Honoring the Ground We Stand On

Ways of Knowing Soil as a Relative

Ways of knowing soil as a relative demonstrate that soil health is not a universally fixed property, but a context dependent condition that only becomes meaningful when defined in relation to place, use, and responsibility. Standard indicators remain essential for understanding soil processes, yet they cannot, on their own, determine whether soils are functioning within the social, ecological, and historical systems they support.

For tribal nations, soil health is therefore inseparable from authority. Who defines soil health, what is measured, how change is interpreted, and when intervention occurs all shape whether assessment reflects lived conditions or obscures them. Where tribal governance and data authority are constrained, soil health is frequently mischaracterized; where they are intact, assessment becomes more accurate, adaptive, and accountable.

This report explores how tribal-defined soil health, grounded in place, governance, and long-term responsibility, ensures that soil health assessment reflects not only how soils function, but also whether they can continue to sustain life, relationships, and futures.