Loss of Indigenous Eden and the Fall of Spirituality - by Blair A Stonechild (Paperback)

About the Book

"'One of the best articulations in print of some introductory teachings of a contemporary Elder.' --Mark Rumi, professor of Religion and Culture, University of Winnipeg. As a follow-up to his award-winning The Knowledge Seeker: 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 Wetiko 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 Dalits in India and the Uighurs in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China, 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."--

Book Synopsis

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 Seeker: 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.

Review Quotes

"A survivor of the Qu'Appelle Indian Residential School, Stonechild credits Indigenous elders for everything he has rediscovered about Indigenous spirituality and shares such wisdom in the book... Stonechild's arguments are convincing--there can be no doubt that humanity is facing global crises of our own making; collectively, we would do well to heed the elders' call to reject human exceptionalism and return to Indigenous wisdom, living anew in balance in Creation."-- "Indigenous Religious Traditions"

"One of the best articulations in print of some introductory teachings of a contemporary Elder."-- "Mark Rumi, professor of Religion and Culture, University of Winnipeg"

"With great imagination and originality, these chapters rewrite the histories of "civilizations" of religion and the nation states.... a great scholarly contribution to our Knowledge of the history of Indigenous Spirituality."-- "David McNab, Prof. Emeritus, York University & Fellow, Royal Society of Canada, & author of No Place for Fairness: Indigenous Land Rights and Policy in the Bear Island Case and Beyond"

About the Author

Blair Stonechild is a Cree-Saulteaux member of the Muscowpetung First Nation and professor of Indigenous Studies at First Nations University of Canada. He is the author of The Knowledge Seeker: Embracing Indigenous Spirituality and Buffy Sainte-Marie: It's My Way. He lives in Regina, Saskatchewan.