In many Indigenous cultures around the world, the Earth is honored as Mother because she is seen as the original life-giver that provides the water, soil, and nourishment that sustains all beings. This is a relational understanding and a reflection of reciprocity: just as a mother cares for and nurtures her children, the Earth cares for and sustains all life. If she gives to us, we have a responsibility to care for her in return. Our sacred duty to Mother Earth is an act of reverence and connection, rooted in ancestral traditions that recognize the Earth, not as an object, but as a living relative.