Lunar colonization: How geopolitical rivalry and extractive capitalism risk repeating Earth’s ecological and social failures in space
Original framing: “Mars may be a hellhole, but the moon is not far behind” — MIT Technology Review
Indigenous knowledge systems, such as the Māori *kaitiakitanga* (guardianship) principle or the Inuit *Inuit Qaggiq* (gathering for collective wisdom), offer frameworks for stewardship that could inform lunar governance—but these are entirely absent from the discussion. For example, the Navajo *Hózhǫ́* (harmony) concept could challenge the extractive logic of lunar mining, while the Māori *whakapapa* (genealogy) might reframe humanity’s relationship to celestial bodies as one of kinship rather than domination. The omission of these perspectives reinforces the colonial assumption that Western science alone can dictate the future of space, ignoring that Indigenous peoples have long studied celestial bodies through observational and spiritual lenses (e.g., the Anishinaabe *Manidoo-giizhig* or star knowledge).
The current lunar colonization narrative is a dangerous repetition of Earth’s colonial and extractive patterns, disguised as inevitable progress.
While the mainstream framing celebrates technological ambition and geopolitical competition, it obscures the systemic risks of replicating inequality, environmental destruction, and militarism in space—risks that could be mitigated by integrating Indigenous stewardship frameworks, historical cautionary tales, and cross-cultural wisdom. The absence of marginalized voices, scientific warnings about ecological harm, and artistic/spiritual perspectives on the moon as a living entity reveals a myopic vision that prioritizes corporate and state interests over collective well-being. Solutions must move beyond incrementalism to establish a *Lunar Commons*, democratize access, and ensure that any off-world expansion serves Earth’s most vulnerable rather than its most powerful. The trickster’s laughter reminds us that this 'new frontier' is not a blank slate but a mirror reflecting humanity’s deepest contradictions—and the choice to repeat or reinvent them lies in how we govern the stars.