Native American Wisdom

Native American Wisdom quiz-

1. "...whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth." (2) What does this mean? What are its implications for the idea of human "dominion"? How much should we regret or resist "natural" species extinction and threats to bio-diversity?

2. "A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal." (3) What is the point here, with respect to humans and wild animals? How would you draw the relevant distinction between animal nature and human nature/culture?

3. Must a "true naturalist," a lover of Nature, be a conservative with respect to technology and geo-engineering? Is that different than being a conservationist?

4. "...when we settle down we grow pale and die." (5) Ours is a transient civilization, with many of us "roaming" away from ancestral homes in search of work or adventure (or just novelty). Are we "unsettled" in a good or a bad way? Are we fulfilling the spirit of Satanta's statement? Or are we pale and dying?

5. "It does not require many words to speak the truth." (6) True?

6. "We do not want riches. We want peace and love." (13) Is this a false dichotomy? What prevents wealthy societies from being peaceful and civil?

7. What would you change about "the white man's kind of education"? (14) Are our curricula impractical? Do our schools instill narrow, selfish, materialistic values? How could they better instill a sense of mystery and connectedness?

8. "We shall soon pass, but the place where we now rest will last forever." (18) "Bright days and dark days [are] both expressions of the Great Mystery..." (19) Is this wise instruction for children?

9. "A pause giving time for thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and conducting a conversation." (25) Why don't we do that? Do media values (such as aversion to "dead air" and the assumption that controversy is good for ratings) reinforce our worst interpersonal habits? Can we change?