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Loss of Indigenous Eden and the Fall of Spirituality
Highlights the commonalities between Indigenous nations, while calling for global recognition and respect of their rights and spirituality.
As a follow-up to his award-winning The Knowledge Embracing Indigenous Spirituality , Blair Stonechild continues his exploration of the Indigenous spiritual teachings passed down to him by Elders, and then moves his study further afield. He identifies the rise of what he terms a dominant wetigo worldview, marked by an all-consuming and destructive appetite that is antithetical to the relational philosophy of Indigenous thinking whereby all things are interrelated and in need of care and respect.
Based on Stonechild’s work with Indigenous peoples around the world, from Inuit communities in northern Canada, to the Mapuche in Chile, the Dalits in India and the Uighurs in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China, The Loss of Indigenous Eden and the Fall of Spirituality brings together and highlights the fundamental commonalities that connect all Indigenous nations, while calling for global recognition and respect of their rights and spirituality.
As a follow-up to his award-winning The Knowledge Embracing Indigenous Spirituality , Blair Stonechild continues his exploration of the Indigenous spiritual teachings passed down to him by Elders, and then moves his study further afield. He identifies the rise of what he terms a dominant wetigo worldview, marked by an all-consuming and destructive appetite that is antithetical to the relational philosophy of Indigenous thinking whereby all things are interrelated and in need of care and respect.
Based on Stonechild’s work with Indigenous peoples around the world, from Inuit communities in northern Canada, to the Mapuche in Chile, the Dalits in India and the Uighurs in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China, The Loss of Indigenous Eden and the Fall of Spirituality brings together and highlights the fundamental commonalities that connect all Indigenous nations, while calling for global recognition and respect of their rights and spirituality.
323 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 9, 2024
Stonechild essentializes history, modern religion, and indigenous spirituality in a way that starkly contrast typical highly detailed, long form scholarly historiographies and contemporary lectures. This opposition to the status quo mirrors the points he makes about said topics.
Stonechild coins this term, ‘ecolization’ in contrast to civilization. He makes this claim that humans lived in a state of coexistence with the earth and nature for a span of time that dwarfs the eras of civilization. He says that now, we live in a state of conquering the earth and it’s natural resources. He says we destroy the planet with resource hoarding and overpopulation. And he isn’t wrong, is he? But what makes this book unique is his explanation for WHY this is happening. He claims indigenous spirituality, which comes in many forms but is essentially the same across the planet, has always had values that respect the earth, nature, and animals. He claims that modern religions, especially abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) are essentially perversions that put man over earth.
It’s a deeply fascinating read, but I must say it left me far more hopeless than hopeful. Especially because one of the very few “solutions” offered were references to indigenous elders basically saying “don’t worry if we die out as a species the creator will bring us to another planet.” How sad is it that that, and justifiably so, is how some feel about the climate crisis?
Stonechild coins this term, ‘ecolization’ in contrast to civilization. He makes this claim that humans lived in a state of coexistence with the earth and nature for a span of time that dwarfs the eras of civilization. He says that now, we live in a state of conquering the earth and it’s natural resources. He says we destroy the planet with resource hoarding and overpopulation. And he isn’t wrong, is he? But what makes this book unique is his explanation for WHY this is happening. He claims indigenous spirituality, which comes in many forms but is essentially the same across the planet, has always had values that respect the earth, nature, and animals. He claims that modern religions, especially abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) are essentially perversions that put man over earth.
It’s a deeply fascinating read, but I must say it left me far more hopeless than hopeful. Especially because one of the very few “solutions” offered were references to indigenous elders basically saying “don’t worry if we die out as a species the creator will bring us to another planet.” How sad is it that that, and justifiably so, is how some feel about the climate crisis?
February 10, 2024
An essential read!! Dr. Stonechild brilliantly situates the history of colonialism and Indigenous land dispossession on a global scale, while also exhibiting the resiliency and strength of Indigenous cosmologies despite persistent tactics to assimilate them.
The construction of “history” has been repeatedly dictated by euro-centric record keeping, whereas Indigenous histories sustained through oral accounts have been largely left out of historical publication. But Stonechild reclaims indigenous oral histories as valuable means of knowledge production in a cultural climate dedicated to recolonizing knowledge systems.
This book made it very clear that Indigenous modes of existence were not conducive to the colonial project which (mistakenly) prioritized the exploitation of nature for economic growth, land ownership, capitalist interest, religious monopoly, and personal gain— which is why they were subjugated.
I hope that we can soon return to Indigenous Eden before ecological collapse.
The construction of “history” has been repeatedly dictated by euro-centric record keeping, whereas Indigenous histories sustained through oral accounts have been largely left out of historical publication. But Stonechild reclaims indigenous oral histories as valuable means of knowledge production in a cultural climate dedicated to recolonizing knowledge systems.
This book made it very clear that Indigenous modes of existence were not conducive to the colonial project which (mistakenly) prioritized the exploitation of nature for economic growth, land ownership, capitalist interest, religious monopoly, and personal gain— which is why they were subjugated.
I hope that we can soon return to Indigenous Eden before ecological collapse.
April 2, 2025
This book was good for comparing the differences between Indigenous thinking in general, not just Indigenous in North America. Stonechild describes Indigenous spirituality and thought from other places like Africa, New Zealand and Australia, as well as South America.
One of the most helpful things in this book was the comparison between ecolization (Indigenous) and civilization (non-Indigenous) ways of thought. The chart in the Appendix is an excellent summary. Stonechild is always very well-researched. I always end up finding books in the end notes I want to read later.
One of the most helpful things in this book was the comparison between ecolization (Indigenous) and civilization (non-Indigenous) ways of thought. The chart in the Appendix is an excellent summary. Stonechild is always very well-researched. I always end up finding books in the end notes I want to read later.
August 9, 2021
Essential reading!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews