Indigenous communities have the most knowledge of ecosystems and their patterns. Indigenous peoples have managed lands that are among the most critical ecosystems on the globe.  Indigenous peoples have a worldview and connection to the land that goes back many generations. They have deeper understanding and appreciation  for the land. Looking at some of the most critical rainforests or natural habitats, there is almost always an Indigenous peoples efforts to protect it. Also, land managed by Indigenous peoples hold greater biodiversity overall when comparing it to other natural places. Therefore, indigenous practices and methods are essential for global sustainability. 

This link is a great resource for teaching: https://plantwithpurpose.org/indigenousleadership/

 UK-based Martin Crawford grows 500 edible plants in his garden with just a few hours of maintenance a month. Annual plants are very rare in nature, however most of our agriculture land is full of annual plants. Martin Crawford believes it is more normal to have a forested or semi-forested system. Have students watch this video and complete a PMI (Plus-Minus-Interesting) chart.