Our planet is facing environmental and climate challenges, many of which stem from the way humans exploit nature for their own benefit. As a result, the relationship between humans and nature requires closer attention. This chapter explores the representation of humans, animals, and plants in folktales, addressing the tension between anthropocentric and ecocentric perspectives. It highlights how Indigenous knowledge from certain regions in Southeast Asia offers contextual and relevant ways of life for addressing ecological issues. The selected folktales in this study come from Komodo Island, Lombok Island, Vietnam, and the Malaysian Peninsula. These folktales are analyzed textually using Greimas’s actantial analysis, which is particularly suited for accommodating nonhuman actants. The narrative structure maps the desires of the subjects as they strive to achieve their goals. The findings reveal both anthropocentric and ecocentric perspectives within the folktales. However, they also emphasize a vision of harmonious coexistence between humans, animals, and plants. Notably, the analysis underscores the spirit of co-dependency and value-sharing, challenging colonial individualism and the imposed separation between humans and nature. These themes are particularly relevant to addressing ecological issues, as they promote the idea of equal agency between humans and the natural world. By embracing Indigenous knowledge, people can become more mindful of their relationship with nature. This chapter calls for further research to highlight Indigenous knowledge in folktales as a means of resisting colonial domination in both thoughts and practices.