied climate advising, you have a lot on your plate. How has mentorship supported your healthy ‘coral reef’?

Bodhi: Mentorship is an invaluable resource to advance your mission and career (shoutout to two of my incredible mentors: Lora E. Fleming from the University of Exeter and Dr. Wallace J. Nichols , author of Blue Mind!).

In my experience, 360-degree mentorship is ideal. This means you are both a mentor and a mentee and the relationship is reciprocal. This approach parallels some Indigenous cultures, where young people respect and learn from their elders while also contributing new perspectives.

Daniela: I couldn’t agree more about having mutually beneficial relationships with your mentors. Are there any final words of advice or inspiration you’d like to share?

Bodhi: First and foremost, be authentic. Be bold. Be you. And stay true to your values. These are the most important tools to bring in powerful funding mechanisms, opportunities, and clients who believe in you as an ocean-climate consultant and wisdom weaver.

Also, be willing to start small. I built up Ocean Uprise with zero dollars and easy actions—beach cleanups and advocacy. Our first grant was $5,000. Since then, we have expanded and been able to build a network of 5,000 youth practitioners in 40 countries.

Daniela: Thank you for your time and all of the knowledge and insights you’ve shared. I’m hopeful a Planet & Purpose reader will be moved by your mission and reach out!

Bodhi: Thank you for the reciprocity and for this opportunity to share with your readers!?

If anyone is interested in getting connected, you can find me at Bodhi Patil (@bodhi_patil for Instagram).

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OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND MEANINGFUL YOUTH/INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

If you and/or your organization are seeking consulting services, workshops, and speaking engagements or to create a next-gen advisory board that includes ocean-climate solutions from emerging ocean guardians, please be in touch directly. [email protected]

If you’re a young person interested in joining the Ocean Uprise internship, apply here today.?

OPPORTUNITIES IN SOA’S NETWORK

• Are you an ecopreneur with a solution that contributes to ocean preservation? Applications are NOW OPEN for the 2024 Ocean Pitch Challenge, presented by Sustainable Ocean Alliance and RespectOcean ! Learn more and apply by February 29 here.?
• Calling young aquapreneurs! Join the World Bank Youth Innovation Challenge: Water Solutions for a New Climate Reality to accelerate innovative solutions tackling one or more of four global water challenges: too much water, too little water, contaminated water, and mismanaged water. Learn more and apply by February 23 here.

About Planet & Purpose:

Planet & Purpose is a LinkedIn Newsletter featuring professional insights and personal experiences from ocean and climate ecopreneurs, investors, and advocates brought to you by Daniela V. Fernandez , Founder & CEO of Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA).