**5. Consequences of the Findings**

It is important to note the consequences that are inferred from the findings. First, Indigenous perspectives of sustainability are an outcome of holistic cultural worldviews that involve spiritual beliefs. These are interconnected and so considered part of the whole. That is, one cannot talk about sustainability from an Indigenous perspective without acknowledging and including the spiritual elements of knowledge, beliefs, values, and practices. A second consequence that comes from the process of institutional Indigenization, is that these efforts will be impeded if cultural identity is not foundational to decisionmaking. Without exception, all participants in this research expressed their belief that institutional Indigenization must be primarily focused on strengthening the cultural identity of Indigenous learners. This concept may sometimes become lost in the day-to-day efforts made by Indigenous scholars and allies to increase Indigenization; however, if institutions place the strengthening of Indigenous cultural identity as a foundational goal, other actions can be constructed to support achieving this goal. A third consequence of the findings is that Indigenous knowledges and sustainability could become more congruent in practice if supported by policies appropriate to Indigenous worldviews. Most people recognize that sustainability is critical to life on Earth. Often, people associate the concepts of climate change, species extinction, pollution, and the overuse of plastics as detrimental to our health. But there is sustainability inertia that occurs because knowing these things is incongruent with the way we want to live. Our value systems do not align with acceptance of the fate of the planet and all our relations. Linking knowledge of sustainability challenges with Indigenous worldviews can help provide a way of transforming and aligning our thinking.

#### **6. Discussion**

Three categories of consequences that emerged from the research findings enabled exploration of additional meaning of Indigenous sustainability derived from the data.
