Indigenous World Views

EarthQuaker Issue 96

My piece of the Jigsaw

I am 50 years old, and for most of my life I have been a bit nervous of religion or faith, although I wanted very much to believe in something that made sense of our existence. I longed for a pathway for us humans to start healing our world together but had noticed how often devout faith resulted in division and conflict.  So, I listened only politely to talk of spirituality, not wanting to choose one ‘team’ against another.

This all changed for me though while listening to a workshop in May 2022. The presenters began by describing our global situation, and the prognosis of the scientists, quite simply and honestly. It is not good at all. In that moment, I understood that we humans really do not know how to plan our way out of this crisis. Everything felt hopeless and dark.

However, the focus then shifted towards a group of people who know how to live in this world without destroying it!  I felt my foundations shifting because I had heard of Indigenous Peoples but am ashamed to admit I had believed them to be unfortunate, backward cultures who were simply late in developing. However, as I looked clearly at our situation as humans, they were offering the only glimmer of hope I could see, if they were willing to guide us.

I am aware that Indigenous Peoples have many different understandings of the world, as we do, but they all seem to agree that we humans are part of nature, and that nature is sacred. This leads them to live in regenerative ways which do not harm or exploit the planet, but instead defend it against exploitation, mining, extraction and deforestation, often losing their lives in the process.

So, in that evening, I discovered the spirituality of the planet protectors. This is a belief opposed to force or violence against ALL life, including the land, the trees, and other creatures.

Initially, I was concerned about the potential for conflict between people who took this seriously and those of other established faiths. However, I now realise that Indigenous Christians have been exploring wholeheartedly the beauty of the teaching of Jesus for many years. I am also aware of similar work for other world religions, for those who are curious.

This questioning also highlights something which I feel is being missed in the discussions about our global situation. It is love. The First Nations and Indigenous Peoples felt/feel themselves to be deeply connected to our world, each other and their own bodies. Deep connection feels like love. So, exploring pathways back towards love in our community, is part of the same picture.

I found myself by chance in my local Quaker meeting, with the beginning of this understanding. I have been tentatively exploring it with other Quakers in different places, and it has felt like the pieces of a jigsaw fitting together. I am so glad to be here with you.

Jo Cooper