4. Animism and Intimate Encounters with Mother Earth

Podcast transcript (pdf) Many of you are familiar with the fact that indigenous people have deep spiritual connections with the natural world. Documentaries, ethnographic literature, fiction - much of it written by Native Americans - and my own book, all reinforce this notion., At the same time, these portrayals of indigenous people run the risk of sending another message - that those with Indian or First Nations ancestry are the only humans who can have and hold on to deep spiritual connections with Mother Earth. This idea can discourage individuals from the joy of feeling connected with the natural world around them. And it can also discourage us from collectively developing the respectful and reciprocal relationships with nature that we need to cultivate if we are to emerge from the current culture of exploiting the natural world.