Western Civilization is not the culmination of human evolution. There are many branches on the tree of humanity and the cultural expression of each is equally valid, including—and perhaps especially—those cultures pushed by colonization and modernization to the fringes of global society. 

 

Many indigenous cultures look at the world very differently than the mainstream, modern view. More often than not, native peoples view life on Earth through a lens of multi-generational stewardship and resource protection, where deliberations must weigh the needs of the present against the needs of the future. They view life not through a me-and-mine-first, capitalist mindset but rather through a community-first, sharing mindset.

 

How we view the world and our role in it is fundamental to the steps we take individually and the impact we have collectively.

 

We believe a paradigm shift must take place if we are to course-correct onto a sustainable path, and that shift can happen only if we listen to and learn from indigenous cultures. For thousands and thousands of years, they have been stewards of the planet, and it’s time we humbly sit at their feet, listen, and learn—through conversations and ceremony—how we can put humanity back on a path that is in balance with the systems and natural resources of the  Earth.