The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions is proud to present A Radical Act of Hope, a new podcast featuring the story of Inuk climate and human rights advocate Siila (Sheila) Watt-Cloutier, PICS’ inaugural Indigenous Climate Fellow.
This limited series podcast explores the life, work, and wisdom of one of the world’s leading voices on climate change, human rights, and Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
Watt-Cloutier calls her approach to climate advocacy “conscious leadership”, which she developed through her experience as an Inuk woman rooted in tradition and culture, and refined as she became a global thought leader on environmental issues and climate change.
“Indigenous wisdom is the medicine the world needs,” says Watt-Cloutier. “Our values, experience, and relationship to the natural world help us to imagine and tell a different story for humanity and the planet, which can guide us towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all.”
The podcast blends memoir and advocacy, showing how lived experience can be a powerful tool for both personal transformation and policy change. It is hosted by Watt-Cloutier, along with PICS Executive Director Ian Mauro, her longtime colleague and friend, and Gitxsan and Cree-Métis climate researcher Janna Wale, PICS’ Indigenous research and partnerships lead.
“Siila Watt-Cloutier’s pioneering work to connect climate change and human rights changed the way the world thinks about and addresses climate change; her message comes from the Arctic and has global impact. In this podcast, we take a deep dive into Siila’s leadership, how it developed, and how it can be a model for current and future generations.”
– PICS Executive Director Ian Mauro
Over its four episodes, the trio of hosts are joined by Indigenous women leaders and changemakers Leena Evic, Nicole Redvers, and Aleqa Hammond. Together, they discuss climate conscious leadership as Watt-Cloutier models it — an approach that prioritizes consensus, intergenerational wisdom, and long-term stewardship.
Episode 1 — “A Shared Vision for Climate Solutions with Siila Watt-Cloutier” introduces Watt-Cloutier, her place in climate advocacy in Canada and on the world stage, and her approach to leadership and hope.
Episode 2 — In “The Beginnings of an Arctic Climate Leader”, we return to Watt-Cloutier’s Arctic childhood, to the experiences and teachings that shaped her understanding of leadership, and meet Leena Evic, a visionary leader in Inuit language and cultural resurgence.
Episode 3 — In “Making Climate Change A Human Rights Issue”, we join Watt-Cloutier as she transforms the way the world thinks about climate change and inspires a new generation of climate conscious leaders, including PICS Indigenous Research and Partnerships Lead Janna Wale.
Episode 4 — In the season finale, “A Call for Climate Conscious Leadership”, Watt-Cloutier is joined by Indigenous women setting powerful examples in this form of leadership, including planetary health expert Dr. Nicole Redvers and former premier of Greenland Aleqa Hammond, a leading voice for Indigenous rights and climate resilience.
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A Radical Act of Hope is produced by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions and Everything Podcasts, with support from The Gordon Foundation and the University of Victoria.
