Earth Day Connections to Indigenous Peoples
Many First Nations groups, as I understand it, think about our position to Land as being "in" instead of "on". This perspective allows us to think about Land as an entire system of interconnected elements: Soil, Water, Air, Etc., Plants and animals have an interdependent relationsip to these systems within the larger solar system Earth is a part of.
Circles and spheres are considered sacred. Our position in time and space is dependent on the rotation of the Earth around the Sun and the rotation of the Moon around the Earth, Etc., Evidence of these circles can be seen when we look inside the trunk of a tree. Many people think Tree grow outward, creating a ring for each year. Trees actually grow in a spiral formation due to the vortex created by Earth's rotation. Spiral patterns can be seen everywhere in Nature.
When the Haudenosaunee (ho-din-ah-show-nee) begin their meetings, they start with the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. As I understand it, this allows people to open their minds to an elevated way of thinking, where everyone is reminded of the interconnected relationships between all living things. Humans are the last to be addressed, as we are dependent on the Earth's Systems for our survival, whereas the other elements addressed exist without us. The Thanksgiving Address also reminds us that we are occupying space and time temporarily, as all things on Earth: Water, Air, even Mountains move and take different shapes over time and effected by Earth's rotations. Click here to read the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K2zxJ0NXeJ_a-BAzIT3D7kjfuTpZf0F3/view?usp=sharing
You may have noticed that I have chosen to capitalize the nouns in this text. This is intentional, as a perspective of First Nations Peoples, as I understand it, is to actively name all nouns as animate (living) instead of inanimate (things). Because everything in Earth consists of the same molecular basis, we are all related in our organic cyclical nature. Thinking of ourselves as related to Plants, Animals, Water, Air, Etc., changes the way we think about our relationships within these elements and the way we address or name them. First Nations Peoples have been studying the relationships between all living beings for time immemorial and have profound knowledge about living amongst and taking care of everything in balance.
Activity suggestions:
Discuss how settlers have thought about themselves as superior beings in the past and how our relationship to Land could improve the way we treat Earth.
Take a walk or look online for evidence of circular patterns.
Have students take turns reading a part of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. Discuss how starting meetings this way can help humans have more positive interactions and remember that we have a responsibility to be stewards of Earth.
Go for a walk and actively name what you see. Try speaking out loud to the beings around you. For example, "Hello Tree. Hi there Spider! Hi Rock,". Notice carefully. Is anything speaking back to you? For example, does a particular rock want to be picked up?

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