Ecofeminist Spirituality In Carole Lindstrom’s We Are Water Protectors

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between nature, women, and spirituality, as well as the author’s ecological ideology, in the children’s picture book We Are Water Protectors (2020) by Carole Lindstrom. This qualitative analysis applies an ecocritical framework with a focus on Starhawk’s ecofeminist spirituality, particularly the concepts of immanence, interconnectedness, and community. Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory is used to analyze both the illustrations and the narrative text. It explores nature as a sacred space, the spiritual interconnection between women and nature, and women’s empowerment grounded in power from within. The findings reveal that nature is portrayed as sacred, with water depicted as both the source of life and the “first medicine”. The book highlights women’s close spiritual connection with the natural world in their role as water protectors. The characters of Nokomis and the young girl portray women’s empowerment grounded in power from within, which emphasizes non-violent, collective action rooted in spiritual and ecological awareness through their roles as keepers of knowledge and leaders of resistance against ecological threats symbolized by the “black snake.” Furthermore, the book voices an ecological ideology rooted in the author’s indigenous identity, reflecting an ecofeminist spirituality in which spirituality and ecological awareness are inseparable. It portrays the ecosystem as possessing intrinsic value, emphasizing the interconnectedness between humans and nature both spiritually and ecologically. By rejecting industrial capitalism and colonial exploitation, We Are Water Protectors presents nature as a sacred entity deserving of respect and protection, serving as both a literary and cultural text that promotes ecological education, challenges patriarchy, and fosters solidarity and justice.