An Indigenous Approach to Global Crisis

All Is One

Coming from an authoritarian background (Russia-German and Catholic) I’m familiar with repression, control, and conflict. At the same time, my experience of intense family love in the midst of our troubled war-torn inheritance has me looking to resolve polarities. My part of our extended family narrowly escaped Stalin’s genocide in Ukraine and suffered the War in Germany. Long in revolt, I see my default setting of rage and opposition activated by survival urgency and everyone’s distress. I felt I was losing it.

So it was a great relief to happen on Principles of Tsawalk: An Indigenous Approach to Global Crisis (2011). Coming to understand polarity and diversity as part of the indivisible whole of creation eased both emotional and spiritual stress of conflict; I began revisioning core beliefs.

Umeek—E. Richard Atleo—traditional chief of the Nuu Cha Nulth Nation near Vancouver Island, analyzes the origins of the misunderstandings between settlers and indigenous peoples. Through story and oral history, Dr. Atleo details the lifeways of his people; how contact changes them; how both societies can grow toward harmony.

“In a view of reality described as tsawalk (one), relationships are qua (that which is). The ancient Nuu Chah Nulth assumed an interrelationship between all life forms – humans, plants and animals. Relationships are. Accordingly, social, political, economic, constitutional, environmental, and philosophical issues can be addressed under the single theme of interrelationships, across all dimensions of reality – the material and the non-material, the visible and the invisible. As a consequence, certain words in the text, such as “polarity”, “spiritual”, “numinous” and “belief” are placed within the view of reality described as tsawalk – one. These definitions offer a Nuu Chah Nulth perspective on the nature of reality in that all questions of existence, being, and knowing, regardless of seeming contradictions, are considered to be tsawalk – one and inseparable. They are interrelated and interconnected.

Our work in life is to develop ourselves, and to create harmony, guided by three principles. Recognition is mutual respect for all life, working toward understanding. Consent is “defined by a range of behaviour that is mutually agreeable and reciprocal within a society” (p.94). Continuity is understanding that given their relation to the Creator, “all life forms have value and all are to be allowed to continue to live sustainably because of this value” (p.117).

After 40 years of working in support of Indigenous Nations, teaching school and living on reserve for six years, learning from indigenous mentors, I still struggle to fathom the Respect that is evident in all community relations, so alien is it to my culture. Dr. Atleo’s work gives new depth to my understanding: sacred Respect, for all life. Consent and Continuity present new challenges. If it’s possible for a child of authoritarianism to assimilate this world view, reconcile polarity and diversity in my personal life and work in the world, it is clearly a lifetime engagement.

Yaa?akmis

Yaa?akmis is a word

Kindled by the explosion of creation

Meaning love

And pain

Yaa?akmis is Qua

That which is

Tsawalk…One

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hildegardb@protonmail.com

www.stop-weather-war.net