Introduction

Philosophy is “the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline” (see https://www.bu.edu/philo/academics/). Indigenous communities have their own philosophy based on the belief that every living thing on Earth was created from earth, air, fire and water, otherwise known as the four elements (see Suzuki et al., 2002, p. 22, for more information).

As we learned earlier, Indigenous knowledge refers to the knowledge, skills and philosophies developed by societies with long histories of interacting with their natural surroundings. Indigenous and rural communities draw on their community knowledge when they are making decisions about key aspects of daily life.

The philosophy of Indigenous communities is based on Indigenous knowledge, which is rooted in nature and natural events such as the changing of the seasons, weather patterns and lunar movements. This philosophy is key to the whole concept of respecting nature and the elements that are part of it, such as water, air, soil and fire.

Reading

Suzuki, D., McConnell, A., & Mason, A. (2002). The sacred balance: Rediscovering our place in nature. Greystone Books.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:

• explain how Indigenous communities understand nature and show respect for natural habitats.

Terminology

Interdependent:  Describes two or more living things, including people, that depend on one another.

Cosmology:  A branch of physics that studies the origin of the universe and how it has evolved.

Sequestering:  The process of capturing and storing carbon.

Regulating:  Adjusting or controlling something to help achieve a particular outcome.

Taboo:  An activity or topic that should be avoided because people find it offensive.

Strategies:  A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term goal.